We were lucky to catch up with Meagin Colson recently and have shared our conversation below.
Meagin, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?
September 14, 2020. I was sitting at my desk at the Sheriff’s Office, where I had worked for 15 years. My husband, a uniformed deputy, walked in (not unusual) but walked right past my office and into my boss’s office and told her that I needed to leave right away, there was an emergency. Instinctively, I already knew what had happened. The previous months had been tumultuous. My Aunt – my mom’s little sister and one of my closest friends and confidantes – had been battling extreme depression. It had been weighing heavily on my mom and I, exacerbated by the tormenting reminder of how her mother’s depression spiraled out of control and ended tragically, in suicide. Just the day before, on the 13th, my mom and I had lunch and discussed the severity of the issue and my aunt’s deteriorating mental health, tiptoeing ever so cautiously around the “S” word. As I followed my husband to the elevator the next day, I rhetorically asked what was going on… even though my heart and soul already knew.
In the weeks and months that followed my aunt’s passing, I found solace in solitude but also wanted to keep my mind busy to keep from plunging into the depths of depression myself. I threw myself into projects and even started preparing early for Christmas to stay busy. Every Christmas, my step-daughter and I complete a handmade project together to give out as gifts to friends and family during the holidays. In November 2020, we decided to try our hand at soap making. We did a very simple soap project from a pre-made soap base and essentially just added color and fragrance before pouring it into a mold. The soap was a hit and everyone loved it!
I so enjoyed the creativity that this small soap project had ignited in me, so I began researching how to make soap from scratch – the old fashioned way, using oils and lye. I studied the process and watched hundreds of videos and eventually made my first batch. And then more, and then more. My mom saw how much joy and satisfaction I was getting from this new venture and suggested that I turn this passion into a small business (and I was running out of room for all the soap that was stacking up).
When thinking about a meaningful name for my soap business, I thought back to how it started. Making soap offered me a way to grief through creativity. Grieve a bond forever broken. I thought about my mom and her strength in losing both her mom and her sister so tragically, and the significance of the close relationship we all shared, which brought me to another thing we all shared – our middle name, Day. It was my grandmother’s middle name, my mom’s middle name, my aunt’s middle name, my middle name, and my cousin’s middle name. Using “Day” to represent something being born from such a place of despair was symbolic to the phoenix rising. So, in January 2021, The Day Bar Soap Co was born.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’ve worked in law enforcement for 17 years. I do research and planning now, but spent about 8 years as the homicide analyst prior to my current position. I started The Day Bar Soap Co as a side business in January 2021. The Day Bar Soap Co specializes in handcrafted soap, made with oils (such as olive oil, coconut oil, and avocado oil – to name a few) and butters (like shea butter, cocoa butter, and mango butter, etc) that combine with sodium hydroxide (lye) to chemically produce soap that is not only cleansing but also skin beneficial. Most soap that you find on your grocer’s shelves contain detergents and other chemicals that aren’t necessarily good for your skin. I consistently get feedback that reflects the benefits of using natural ingredients.
I also like to incorporate additives such as ground green tea as an exfoliant or activated charcoal to purify pores. I take pride in creating each recipe and batch myself, often adding embeds and/or piping to the design. I also like to put out unique holiday soaps that people can give to their children’s teachers, co-workers, friends, and family
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
Markets and pop-up events. It’s a TON of work but it is the best way to get in front of potential new customers. It’s a way to connect with them, in-person, where they can hear me speak to the benefits of my products, and also feel and smell my soap. I have had so much repeat business from people who come across my booth at a market and try my products then reach out to me on social media or through my website for more!
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
Honestly, it started out as just a hobby, so I bought things along the way from my personal funds. I began acquiring the materials/tools I needed to manufacture my products slowly over the course of several months. Once I started selling, I created a business bank account and now only make business purchases from that account when funds are available. Luckily, I run my business from my house and am the sole employee, so I don’t have any overhead, per se. I only buy new equipment when I can fully fund it, that way it remains enjoyable instead of feeling like a burden where I have debt to pay. Eventually, I want to purchase a large shed to move my business into (on my property), but will wait until I can fully fund it, debt-free.
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