Our local newspaper ran a story about our campaign.
Read more about it here...
Hi Everyone!
I’m Carolyn. My partner Ulrich and I are the owners of The Natural Choice Apothecary. We’d like to tell you about our fundraising campaign.
I’ll tell you a bit about our little business, how you can help us and a couple of really great local charities at the same time.
There are also some cool product bundles for perks and an Indiegogo exclusive product!
How we got started…
During my 20’s I spent four years as an Avon Lady. I joined just about every program they offered and wanted to learn more! I was involved with recruiting, training & mentoring, fundraising, vending at trade shows, their Beauty Advisor program (learning about skin care) and much more! I learned so much about leadership, sales, being self-employed, public speaking, skin care and the power of community.
In 2008 I really started paying attention to the ingredients in the lotions, lip balms and bath products that were in my home and being used on my children. I became slightly obsessed with ridding my house of toxins. I bought books, spent hours reading blogs and decided I could make a go of DIY natural skincare. With my Avon experience for a foundation I figured I was already halfway there. My friends and family became willing product-testers. With their feedback, I was able to perfect the recipes without using gross chemicals.
After much encouragement from my friends, I started selling my salves, lip butters, bath salts, scrubs and eventually lotions at local fairs and Farmer’s Markets. I have developed a wonderful client base. They have been my support and cheerleaders over the years.
Since 2008, it has been my passion to improve the quality of affordable skincare products and continue to raise awareness about toxic chemicals that are in the mass produced big brand products.
I only use high quality natural ingredients in all of my products, always choosing Non-GMO, Organic and Ethically wildcrafted ingredients when available. I never use artificial flavoring or scents in any of my products.
In September 2012, Ulrich joined my family and quickly started learning how everything is made. In December we opened an Etsy shop and have had wonderful success. We have 100% positive feedback from our Etsy customers and many positive testimonails on our Facebook fan page.
When you invest in our Indiegogo campaign you can feel confident that you will receive your perk in a timely manner. (Orders in our Etsy shop are usually shipped early. We’ve never shipped any order late.) This has been our full-time job since December 2012. We are already in a routine of production, our packaging is ready to print as orders come in, and we have already ordered all the shipping supplies we will need.
We started growing beyond our space…
In December 2012 we were contacted by Herb & Renewal about a wholesale partnership with a first order to be delivered in May. We tackled our first wholesale order (it was $2,780 retail!) and quickly learned that we need more space to work. There were boxes taking over our whole house! Expanding our workspace to accommodate consistent larger orders more smoothly is our long term goal.
In May 2012 I purchased a 70’s model single wide trailer. It is in disrepair but the frame is still in great shape. When I look at it all I see is potential!
What We Need
A little more detail about how we will use the funds:
- About half of what we receive will go to pay for the materials to produce the perks, packaging, postage, Indiegogo Fees (4-9%), payment processing fees (3%) and fuel to deliver to the shelters.
- We need to purchase more building materials. Recycled and eco-friendly materials will be used whenever possible. We’d love to get solar panels someday! We hope to have the trailer fully functional by spring 2014.
If we don’t reach our goal all remaining funds after fulfilling the perks will be used to fund further renovations. I built this little business on a shoestring budget… and I’ll keep working on my dream to build my brand into a thriving business!
What You Get ~ Let’s Talk Perks!
- $3 Good Karma & a Coupon for 10% off future purchases for a year!
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$20 Pay it Forward & Donate a care package of our all natural products to a local Domestic Abuse shelter. Each care package contains: 2oz Body Butter (Vegan and Gluten free), 1 tube of natural Lip Butter, 1/3 oz All Purpose Healing Salve, 1 vegan, hemp soap w/ luffa. If you have a preference, please choose a charity when selecting this perk. All unspecified perks will be divided between the 3 charities. At the end of the Campaign we will post updates and pictures of the deliveries to the Shelters and add your name to the Donor's list.
- $25 Perfect for travelers 2oz Vegan Restore Body Butter, 1 tube of All Natural “Naked” Lip Butter, 1 pot of All Purpose Healing Salve (1/3 oz.), 1 bar of Vegan Hemp soap w/luffa and Fair Trade Organic Coffee.
