What does your business do?

Specifically, I make all natural products for home and body. Living as chemical free al ife as possible is something I am very passionate about. I make a variety of items like deodorant, bath salts, sugar scrubs, lip balms, salves, body butters, perfume roller, roller remedies, soaps, coffee scrubs, natural cold remedies, baby wellness items (bum cream, lotions, soaps etc..) hand sanitizers etc...and then I am always trying/making new items. Many times I have people request items from me and if I can acquire the right ingredients I will make them. Around the holidays I will make up baskets or kits. Sometimes people love to see something and purchase it, rather than come up with an idea themselves. People can feel great about what they are using on their bodies or in their homes, knowing that there are no harsh chemicals in any of my products. I also source any ingredients I can from local people. I use locally harvested honey for my products that contain it, I grow my own lavender for the buds and infusing oils, I use fair trade ingredients whenever I can. I love to help support the smaller run businesses.

How would you use the grant money?

My plans for if I was awarded money would first be to order bulk ingredients for everything I make because I go through it very quickly as I can only order so much at a time. I would also purchase the proper boxes or storage racks for my items to be carried on counter tops or shelves. I would purchase and run a professional website, and If I had any money left over, I would love to put it towards a down payment on a space outside of the home to sell my products and other locally made goods/crafts. I have visions of offering classes maybe once a month in that space where people could come and make a product. It could be run by any of the makers, not just me. Example...I have a wonderful mom friend who make gorgeous weaving...if she wanted to, she could teach a class one night in the space and people could pay a small fee and sign up to create their own weaving. We don't have anything like this in my town or area, and it could be really fun, as well as give notice to the local makers around us.
*The reason I am applying for a grant is because with only one income, the cost for supplies can be much, and I can only order them when we have the extra money which is very tough to come by in the winter time. My husband owns his own excavation business (very new, he started on his own this past August) and there is no work because of the weather. The only income we get is from plowing...which means we rely on mother nature for that. Or he has to find odd jobs, if any. This time of year is always tough. Christmas time was busy for me as many people love to give my products as gifts...but most of that money went towards bills and not savings. So if I were eligible for some type of grant it could really help give me a boost and perhaps down the road bigger things will happen and I can really help out at home, lessening the financial burden on my husband as well as offering great products that people love.

What would the grant enable you to do that you can't now?

It could help me acquire bulk ingredients rather than ordering only so many at a time. I would be able to carry a larger stock of items. I could pay for and run a professional website rather than one with minimal options. I could also purchase marketing materials like tote bags, apparel, business cards, pens, etc things I could offer as incentives or just hand out as a thank you. And also my vision of having a shop...it could potentially help start that process.

If Idea Cafe's Grant helps your biz reach greater success, how will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?

I would gladly donate products/goods for school wide functions, (our local schools hold a basket bash every year and last year i donated a basket of goods to be raffled off.) If I were to receive a grant I would be able to offer even more of my products. I would teach free classes on DIY beauty and home wellness.