Women entrepreneurs in Tucson develop natural soap business

TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Women are redefining what it means to be a business owner.

Recent studies show women are starting businesses at twice the rate of men, with many female entrepreneurs over the age of 40.

A soap business in Oro Valley was started by women looking to solve a problem that they saw with bath and body products.

It’s called The Broken Circle Soap Co.

It started as a passion project for reasons beyond financial gain. And now, it’s making a social impact.

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“This is just a big batch of soap that comes in a slab mold,” said Tahnee Wilson who describes herself as the maker. “What I do is break it down into smaller bars of soap.”

Her cousin Desiree Davis is the designer. Every bath and body product is made by hand.

“It’s really important to us because our hearts go into it,” said Davis.

When they’re not making products, Davis is a real estate agent and loan officer. Wilson is a respiratory therapist.

Both are moms.

13 News asked how the idea came about.

“Sort of by divine intervention,” said Wilson.

Over coffee, the cousins shared a nearly identical business idea.

“My son was having a hard time with the bath, and so I’m like what can I do to make it funner,” Davis said.

“And my son had eczema at the time,” said Wilson, “I was looking for recipes on how to make my own soap for him, and products that are natural.”

They tested formulas on friends and family for about a year before launching The Broken Circle Soap Co. as an online business.

“I was making out of a 10×10 shed in my backyard and she was storing all the products in a 10×12 room in her house,” said Wilson.

Within months, demand exploded, with many products selling out. So, they moved into a production studio with a storefront.

13 News talked with the owner and executive director of Artists & Makers Studios. She told us the studios range in size from 77 square feet up to 230 square feet. They’re workspaces for artists and makers but they also have large windows for visitors to look, visit, and shop.

In an email, the Town of Oro Valley tells 13 News, “It was a unique set of circumstances that led to the Artists & Makers Studio finding a home in Oro Valley. As part of a conditional use permit approval for the Extra Space Storage site at Oracle/Calle Concordia and the Life Storage at Steam Pump Village, the developer was required to include small business incubator spaces, which is where the Artists & Makers Studio eventually opened. Oro Valley is the only jurisdiction in the area taking this kind of targeted and novel approach to development. It is the result of creative collaboration with staff and Oro Valley Town Council, and it has resulted in a wonderful addition to our community.”

“These are our four-ounce toy soaps for our kid’s line. Our kids’ line is Precious,” Davis said. “This is our unicorn soap; this is our dinosaur soap. We also have our digger soap.”

Prices range from $4 for lip butter to $18 for candles. They also have a men’s line.

Not only is the business creating a cycle of empowerment for their families, it’s also been a journey of healing.

“Desiree and I come from a lot of generational traumas. And generational cycles that were passed down to us, from our parents, and from their parents. And whenever we became moms, we decided to break those cycles. Cycles are like a circle that never ends. So that’s where our name comes from The Broken Circle Soap Co. because we broke all of those cycles,” said Davis, “So, we created this business to be a safe place for people to know that they are not alone in their healing journey.”

As the company grows, they hope to hire and inspire other women.

Last weekend, the Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at The Broken Circle Soap Co.

Since December 2020, the Town has had 106 new small businesses open.

A town spokesperson tells 13 News that 50 percent of Oro Valley’s general fund — which pays for essentials like roads, parks and police — comes from local sales tax. The Town’s community and economic development department offers programs and incentives designed to help small businesses grow.

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