|
July 2005's Diva
Jill Jones
of Bidwell Botanicals
**********************************************************
About Bidwell Botanicals
**********************************************************
Bidwell Botanicals came into existence in our hearts and minds long before the first label was ever printed. Creating natural personal care products has always been my passion. For as long as I can remember I have been drawn to the scents and properties of herbs, essential oils and botanicals. Combining my love for nature's bounty and simple yet luxurious skin care seemed a natural synergy.
I have always loved creating our original recipes with the most natural and beneficial ingredients available to us. We use our own organically grown herbs and botanicals, as well as locally produced ingredients whenever possible.
As our company grows we strive to maintain personal contact with all of our customers. We recognize that Bidwell Botanicals thrives only because of your love for our creations. We hope that you enjoy our products as much as we enjoy making them for you.
Warmest Regards,
Jill Jones - Founder
**********************************************************
The Review
**********************************************************
Can I tell you how much I love my job? After a long hard day after the office.. hehe.. I come home smelling like heaven!! Where else is healthy skin included as a benefit?
Now I know I have fallen in love with skin and bath products before. But that's what makes Bidwell Botanicals so great. Although I have used and loved many, many different products in the past... theirs still offered something new. Fresh scents that lasted for ages (even in this Midwest humidity), and such a great feeling to my entire body.
You guys know us by now... Bidwell Botanicals isn't a Crafty Diva by chance. They met the challenge and passed the test with flying colors. They have earned a place in our Crafty Diva Hall of Fame.. and in my beauty routine!!
~Trixie, July 2005
**********************************************************
The Gallery
**********************************************************
**********************************************************
The Interview
**********************************************************
The Basic Lowdown:
Girlposse.com: Who are you?
Jill Jones: I am many things including, but not limited to, mother, wife and driven business woman.
Girlposse.com: Where are you located?
Jill Jones: We are located in Alpharetta, GA, just north of Atlanta.
Girlposse.com: What is your creation/business?
Jill Jones: Bidwell Botanicals is a woman-owned independent handmade manufacturer of spa, bath and body products with a natural edge. (now that's a mouthful!) Our products are botanically based and combine the best that science and nature can offer.
Girlposse.com: Where can people buy your stuff?
Jill Jones: Our products are sold in spas, gift stores and boutiques in the US and internationally. Our retail locations are listed here: http://www.bidwellbotanicals.com/retail-outlets.html . We offer secure online shopping from our website as well.
Girlposse.com: Tell us something about yourself - your personality:
Jill Jones: I am passionate about everything I do. I am a fiercely protective mother. I think that extends to my entire family and friends. I come from a HUGE family with lots of brothers and sisters and all of their extensions. We love, laugh and play together and I can't imagine it being any other way. My mother was always very clear about what our priorities should be in life and she passed that on to all of us. My husband, children and family are the center of my universe!
I love all kinds of foods, the stranger the better, sushi being my #1 craving alternating with very high quality chocolate. I love to cook and I am an avid gardener. Herbs, of course, but all kinds of fruits, flowers and veggies abound in my backyard and wind up on our table. There's nothing better than walking the yard picking and tasting along the way. Experiencing what the earth freely offers is Zen-like for me. The best medicine for a stressful day.
The Nitty Gritty:
YOUR Questions... Answered!!!
Last month we tried something new .. and Jill was gracious enough to be our guinea pig. Each month we feature various Crafty Divas... and we ask them what we want to know. This time we let you do the asking. Here is what you wanted to know, as well as Jill's answers....
Girlposse.com Reader: How did you decide upon this group of products?
Jill Jones: Our product line is fairly vast. We wanted to offer a little something for everyone. We decided to incorporate botanicals of some kind in every product for their beneficial properties, and because I love them!
Girlposse.com Reader: How do you choose your products, and are you involved in the selection of
ingredients used?
Jill Jones: I actually formulate every product that we sell. That's the fun part! As for choosing products to create, we know what we like and talk to our testers, friends and families. We also watch the market trends and try to be one step ahead of the game.
Girlposse.com Reader: How do you come up with the names?
Jill Jones: Brainstorming mostly. Get a group of people together in a room with lots of caffeine and let the fun begin.
Girlposse.com Reader: How do you come up with your scents of soaps and what is your best seller
in soaps?
Jill Jones: Mostly we put together scents we like and hope our customers will too. We develop a product and test, test, test before it's released. We've had a few clunkers that never made it to market, believe me. Best sellers change throughout the year, but lavender is always a customer favorite followed closely by any fresh, fruity blend.
Girlposse.com Reader: How much research and experimentation did it take to develop a
introductory product line?
Jill Jones: It really depends on the product. Most of what we do is thought out for some time before it is even made for the first time. All products have to go through testing phases before the public will ever see it.
Girlposse.com Reader: What is YOUR favorite of all your products?
Jill Jones: That's a tough question! I adore all of our soaps. I can't imagine using commercial soap products ever again. Other than soap, I guess I would have to say our Shea Butter Sugar Scrubs are my fave at this time. I love how the products works and makes my skin feel soft and smooth, never greasy.
Girlposse.com Reader: Will you expand your business to carry natural makeup?
Jill Jones: No, that is not in our future. I really feel you have to be involved in that industry as either a makeup artist or cosmetician to develop a good product line. I hardly wear any makeup, so that's not an area I have any expertise in.
