How We Began
The trip that started it all!!
This is us – Kenny and Connie – during our first trip to New Orleans. While there during one of their MANY festivals, we discovered a vendor selling handmade soap. I was intrigued, and that’s where the journey began.
Our History
Like a lot of cottage businesses, SoKY Soapworks’s journey began with a hobby born out of a need. That need was dry skin . . . VERY dry skin . . . and that dry skin needed something to help condition and moisturize. I became fascinated with a kiosk of soap loaves I saw while on vacation. I came home and researched until my husband bought me a book. We gathered the basics, and I made my first soap in June 2011. It was not the best in the world, but I had made it!!
The first soaps were not pretty. The first soaps were not moisturizing. But the first soaps were cleansing and they were soap!!I used a cheese box as a mold and had to destroy it to get the first loaf out. Luckily I had two of them 😀
We have come a long way since 2011!!
As I learned and developed my “recipe,” I became more and more satisfied with the results. I began to supply soap to family, give it to friends, gift it at Christmas, etc. But, I still had a house full of soap — I was an addict! People were offering to buy it for themselves and others. Some hairstylist friends wanted it in their shops to sell. I was approached by consignment shops. In 2012 we started selling. It was no longer just a hobby.
Our Venues and Workers
Our Moral Support
Many people have been involved in this journey with us. Kenny, my husband, has always been supportive. He bought me my first book and has cheered me on ever since. Jamie, my oldest son, helped me sell at first. He then did the market for me so I could do the making. As Luke, our grandson, got older, Jamie got him involved in the farmers market work as well. Eventually Jamie worked one market while Luke worked another. When Jamie was not able to work the markets any longer, June, my mom, stepped up. She and Smidgen (her dog) along with Luke worked the inside farmer’s market. There have been others who have worked for a short time. I just can’t mention them all.
However, there has been a lot of help and moral support behind the scenes. I am very blessed as I have a family that is, without exception, completely supportive. They have designed logos, built webpages, sold products, given out products, tested products (the are my guinea pigs), explained technology, and so much more. The do about anything I need. They are the best!!
Our Journey Continues
After 10 years of teaching and making soap I have retired from teaching. I can dedicate all the time I need to SoKY Soapworks. I still make all our products in small batches, in our kitchen, in Edmonson County in South Central Kentucky. This is not the end — it’s only the beginning!!
Thank you for your interest in our business.
