We were lucky to catch up with Marlowe Rucker recently and have shared our conversation below.
Marlowe, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with what makes profitability in your industry a challenge – what would you say is the biggest challenge?
Honestly, I believe the biggest challenge to profitability in my industry is too many creators don’t believe in the value of their handcrafted products. So many creators look to others, what other companies are charging and let that dictate their pricing. But no two products are exactly the same and pricing is definitely not a one size fits all situation. When you hone in on who it is you want to serve and how your product will meet a need, solve a problem and add value to the life of your customer, you’ll begin to understand the value of your products and have no issue pricing accordingly. It really hurts the entire industry and decreases the perceived value of handcrafted products in a general sense when this isn’t done.
I research each ingredient I use, I know where my organic ingredients are sourced from, I know how each finished product benefits the skin, and I know the value it adds to the life of a working mom who is exhausted at the end of the day and just wants to release the day’s tension with a Bliss Beginnings lavender scented shower. I created Squeaky Dreams for her and for her, the price is worth it.
Marlowe, 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 am a wife, mother and business owner, a wearer of many hats. Women are often the nurturers of the family and the well-being of our families rests on our very tired and overwhelmed shoulders. Is my family eating well? Is the laundry detergent non-toxic? What about the bathroom cleaner? WHAT ARE WE PUTTING ON OUR SKIN?? So many of us are just running from one task to the other, trying to meet the needs of our families, our friends, our jobs and unfortunately we don’t often take the time to meet OUR own needs and nurture ourselves. I know it sounds so cliche but it’s so true!
We all want to know better and do better, it sounds great in theory but who has the time? The last thing any mom wants is to add a research project on skin care to her never-ending list of things to do. I certainly didn’t.
But I didn’t have a choice. I fell down the skincare well because my youngest son had really bad eczema. I was depending on pediatricians for the answer to this problem but all we were given were super strong steroid creams that we could only use for two weeks at a time. Lots of money spent and time wasted later, it became obvious that I was going to have to figure the solution out myself. I didn’t want to add this to my list. I just wanted my family to be taken care of and a spa day (but I would have settled for a nap)!
Being the ultimate multi-tasker that I am, I said, why can’t we have both? Why can’t we know our family is using nourishing, beneficial bath & body products but also pamper ourselves at the same time? Why can’t the same bar of soap soothe eczema for a child, but then mom takes that same bar and luxuriates in a shower where she can find moments of peace and tranquility, so she can go back to her family as her best self? (Honestly, it’s no different then hiding zucchini in the banana bread. Here’s your veggies kids! And I get banana bread.) Thus Squeaky Dreams was born.
I create handcrafted, vegan, worry-free bath & body products that nourish the skin and pamper the senses. As the largest organ, it matters to your skin what you cleanse it with. It is amazing how much we focus on our face but not the condition of the skin on the rest of our body. It’s amazing how so many common ailments can be improved upon with just a little bit a knowledge, a regimen and products that intentionally put good things in instead of intentionally taking good things out. So many products on shelves intentionally take good things out and leave your skin in worse condition then when you started. It is also amazing how something as simple as a refreshing shower can reinvigorate the senses, the body and the soul. For us nurturers, it is such a relief to have just one thing removed from our mental load. Not only can you rest assured that your family is being cared for but you can also take the time each day to pamper yourself.
Truthfully, I created Squeaky Dreams for me and any woman like me. Busy, tired, overwhelmed, stretched too thin, lover of her family but honestly struggling not to pour from an empty cup. A woman whose many hats are really capes and needs moments to be a super hero for herself.
When I started this endeavor, I planned on selling online only, never considered participating in local markets. But I said yes when the opportunity presented itself and admittedly it has been the most gratifying part of creating Squeaky Dreams. I often get emails, DMs and customer reviews that have been very favorable and complimentary. But there is nothing like being at a farmer’s market, among tons of people and other vendors, and a past customer makes a beeline straight to my booth and say “OH MY GOSH I LOVE YOUR SOAP!” There is honestly nothing quite like it. Having a person trust you with their skincare is a big deal all by itself and not one I take lightly. To have that person come back and say everything I was striving for on my end came to fruition for them is so inspiring and just makes me want to continue to be even better and always strive for excellence.
Do you sell on your site, or do you use a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc?
I have my own website, www.squeakydreams.com and never really considered other platforms like Amazon, Etsy, etc. First reason being I’m a control freak and Squeaky Dreams is my baby. I want to tell it’s story my way without any positive or negative connotations or pre-conceived notions that may come along with selling my products on Amazon or Etsy. Secondly, I feel like the best way to reach my customer is directly. My customer, she doesn’t have the time to filter through tons and tons of information. She knows what she wants, what she doesn’t want and I feel like I can best communicate how Squeaky Dreams meets those needs with my own website.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
I listen to the HelloSeven podcast by Rachel Rodgers. It is a wealth of knowledge freely given by extraordinary women entrepreneurs. One of the most important notes I’ve ever taken from this podcast is “Self work makes the business work”. And I’m so sorry I can’t recall what episode or who said it because I would love to give credit! But it was so profound, and true and unavoidable. It took a lot for me, someone who didn’t always picture themselves owning a business to reach that level of self-sustaining belief. Belief that not only was it possible for my business to be successful, but my business, brand and most importantly my voice have value. And that if I continue to strive for excellence, and serve my customers, that I deserve that success. That really is the entire focus and mission behind Squeaky Dreams. Yes, as women we’re going to work hard, we’ve got responsibilities, we’ve got people and relationships to nurture and foster and we are glad to do it but we deserve to give ourselves that same amount of love and care.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.squeakydreams.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/squeakydreamssoaps/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SqueakyDreams?view_public_for=108103751102071
Image Credits
All photos taken by me.