We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Julie Gruenhagen. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Julie below.
Julie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
My journey to creating this business emerged from my own deeply personal experience with chronic Lyme disease. Through years of searching for healing, I discovered something profound: while modern medicine has its place, nature offers us powerful tools for healing that work in harmony with our body’s systems. The turning point came during my exploration of various healing modalities – from hyperbaric treatment to homeopathic medicines – but what truly opened my eyes was understanding the intricate connection between our emotional wellbeing and physical health.
As I navigated through different treatments, I observed how homeopathic medications worked with remarkable potency, yet maintained a gentler, more supportive approach to overall body systems. During this time, I became increasingly aware of the limitations in existing skincare products. Despite searching extensively, I couldn’t find skin creams that met my standards for being both natural and effective. The products available were either full of questionable ingredients or simply didn’t perform well enough. This frustration led me to create my first product, Calm and Connect Hand and Body Cream, which embodied my belief in the power of safe, natural ingredients while delivering the performance I knew was possible.
What makes this endeavor particularly worthwhile is its holistic approach to wellness. I’m not just offering another skincare product; I’m addressing multiple gaps I discovered in my own healing journey – from the need for truly clean, effective skincare to the recognition that emotional and mental wellness are inseparable from physical health. Through my experience with Lyme disease, I discovered that unresolved childhood traumas, negative self-talk patterns, and inherited family belief systems can create significant blocks in our healing journey.
What excites me most is helping others understand that Mother Earth has already provided us with what we need to heal, and when we combine these natural solutions with emotional and mental wellness work, we create a pathway to profound healing. Having walked this path myself, I can guide others through their own healing journey with deep understanding and authenticity, while providing products that truly support overall wellbeing without compromising on safety or effectiveness.
Julie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’m the founder of InBalance Soul, a natural wellness brand born from my personal journey in search of healing. My professional path began in the high-tech industry, where I worked as an Executive Assistant for many years before stepping away to focus on motherhood. Little did I know that my own health challenges would lead me to discover a profound new calling.
After experiencing firsthand the limitations of conventional products and treatments during my battle with Lyme disease, I immersed myself in holistic healing modalities. I’ve earned certifications in natural skincare formulation, spiritual coaching, life coaching, and sound healing, among others. This diverse educational background informs the multidimensional approach I bring to InBalance Soul.
What sets InBalance Soul apart is our problem-first approach to product development. Each item in our collection was created to address a specific need I encountered either personally or witnessed in others. Our product line includes hand and body creams, body and room mists, lip balm, bath bombs, bath salt soaks, loose leaf teas, and our nerve and muscle body oil. Every formulation begins with identifying a wellness challenge and then crafting a solution using minimally processed raw ingredients.
I’m particularly proud of our unwavering commitment to purity. You won’t find artificial fragrances, synthetic colors, or filler ingredients in InBalance Soul products. Instead, we exclusively use therapeutic-grade essential oils for their aromatherapy benefits, creating products that nourish both body and spirit. For instance, our Balance & Relax body and room mist, paired with our Rest & Restore Tea, was developed specifically to support healthy sleep cycles. Our Relief Oil addresses joint and muscle discomfort, while our Positive Energy mist was formulated for emotional uplift.
What truly distinguishes InBalance Soul is the integration of physical wellness with emotional and spiritual healing. Having experienced how unresolved emotional patterns and mental blocks can impede physical healing, our products are designed to support the whole person. Each item is crafted in small batches with intention and care, honoring the belief that true healing comes from addressing the complete being—body, mind, and spirit.
Our primary customers are discerning individuals, predominantly women 35 and older, who understand the value of investing in high-quality, natural products. They recognize that what we put on our bodies is just as important as what we put in them, and they appreciate the thoughtfulness behind each InBalance Soul formulation.
At InBalance Soul, we’re not just selling products—we’re offering pathways to balance, healing, and wholeness, created by someone who has walked the challenging road of chronic illness and emerged with wisdom to share.
