Summary

In this episode of the Dirty Heifers podcast, host Margaret Connor and co-hosts Jessie and Shauna welcome Jeri Anne Huffstutler, the founder of Southern Natural, a goat milk soap brand. Jeri Anne shares her inspiring journey from struggling with eczema to creating a successful skincare line. The conversation covers her initial challenges, the transition from farmers markets to online sales, and the leap to selling on Amazon. Jeri Anne discusses the importance of family support, maintaining product quality while scaling, and her passion for product development. The episode concludes with a fun lightning round of preferences related to soap making and business.

Takeaways

Jeri Anne struggled with eczema for 12 years before discovering goat milk soap.

The idea to make goat milk soap came to Jeri Anne during a prayer.

Jeri Anne's brother encouraged her to sell on Amazon, leading to significant growth.

Maintaining quality while scaling is a challenge for many small businesses.

Jeri Anne enjoys experimenting with new products but finds it hard to find time.

Family and community support have been crucial to Jeri Anne's business success.

Jeri Anne's business has evolved from farmers markets to multiple Whole Foods locations.

The transition to using goat milk powder simplified the soap-making process.

Jeri Anne has four employees, many of whom are family members.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Jeri Anne and Her Business

03:21 Jeri Anne's Journey with Eczema and Soap Making

05:54 The Journey Begins: A Prayer for Guidance

09:16 From Goat to Soap: The Birth of a Business

12:46 Breaking into the Market: Craft Fairs and Whole Foods

15:16 Taking the Leap: Selling on Amazon

19:52 Navigating Challenges: The Amazon Experience

24:46 Scaling Up: Maintaining Quality in Growth

31:09 Reflecting on Success: Proud Moments and Future Goals

34:33 Exploring Sales Platforms

37:34 The Role of Social Media in Business

42:37 The Journey of Building a Business

44:59 Family and Community Involvement in Business

51:51 Fun and Lighthearted Moments in Business

52:27 short moo intro:outro.mp4

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This week’s guest:

https://southernnaturals.com/