August 2005's Diva
Rebecca of
Country Meadow Soaps

Country Meadow is a family owned business that specializes in the manufacture and distribution of bath, body and candle products.

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The Review
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Soothing. That is the best word to describe Country Meadow Soaps' line of body goodies. The scents are subtle and delightful. Never overpowering. Their lotions and creams leave you feeling silky and your skin hydrated. Using and expiramenting with this line of products was like having a spa day every day. (The whipped body cream is to die for!!!) It truly feels like you are completely spoiling yourself. Which is something we think everyoe needs to do. Don't you? Spa feel, spa scent, all without the spa price! Bravo!!

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The Gallery
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The Interview
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The Basic Lowdown:

Girlposse.com: Who are you?
Rebecca: I am a 43 yr old wife, mother, nanna and small business owner.

Girlposse.com: Where are you located?
Rebecca: We are located in Lynnwood, Washington just north of Seattle. We do not have a retail location nor are we set up for walk in customers. Our products are available on our website as well as several local retail stores/boutiques.

Girlposse.com: What is your creation / business?
Rebecca: My business is Country Meadow. We specialize in the manufacture and distribution of bath and body products as well as candles and gift baskets.

Girlposse.com: Where can people buy your stuff? (links, stores, etc.)
Rebecca: Our products are available on our website (www.countrymeadowsoaps.com) as well as local gift boutiques and retail stores..among them Central Market - Shoreline and Central Market - Mill Creek.

Girlposse.com: Tell us something about yourself - your personality:
Rebecca: I am a quiet person (though my husband may disagree!!!) and I dont like to stand out in a crowd. I love to sit back and watch...people, nature....life. I like perfection and my worst pet peeve is when something mechanical goes wrong...car, computer, clothes washer.....drives me nuts!

The Nitty Gritty:



Girlposse.com: How long have you been doing this?
Rebecca: I started making soap back in 1998 but I didnt take out a business license until 1999 as I had no intention of selling my products at that time!

Girlposse.com: Beginning a business is a big step. What made you want to go into business for yourself?
Rebecca: I originally had no intention of going into business! My products that first year went to family for holiday gifts. As I got more experience my products got better and soon I was selling at local craft fairs and farmers markets. Business has grown by leaps and bounds each year and a few years ago we discontinued the farmers markets/craft fairs and now concentrate on wholesale accounts.

Girlposse.com: Did you have previous business experience - or was the business end new to you?
Rebecca: I had experience in the business world so I was familiar with accounting procedures, customer service and general marketing.

Girlposse.com: What's your favorite thing about owning and running your own business?
Rebecca: Running your own business is tough...its all you...24/7. You cant come home and put it away...you think about it all the time...sometimes thats good..and sometimes it can get you a little frustrated!
My favorite thing is personal satisfaction.
I feel good at the end of the day knowing we have a great product that customers are willing to spend their hard earned money on. We use quality ingredients and not a lot of 'fluff' in our products so the customer is getting the best possible bang for their buck!

Girlposse.com: What was (is) your biggest obstacle in selling what you create?
Rebecca: Remember I am a quiet person...I like to sit back and watch...
I am not pushy in any way, shape or form.
This has been my biggest obstacle although I am getting better!
Because we cater to wholesale clients it can get a little nerve wracking trying to set up that first meeting. Luckily we have had rave reviews and so far our clients have been real receptive. The second biggest obstacle is trying to fight the misinformation regarding skin care products and what exactly the term 'natural' means.

Girlposse.com: How do you choose your scents?
Rebecca: In the beginning I purchased scents on a whim. After a couple of years of that I started paring down what I offered and grouped scents into three's. This allows for better packaging and gift sets.
I will try a group of three scents and if they dont move fast enough they are discontinued. Scents are regional. What is popular here wont be on the east coast. Mostly its a trial and error process.

Girlposse.com: You have a variety of items you offer. What are some of your favorites? I have two favorite collections.
SpaLusion
This one was tough and took me a long time before I finalized it. Everything in this line had to be related.
Ile de France - French green clay comes from France so I had to find a product name that reflected that. Ile de France is an actual fertile depression in France where 2 particular rivers join the Seine.
Ein Gedi - Dead Sea clay is used in our Ein Gedi products. Ein Gedi is a nature preserve that is not far from the Dead Sea!
Valley of Dades - Rhassoul clay is used in this line. This clay is mined from beneath the Atlas mountains in Morocco. Valley of Dades is an actual oasis in Morocco.
I was able, through trial and error find what I call 'spa type' fragrances... my favorite being the Ile de France.
Our best selling line is our Umoja line.
The product line (and my favorite) is made from unrefined African oils and butters. These raw ingredients are hand processed by the women of Togo, Africa. We use complimenting essential oils with a touch of fragrance oils that make it perfect for both men and women.

Girlposse.com: How long do you test a product before you make it available to your customers?
Rebecca: That will depend on the product.
We are very experienced in the manufacture of soap that we require no testing period. For our lotions and whipped body creams we require a 6 month testing period then samples are sent out to a local lab for bacterial/contamination results. If test results are favorable then the product goes up for sale.

Girlposse.com: Are there any plans to expand your product line? This year we are paring down our scent lines to enable us to fully concentrate on the more popular collections.
Rebecca: We are currently working on a new whipped body cream (can you say...coffee!!??).
At the end of this year we will evaluate our product line. I do have a few ideas in mind for 2006!

Girlposse.com: What keeps you going on a bad day?
Rebecca: Luckily I have not had too many bad days. There are days when things just dont seem to go the way you want them to but I just try to remember.... Tomorrow is another day.

Girlposse.com: What was the best piece of advice you've been given? DONT GIVE UP!

Girlposse.com: What advice do you have for women who want to start their own business??
Rebecca: If you have a dream hold on to it. Dont let anyone talk you down or tell you what a bad idea it is.
Get as much business education as you can before starting.
Find a niche and market to that niche.
Specialize and dont try to do it all.
And most of all....
Never give up.
You are your only limitation!

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Your Chance to Win!
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This month Rebecca of Country Meadow Soaps is giving you a chance to win a Mystery Prize!!!

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Past Crafty Divas: Midnight Firefly Blume Girl Baby Cakes Felix And Agatha Two Blue Candle Co. Eclectic Elements World According to Jess Bella Lucce 2003 Crafty Diva Hall of Fame 2004 Crafty Diva Hall of Fame