In late 2016, I knew I was nearing the end of a career I loved as a Licensed Massage Therapist. I tried to drown out the singing of that little bird, until the message could no longer be ignored:
After twelve years of touching skin and kneading muscle, my thumbs betrayed me. I knew I had to let massage go.
Starting out, making soap was something I did for fun. I'd been making soap for a year when I started selling it to support my hobby.
I never thought about branding, but in 2012 I opened an Etsy shop and had to name it something. The name of my practice was Massage Haven.
M.H. Brand seemed logical, but people would ask, "What does that mean?" In 2015, I changed the name to Lilac & Olive Soaperie.
Tammy Burkle of Studio631 designed this pretty logo for me. I wanted it to have a vintage flair, and thought she did a great job. I was in love.
I made what I liked, and whatever anyone else asked me to make because it was fun. My products became so wide and varied, I couldn't keep up. I was always out of something, and disappointing someone. I wasn't running my business, my business was running me! I knew I needed to tighten things up, with no clue of how to do it.
With the count-down to the end of my massage career looming nearer, I began looking for some guidance for my little soap business.
I was attracted to the no-nonsense style of Lela Barker of Lucky Break Consulting.
Her philosophy of "do less and do it better", sounded good to me! I registered for her branding course in the spring of 2017. I was ready to focus. Her course helped me figure out what I wanted my brand to be. I've always loved vintage styles, and especially The Roaring 20s.
Lela helped me pull my affection for all-things vintage, into focus.
And I landed upon The Roaring 20's, for it's Flapper Girls and beautiful styles.
I loved the name Lilac & Olive Soaperie, but liked Gilded Olive Apothecary even better. I was making my own packaging in random, retro styles and the idea of letting someone else do it better sounded great to me.
I found a connection with graphic designer Erika Firm of Analog Creative Co. She shared a mutual love for vintage style and the color green, and she designed my new packaging and logo.
I've gained so much from this year-long experience, with gaining patience at the top of the list. Revision after revision, I could see we were getting closer to what I'd been looking for, and we kept working.
Finally, the lovely & talented Riley Fouts of Madame Scodioli took some gorgeous photographs for me, and I could finally see it all coming together.
I'm so grateful to these professionals who helped bring my vision into focus long enough to transform an idea into reality.
I think the end result's The Bees Knees, The Cats Pajamas!
It's been a lot of hard work, but I'm so happy with the end result.
Don't mind me over here, channeling Fitzgerald, and 'breathing dreams like air.'
Valerie
September 29, 2022
Thank you so much, ladies! Your support really means the world to me!! xo