Can you talk to us about manufacturing? How’d you figure it all out? We’d love to hear the story.
I create and hand formulate all of the products that I sell. My journey into product formulation began out of necessity when I couldn’t find commercial products that met my standards for both effectiveness and purity.
The process of becoming a manufacturer was both challenging and rewarding. I invested in proper certifications in natural skincare formulation to ensure I understood the science behind creating safe, effective products. Each formulation started as an experiment to solve a specific wellness challenge I was facing personally. What began in my kitchen as solutions for my own needs gradually evolved into a comprehensive product line as friends and family began requesting my creations.
I would say my biggest lesson in manufacturing has been to go through trials over and over and over again. Making sure things are highest quality, and consistent. And to tweak a formulation until I am completely satisfied. As someone with incredibly sensitive skin, I always test every batch and when a product is new, I test on myself first for at least 3-6 months. Then I enlist others who are wanting to test it out with me before it hits the market.
Part of my challenge in manufacturing has been packaging. Being a small business with very high standards, yet not needing MOQ (Minimum Order Quantities) of 10,000 units to start off made selecting a packaging vendor/supplier extremely challenging. In part due to the shut down of most imports during COVID, my start with a packaging supplier was quite a challenge. I had in mind exactly what I thought I wanted, however, after it taking 4 months to receive my order, I ended up with packaging that did not perform to my standards. It has been an ongoing process to find packaging solutions that align with both our quality expectations and our production scale.
This rigorous testing process has taught me the importance of patience in product development. Sometimes what seems like a perfect formulation initially reveals challenges after extended use. By taking the time to thoroughly test each product, I’ve been able to create items that perform consistently and meet the high standards our customers expect.
Another valuable lesson has been about sourcing ingredients. Finding reliable suppliers who provide consistently high-quality raw materials is essential. I’ve developed relationships with suppliers who share my commitment to purity and sustainability, which ensures that each InBalance Soul product maintains its therapeutic benefits.
Manufacturing in small batches allows me to maintain tight quality control and ensures that customers receive the freshest possible products. While this approach is more labor-intensive than outsourcing to a contract manufacturer, it allows me to infuse each product with intention and ensures that nothing leaves my hands that I wouldn’t use myself or recommend to a loved one.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Resilience has been a constant companion throughout my entrepreneurial journey with InBalance Soul, revealing itself in unexpected ways.
One challenging moment became a powerful lesson in adaptability. After formulating a batch of cream, I was cleaning my stick blender when it malfunctioned unexpectedly. The accident resulted in a broken finger and 14 stitches – certainly not ideal for a hands-on formulator! Rather than seeing this as a business disaster, I viewed it as an opportunity to strengthen other aspects of my operation. During my healing period, I redirected my focus to refining my business strategy, deepening my product research, and enhancing my marketing approach. By the time I was back to formulating with all ten fingers, I had developed a more robust business foundation that I might have otherwise neglected.
This approach has served me well through various challenges – whether navigating packaging inconsistencies, sourcing hard-to-find ingredients, or dealing with shipping mishaps. Instead of being derailed by these obstacles, I’ve developed a flexibility that allows me to pivot and grow stronger through each experience.
What sustains me through these moments is the profound connection I feel to this work. When clients share how my products have supported their wellness or how our spiritual sessions have facilitated meaningful transformations, it reinforces the purpose behind every challenge I’ve overcome.
I believe true resilience is about maintaining your vision while finding creative pathways forward. Each obstacle has ultimately refined my processes, improved my products, and deepened my commitment to this journey. The passion I have for creating wellness solutions and supporting others on their spiritual paths continues to be my guiding light, making every challenge worthwhile and every adaptation an opportunity for growth.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.InBalanceSoul.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inbalancesoul/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086806088138
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-gruenhagen-7963a050/
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/discover
Image Credits
Meredith Lynne Photography