I remember broaching the idea of a soap-making business with my wife. We were driving from Minnesota to Ohio to attend my son's girlfriend's (now wife) graduation from college.
I had gotten into wet shaving with a safety razor about a year earlier and like many who are new to it, went a little overboard buying various artisan shaving soaps. I think I had 19 or 20 different products stuffed into the tiny half bath in the basement, safely out of sight from the Mrs. who might not understand the obsession.
I barely understood it myself. All I knew for certain was that I was never going to use foaming goop-in-a-can ever again.
As much as I enjoyed the wet shaving experience and delightfully close shaves, something was nagging me in the back of my mind. A few of the products were really good, but some of the others were only so-so or worse. In fact, one company in particular had (and still does last I knew) some of the best on point branding I have ever seen in an artisan product. And the reviews were stellar! Everyone loved them.
I couldn't figure it out. Maybe I was doing something wrong, but I couldn't get a comfortable shave with this outfit's products, no matter what I did. And my face was always tight and irritated after shaving with this particular shaving soap.
This brings me back to the drive to Ohio with my wife: I had done some preliminary research and the more I learned about it, the more I started to think, I can do that!
Stephanie listened intently while I laid it all out. Why I thought there was opportunity in the market, and what research I had done about various products and supply companies and so on. I think I talked non-stop for about 10 minutes.
Finally, she says, "Have you ever made soap?"
"Noooo, but I think I do it!"
And the rest is history.