Oakley mother turns her hobby of making soap into a business

CINCINNATI (WXIX) – A wife and mother of two is proving she can do it all after turning her hobby into a business, giving her clients a moment of luxury in the palm of their hands.

Her business that started in her kitchen has now expanded into a commercial space.

However, she says the quality of making each product by hand has not changed.

Laura Pipitone, opened the Oakley Soap Company seven years ago when her youngest child started preschool.

With a little more time on her hands, she decided to pick up a hobby.

“I’ve always loved soaps,” Laura says. “I always was looking at the other soap vendors, and I was always afraid to do it because it involved lye. I was afraid it would be dangerous with little kids were out in school.”

Laura says that her youngest daughter starting school was the perfect time to try.

“So, I read some books watched some YouTube videos, and I was immediately hooked,” she says.

Laura says she never set out to start a business. “I just started showing things on social media and friends were asking, oh can I have one,” she tells FOX19 NOW.

Laura says the demand from friends and family grew so much, that she started asking them to pitch in for materials.

“I just started asking people to send a couple of bucks to help fund the cost of the materials,” Laura says. “When I started to add it up I was like oh, this could be a big thing. And it really just took off like lightning from there thanks to social media.”

Laura says meeting her customers and getting feedback on how her soaps, shampoos and scrubs have improved their lives in some small way is what excites her to create more products.

“I get chills anytime a customer comes to me and says I love your product,” Laura says. “When people email me saying my skin feels better because I used this soap. That makes all the difference in the world.”

Part of what excited Laura so much is the impact her products have on her customers.

“A lot of my customers are parents, and they don’t really have a lot of free time for themselves and sometimes the shower is the only time that they’re alone,” she says. “So, I love that customers can have an affordable fancy thing that they can just make their day a little bit better.”

Being a busy mom and wife herself, Laura says she is mostly proud of what she’s been able to create on her own – that brings her joy every day.

“It’s the best feeling in the whole world to be able to not roll out of bed and say ugh, I don’t want to go today,” Laura says. “I’m excited to come into the studio. I’m excited to learn about new products. I’m excited to go to markets and meet people. Start small but take that leap. The biggest thing that’s blocking you is usually you and your own walls that you’ve put up.”

Laura says going for it is still one of the best decisions she’s made.

Now she is looking forward to growing and expanding her business.

To learn more about Laura and her business, just visit the Oakley Soap Company website.

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