Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Tiffaine Smith, Founder of 4t Craft House, located in Heflin, AL, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
4t Craft House is a small family farm-based business that uses farm-fresh goat's milk from our family goats for most of our amazing bath & body products. Our customers range from infants all the way up to seniors, but we specialize in people with sensitive skin. Our products are all limited high-quality ingredients that are Phalate and Sulfate-free, so customers don't mind paying a little more for a high-quality product that will make them love their skin again.
Tell us about yourself
4t Craft House is named after our family of 4 T's (Tommy, Tiffaine, Tommy, and Trista) and our Crafty House. My daughter has always had sensitive skin, and we used to purchase goats milk soaps from a friend, but she opted to stop making soaps, so I decided I would do some research and give it a go myself since I have been raising goats for years for their milk and as pets. After about 6 months of researching, I decided to make my first batch of cold-process soap in September 2020. I gave a lot of it away as Christmas gifts that year, and everyone loved it so much that they really encouraged me to start selling. So after a few tweaks and more testing, we started selling my soaps full-time in early 2021. Summer of 2022, we started selling at local craft markets, and things have really just taken off from there!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment is having customers come back raving about how much their skin has improved since using my products. There have been so many markets that my customers turn into my sales team because they just love sharing my products with everyone.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Probably the hardest part of this journey is our current economic state. Pricing items to where customers are willing to spend the money but also to where I pay myself for my time has been a tricky balancing act. But I have found that by just being honest with my customers when I have to raise prices, they have been very much on board with my choices.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
My first tip would be to do what you love! It is very true that if you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life!
The second tip would be to research every aspect of your products before you start selling. You will be shocked by the kind of questions customers have for you! The more knowledgeable you are, the more likely those questions will turn into sales.
My final tip is to make sure you have a great support team behind you! There have been so many days where I'm discouraged, and my family and friends are there to help me get back on track! Without them, I'm sure 4tCH would not be what it is today and what it will be in the future!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://4tcrafthouse.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/4tCraftHouse
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/4tCraftHouse/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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