The Dirty Heifers

Welcome back to another chaotic Heifer Huddle! 🤠 This week, the girls are breaking down the absolute reality of running a handmade business, surviving extreme overtime, and trying not to lose their minds during life transitions.

From an emergency Amazon purchase involving an incredibly questionable tool name, to a cold-process soap chemistry surprise that turned a white batch mauve pink with zero dye—we are covering it all. Plus, we're testing our vocabulary skills with the "Word of the Week" (with varying degrees of success) and figuring out how to manage massive custom-order inventories.

Drop a comment below: Have you ever had a fragrance oil completely change your soap color unexpectedly? 👇

Is your Shopify dashboard looking like a ghost town? You aren’t failing—you’re just experiencing the Summer Slump. ☀️📉

Every year, the weather warms up and small business sales cool down. In this episode of The Dirty Heifers, Margaret, Shauna, and Jessie break down exactly why engagement drops when the sun comes out and—more importantly—how to turn this "dead zone" into your most productive season of the year.

In this episode, we cover:

• The Psychology of the Slump: Why customers stop clicking when they head to the lake.
• Survival Strategies: How to pivot to tourist-town wholesale and "strategic restocking".
• The Holiday Headstart: Why June is actually the best time to make your Christmas soap.
• Fragrance Testing 101: Real talk on color morphing and scent retention.
• Mental Health for Makers: How to separate your self-worth from your daily notifications.

Don't let a slow week trick you into a "comparison spiral" or an unnecessary rebrand. Grab a cold drink, put on your "work helmet," and let’s get ready for the fall rush!.

Support our sponsor: ✨ Bawana Bath and Body – Creative serotonin boosts for makers who need to unplug!.

Subscribe for weekly unfiltered small business chaos!

Thinking about selling at a craft fair, farmers market, or pop-up shop? Watch this FIRST.

In this episode of The Dirty Heifers Podcast, we break down EVERYTHING no one tells you about vendor markets—from finding the right events to surviving your first show without losing your mind (or your profit 😅).

One of us is preparing for a massive 4-day festival with 100,000+ people, while the rest of us spill real, unfiltered lessons from years in the vendor trenches:

• How to find GOOD markets (and avoid total flops)
• Booth setups that actually attract customers
• What sells vs what just sits there
• Pricing psychology & why cheap markets can cost you MORE
• Mistakes that cost us time, money, and sanity
• Dealing with weird customers (yes… all types 😬)
• How to know if you made money… or just worked all day for nothing

Plus: 👉 The Word of the Week gets chaotic (as usual) 👉 Real stories from markets gone VERY wrong 👉 Practical tips you can actually use for your next event

Whether you're a beginner vendor or scaling your handmade business, this episode will save you time, money, and a whole lot of frustration.

🎧 New episodes every week—subscribe so you don’t miss the next one.

#DirtyHeifers #SmallBusiness #CraftMarkets

In this episode of the Dirty Heifers podcast, Margaret, Jessie, and Shauna pull up a chair for a little "real talk" about the unexpected side of running a bath and body business. While most makers start out focused on the craft, the journey quickly demands a whole new set of skills—from mastering video editing and product photography to the complex psychology of pricing and the constant art of on-the-fly troubleshooting.

The heifers share their personal experiences with shifting from a hobbyist mindset to a business owner mindset, including how they learned to value their work and stop the comparison trap. Plus, don’t miss our favorite segments: the Word of the Week (it’s not a pasta!) and a classic Southernism that might be an insult in disguise.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why video editing and social media are the skills you can't ignore.
• How understanding fragrance chemistry and suppliers "legitimizes" your brand.
• Jessie’s "macgyvered" solution for dispensing 100lb fragrance jugs.
• Moving past the fear of the camera and improving product photography.
• The psychology of pricing: Finding value in your bars

In this episode, Margaret (Warm and Fuzzy Soapery), Jessie (Country Lather Soapworks), and Shauna (Buona Bath & Body) pull back the curtain on the reality of running a bath and body business. From the shock of how much time goes into video editing to the surprising ease of scaling production, the heifers discuss the "rainbows and unicorns" they expected versus the spreadsheets and shipping boxes they actually got.

In this episode, we cover:

• The "Redneck Word of the Week": Learning how to say "Eskatawpa" (and why it matters if you're a Three Doors Down fan).
• The Content Struggle: Why making engaging marketing content is often harder than the actual soap making.
• The Box Debate: Does packaging really drive sales, or is it just for the "shelf-appeal" in wholesale?.
• Scaling Up: Why making 100 bars isn't actually 10 times harder than making 10.

Special thanks to our sponsor: Warm and Fuzzy Soapery.

Ever wondered what actually happens before fragrance oils arrive at your soap studio?

We got exclusive behind-the-scenes access inside Aromatic Fragrance International (AFI) — and what we saw completely changed how we think about fragrance suppliers.

We toured NINE buildings, watched robot-assisted fragrance production, explored a fragrance library with thousands of scents, and learned how fragrance oils are made, tested, stored, and customized for soapmakers.

If you're a soap maker, bath & body creator, candle maker — or just fragrance-obsessed — this episode pulls back the curtain on what really happens inside a professional fragrance manufacturer.

Inside this episode: ✔ How fragrance oils are actually produced ✔ Why suppliers make batches to order (not shelf stock) ✔ The truth about “thousands of mystery ingredients” myths ✔ How fragrances are optimized differently for soap vs candles ✔ What surprised us most touring a 9-building facility ✔ Why networking with suppliers can change your business ✔ Advice every new maker needs before buying fragrance oils

Plus… yes, they even had fragrances that smelled like gasoline, WD-40, and burning flesh 👀

Whether you're scaling your handmade business or just starting your soapmaking journey, this is one episode you don’t want to miss.