Girlposse.com Reader: What new products do you have coming out?
Jill Jones: We will be offering a new men's line in the Fall. We will also introduce some new facial products very soon. As always we bring out some new scents and products for the holiday season, but those are still a secret!
Girlposse.com Reader: How does it feel making such wonderful products?
Jill Jones: Awesome! There's nothing better than knowing people are using and enjoying things that we've created.
Girlposse.com Reader: Are salt scrubs better than sugar scrubs? If so, or not, why?
Jill Jones: I really think it's just a personal preference. I personally prefer sugar scrubs because if I have one little nick on my skin salt can be a bit painful, and I am definitely NOT into pain!
Girlposse.com Reader: Do you find that men appreciate your products, too? If so, which are most
appropriate for men?
Jill Jones: Believe it or not about half of our customers are men that purchase products for themselves. Anything from soaps to moisturizers and in scents across the board. This is one of the reasons we're launching our new men's line very soon. Hey, guys need just as much pampering as women!
Girlposse.com Reader: What made you want to go into business for yourself?
Jill Jones: I have been self employed for eons! I love the flexibility and being my own boss. Before this business became a reality I was a professional website designer for 6 years. We also have an online lingerie store that we've run since 1996. Over the years I've worked as a freelance writer, designed and created custom swimwear, taught crafts classes to children and adults, and even did a stint as a legal scopist cleaning up court documents for court reporters. Am I showing my age yet?
Girlposse.com Reader: How did you get started making these botanical products? (Created for
yourself first or started out to build a business?)
Jill Jones: I've been making many of these types of products in one form or another since I was a teenager. I made my first bath bomb when I was 16 years old as a science project for school! My mother taught me how to care for my skin with natural products at an early age. I really got into the botanical part of it when I was first married and had children. My son had horrible eczema as a little guy and nothing the doctors gave me helped him. I decided to take matters into my own hands and started using a more natural, simple approach to his skin care and it worked! When I decided to sell these products we looked at this as a business from the word go and learned as we went along. We're still learning and hope to be for the duration, otherwise it would get boring.
Girlposse.com Reader: Do you make all your items yourself and if you have help, what size is
your company?
Jill Jones: We are a small independent company and we like it that way. I don't like too many cooks in the kitchen, if you know what I mean. The number of employees depends on the time of the year. We hire part time help during the holidays to help with the increased volume, but do nicely with a small trained staff.
Girlposse.com Reader: I'm a mother and a career woman too. My schedule is sooo tight. How do you
find the time to care for your family and still pursue and meet your goals?
Jill Jones: Our five children are all nearly grown so it makes family life a bit less insane. My children take turns helping out with the business. I ran my own business from home when my children were young, but it was quite a bit smaller than the one I run now and my hours were more flexible to meet their needs. You just have to be insanely organized and driven. I have a friend with two young daughters that runs a very successful business, tends to all of their needs and is a very involved mom. I have never met anyone more organized! It can be done, it just takes a bit of extra work and energy. Just don't forget to take some time for yourself.
Girlposse.com Reader: What advise do you have for women who want to start their own business??
Jill Jones: Make sure you know what you're getting yourself into. Any business will take time to get off the ground, so you usually need to give yourself a few years to grow. I suggest talking to a professional small business counselor. They can help you come up with a sound business plan that will help you avoid some of the pitfalls many small businesses encounter, or at least be ready with a plan of action when you hit a snag. Mostly, do what makes you happy and fulfilled! If you don't like what you're doing, why bother?
Girlposse.com Reader: What's your favorite thing about owning and running your own business?
Jill Jones: My favorite thing is creating and making the product. I love the creative process and I have reams of notes for future product lines, more than we could ever use! My brain never stops working. I even have a pad and pencil on my nightstand because sometimes I'll wake up in the middle of the night with an idea and I have to write it down immediately!
Girlposse.com Reader: Where did you get the funding to start your business?
Jill Jones: We started very small, one bar of soap at a time so to speak. Many people go the small business loan route, but we decided from the beginning that we would grow slowly, keep our overhead low and putting everything back into the business. So far that plan is working and we've run in the black from day one. This method takes extreme patience, which I possess little of many days. I have a wonderful husband and business partner with a great business mind who anchors me when I start to float a little too high. In our case slow and steady is the way to success.
Girlposse.com Reader: Do you do any advertising and how (through what medium)?
Jill Jones: We advertise through the Web in various ways both paid and unpaid. We also use print ads and we are looking at some radio advertising later this year. Luckily most of our referrals are by word of mouth, which really is the best way in my opinion. Happy customers are your best advertisements!
Girlposse.com Reader: What keeps you going?
Jill Jones: I love what I do! I won't lie and say every day is a breeze. I work a LOT of hours, sometimes 18 hours a day during the height of our busy seasons. I love the process of creating products. I can't tell you how exciting it is for me to this day to mix acid and alkaline and watch them become a gorgeous, fragrant block of skin-pampering soap! Who knew science could be so much fun? My science teacher from high school would be so proud.
~July 2005
****************************
Are you a Crafty Diva and Entrepreneurial Empress? Or do you know one that should be featured in a future Girlposse.com issue? If so, visit our Crafty Diva Info Page for the details.
****************************
send this review to a friend
2005 Crafty Divas Hall of Fame
2004 Crafty Divas Hall of Fame
2003 Crafty Divas Hall of Fame
|
|
Printer Friendly Version