We recently connected with Lizzie Havoc and have shared our conversation below.

Lizzie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

Beach Witch Bars was born one afternoon in the spring of 2020- as bartenders in the middle of Covid shutdown, my now-husband Justin and I were for the first time faced with plenty of down time to enjoy life- cooking, reading, binging Tiger King. Like a lot of others, we had also downloaded tiktok to pass the time and I had started to watch some soap makers- it was really interesting to see the cold process soap method- oils, lye, all the colors swirling together and a month later, your own soap! I thought I would order some things online and get started making some bars at home.

Covid lockdown continued and we were staying plenty busy and loving it- although Justin had started having some really strange headaches. Wild migraines, vision splits, black spots and dizzy spells. We had time to call some doctors, but no one was going in for appointments so like so many, we just kind of let it slide. That is, until one nurse called and put all of his symptoms together on her own. She said he needed to come into the hospital right away for an MRI. We still don’t know who she was, but we know she saved his life- our lives.

The brain tumor was the biggest the neurosurgeon had ever seen. It was benign, an acoustic neuroma- but it was so large it was pressing against the parts of Justin’s brain that controlled his vision, and it had completely crushed his left ear- he would be deaf in one ear forever. He went in for surgery right away- I was not allowed to be there- it was the longest 18 hours of my life.

He was in the hospital for ten days post surgery and he came home a different person. The tumor and surgery had damaged his vocal cords, he couldn’t swallow properly, and his balance nerve was damaged so he would have to practice walking. Still, with us being out of work that meant we had the time- I had the time- to care for him from home. As scary as this was, I considered it a blessing.

A month into his recovery, Justin proposed. In sickness and in health had taken on new meaning- and all the while, I was still making soap. People liked it and they wanted to buy it! My recipes improved and so did my style; I started using full moon water, paying attention to each moon, tide and used my witchy love of herbs to make infusions that made each bar unique as well as beneficial.

When it came time for me to return to my full time General Manager position at a very busy Boston bar, I knew things would never be the same. My wild life of all work and no play, the 4am nights into early mornings was no longer an option- family had to come first. Life is too short, our time together is too valuable. I made the choice to put in my two weeks and focus on bringing Beach Witch Bars to life from home.

Soap making had become more than just a hobby, it was a turning point in my life in which I realized my mission: I could no longer be governed by all consuming work for someone else. Beach Witch is mine- my mistakes are mine, my successes are mine. I must succeed. Beach Witch Bars are “witchy soaps to cleanse the mind. body, space and spirit,” and I truly believe they do just that. The love this project has brought into my life, our lives- is monumental. In the words of Taylor Swift, (cheesy, I know) “I think I am finally clean”.

Lizzie, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Lizzie, I am 41 years old and I am a New England born and bred bartender. I currently live in Rhode Island with my husband Justin and our two cats, Indiana Jones and Dump Truck. As a career bartender, I have a curious mind about mixing drinks and a love of the general public- everyone has a story to tell and once the drinks are flowing we are going to hear them! I have been proud to work in an industry that thrives no matter the economy. No matter what’s happening in people’s lives, a lot of times a local bar is a safe space and I am so happy to provide that for people. All of this changed during Covid. My husband and I are both bartenders and with the shutdown, we both went from busy lives slinging drinks to lives at home.

We knew we couldn’t sit still so at first we started a series of YouTube videos called Bartending in Sweatpants. We made cocktails ate home and brought the bar atmosphere to everyone stuck at home while also raising money to donate to local bartenders and back of the house kitchen staff who were out of work and struggling. While spending a bit more time on social media, this led me to discovering soap making videos on TikTok and I thought it was time for a hobby-soap making was very technical, a little like mixing cocktails- what goes well together, what blends work and what doesn’t. As the Covid quarantine days went by, I worked harder and harder to perfect my soap recipe. If I could make herbal infused syrups for cocktails, I could do that with oils for soaps too. English nettle is lovely with gin- let’s infuse olive oil with it as well! The name Beach Witch Bars for me definitely has a double meaning: a bar of soap and an actual Bar.

Once I had my recipe down I started really making these bars my own. I am a witchy gal- think Victorian ghost style- give me a long Victorian nightgown and a brass candleholder and I am happy to roam the halls. I follow the moon phases- every bartender always knows when a full moon Is coming- so I started making my soaps with full moon water. Crystals, herbal infusions and local essential oils all make my bars stand out- a bar of soap isn’t just a bar of soap- it’s your own little bath spell.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Social media is a huge part of Beach Witch. I became interested in making soap by watching other creators on Tiktok so that’s where I started. My goal was to let people know who I was- what makes me different and standout from other soapers, why would you choose Beach Witch over everyone else out there? The platform allows short and longform videos so I can provide insights into my life, from what I’m having in my coffee in the morning to the full soap making process. My audience was built over time, starting with other small business owners. We share tips and tricks, mistakes we have made and successes. It has grown to about 26K since the start of Beach Witch, all people who share similar values and appreciate the vibe and process of Beach Witch. Just remember, while social media is important to keep your product out there, it’s also okay to take a step back when you need to. Sharing your creative process and your life online can get overwhelming! As important as it is to have a social media presence it’s also important not to lose sight of yourself and face to face relationships.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I think nothing is better for your reputation than face to face interactions. I do online sales but I much prefer artisan markets. Throughout the spring and holiday seasons I try to book something every weekend to get my products known throughout the Rhode Island and Massachusetts area. These markets bring in a ton of people who want to support local art and they are truly interested in what you’re putting out there and they’ll remember you! Similarly to social media posting, when people can put a face and a human to a product it makes it meaningful.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.BeachWitchBars.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beachwitchbars/
• Other: tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@beachwitchbars