Follow the Dirty Heifers: 🐄 Warm & Fuzzy Soapery 🐄 Country Lather Soapworks 🐄 Bawana Bath & Body

Leave a review if you enjoyed the episode — it helps more makers find the show 💛

This week’s Heifer Huddle is exactly what you’d expect—business updates, industry surprises, moving chaos, and a whole lot of laughter along the way. 🐄✨

We kick things off with a truly sesquipedalian Word of the Week before diving into what’s happening behind the scenes in our soap businesses right now—from paint-your-own bath bombs for kids (and why lip-safe mica matters!) to unexpected TikTok Shop compliance violations under the INFORM Consumers Act.

We also talk about:

• preparing inventory before a move
• filming boundaries between home and shop life
• April Fools supplier emails that fooled some of us
• surprise order bursts without posting content
• appliances mysteriously breaking right before moving (why does that always happen?!)
• and the usual off-the-rails Dirty Heifers moments you’ve come to expect

It’s real talk about small business life, creative pivots, and the chaos that happens between batches.

Pull up a chair and join the herd. 🧼💬

Running a business changes your bank account and your schedule—but nobody warns you about how much it changes you.

In this episode, we’re peeling back the curtain on the "business metamorphosis." From learning how to set hard boundaries and saying "no" without a follow-up apology, to the total shift in money mindset that happens when you stop treating your craft like a hobby, we’re discussing the version of ourselves we’ve had to become to keep growing.

Whether you’re just starting out or you’re deep in the messy middle of building your brand, this conversation is for anyone who feels like they’re outgrowing their old skin.

We want to hear from you: What is one thing you used to be afraid of in your business that now feels like second nature? Let’s talk about it in the comments!

In this episode, we cover:

• The transition from "hobbyist" to "CEO" mindset.
• How to set boundaries with customers (and yourself).
• Why "business therapy" is essential for long-term success.
• Overcoming the fear of charging what you’re worth.

• Ever feel like you're following every piece of small business advice on TikTok but getting nowhere? In Episode 66 of the Dirty Heifers Podcast, Margaret, Jessie, and Shauna dive deep into the world of "business platitudes"—those overused phrases that sound smart but often lead makers astray.We’re breaking down why "just be consistent" isn't enough, how nicheing down can actually limit your growth, and why even the best products don't just "sell themselves." If you’re tired of being told to "just go viral" and want practical strategies that actually move the needle for your handmade business, this episode is for you.In this episode, we discuss:
  • The Word of the Week: Defining "platitudes" and why they can be dangerous for your strategy.
  • Consistency vs. Intentionality: Why doing the wrong thing consistently won't save your business.
  • The Niche Trap: Balancing specific targeting with a market size that can actually support you.
  • Branding & Trust: Why people buy into your story, not just your product.
  • The Reality of Virality: Why viral videos often lead to zero sales and how to build loyal systems instead.
  • Bonus: Our Redneck Word of the Week features some fun history on Iuka, Mississippi.

Support Our Sponsor:

• Warm and Fuzzy Soapery: Luxurious handmade bath and body products designed to give you that cozy, comforting feeling. Visit them at warmandfuzzysoapery.com.

About the Hosts:

• Margaret: Producer and host.
• Jessie (Country Lather Soapworks): Resident Southern belle and common-sense expert.
• Shauna (Bawuana Bath and Body): The official voice of reason and science.

Subscribe for more honest talk about the "dirty" reality of owning a small business!

Are you accidentally turning your handcrafted soap into an illegal drug? In today’s episode of the Dirty Heifers Podcast, Margaret, Jessie, and Shauna dive deep into the confusing—and sometimes ridiculous—world of FDA soap claims.

We’re breaking down the common marketing "folklore" that gets small business owners into hot water. From the truth about goat milk and charcoal to the wild claims surrounding "Yoni" soaps and pomegranate deodorizers, we discuss what is scientifically accurate versus what is legally allowed.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why "Moisturizing" is a tricky word for soapmakers.
• The legal risks of using customer reviews and testimonials as marketing.
• Common ingredient myths: Turmeric, Tallow, and Colloidal Oatmeal.
• Word of the Week: Apocryphal.
• Redneck Word of the Day: Slough (and no, it’s not what you think!).

Shop our Sponsor: Support the Southern Heifer herself at Country Lather Soapworks.

Follow the Heifers:

• Margaret: Warm and Fuzzy Soapery
• Shauna: Bawauna Bath and Body

Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this with a fellow maker!

00:00 Introduction and Technical Difficulties

00:30 Bikes and Riding Adventures

02:19 Workshop Setup and Equipment

04:24 Soap Claims and Regulations

06:53 Navigating FDA Regulations in Product Claims

10:08 Understanding Marketing Myths and Misconceptions

11:16 The Truth About Ingredients and Their Claims

14:11 The Impact of Customer Reviews on Claims

17:23 Debunking Yoni Soap Myths

23:27 Common Drug Claims and Their Implications

26:49 Navigating Customer Testimonials and Legal Risks

29:25 Understanding Claims: Cosmetic vs. Medical

32:54 The Challenges of Marketing Handmade Soaps

36:24 Regulatory Pitfalls in Soap Marketing

40:44 Real-World Examples of Regulatory Issues

44:17 The Importance of Honest Marketing in the Handmade Community

47:14 short moo intro:outro.mp4