- $25 Limited Edition Indiegogo Exclusive Vegan Lotion Stick. ONLY 20 of these exclusive Patchouli-Rose Lotion Sticks will be made. They are only available from this Indiegogo campaign. Each tube will be numbered on the bottom and shipped in order by date of contribution. Each buttery Vegan Lotion Stick will contain Organic Mango Butter, Avocado Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Non-GMO USA grown Soy wax, Roses (grown organically in my garden), Patchouli Leaves, Organic Patchouli Oil and Orgainc Rose Geranium Oil.
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$50 Restore Me – Full Line. Restore is carefully formulated for problem skin. Many of our customers tell us it relieves their Eczema and Psoriasis symptoms. This perk gets you... 1 8oz Restore Vegan Body Butter, 1 2oz Restore Vegan Body Butter, 1 2oz Restore Vegan Lotion Stick, 1 Healing Lip Butter, 1 6ml Pot of All Purpose Healing Salve, 1 10ml Pot of All Purpose Healing Salve, and 1 4oz Jar of All Purpose Healing Salve.
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$75 Lavender Lover’s perk is for the hard core Lavender Fan! Along with my gratitude and handwritten Thank You note... You'll get an 8oz pump bottle of Lavender Body Butter, 2oz travel bottle of Lavender Body Butter, 2oz Lavender Lotion Stick, Lavender Lip Butter, 6oz Jar of Lavender-Tea Tree Bath Soak, 10ml Travel pot of All Purpose Healing Salve, 4oz Jar of All Purpose Healing Salve.
- $100 Custom Blended Vegan Lotion. Along with my gratitude and handwritten Thank You note, this perk gets you a bundle of custom blended, custom scented lotions. I will work with you to use ingredients that you prefer and essential oils you love. I will truly make this lotion to suit your needs and personality. Please choose a batch of 5 creamy lotion sticks in twist tubes OR a total of 6 8oz pump bottles of Body Butter.
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$250 One of Everything! Can't decide which product you love the most? Maybe you want a variety pack so you can share the bounty and give some as gifts? Along with my gratitude and handwritten Thank You note, you'll get 1 of everything in my bath and body lines! (1 of each scent.) 3 - 2oz Vegan Body Butter, 3 - 8oz Vegan Body Butter, 3 - 2oz Vegan Lotion Stick, 8 Lip Butter, 4 - 6oz Body Polishing Scrub, 2 - 6oz Bath Soak, 1 of each size Healing Salve (6ml, 10ml, 4oz), 2 Bath Salt Tubes, and 4 bars of Hemp soap.
How the shelters fit in to the equation…
When I moved to South Carolina in April of 2007, I was a victim of domestic abuse and on the run. I had used the services of a shelter in Connecticut before heading south. I’ve always wanted to give back to the community of people that were so willing to lend a hand; they told me I was worth more, deserved better, and was strong enough to get out! It took a few years but I did realize THEY WERE RIGHT!
I want to collect donations for women & children in shelters. They deserve to feel pampered with amazing skin care products. It means so much to know someone thought of them. These women need to know the world is there for them and they deserve to feel good about themselves!
Many people think of the shelters during winter holidays when it’s cold, but donations to shelters often drop off during the summer. The summer heat is enough to make anyone appreciate having their own healthy personal care items.
The $20 level perk is all about these ladies! Pay it Forward & donate a care package of our all-natural products to a local Domestic Abuse shelter, Rape Crisis Center or Children's Shelter. With this perk level we will personally deliver a care package of our all natural products to a local shelter and add your name to their Donor's list.
Each care package will contain a 2oz Body Butter, 1 tube of natural Lip Butter, 1/3 oz All Purpose Healing Salve, and 1 hemp soap with luffa. At the end of the Campaign we will post updates and pictures of the deliveries to the shelters.
These are the shelters that we’ll be donating the care packages to:
SAFE homes Rape Crisis Coalition
"Thank you so much for choosing to help us with your fundraiser. I look forward to working with you. Our shelter residents will love your products and enjoy receiving them. They have not had a lot of nurturing and your products will certainly fill that need." Lynn Hawkins, Executive Director
Hope Center for Children
Hope Center for Children provides safe, around the clock care for young girls ages 11-19 who are the victims of neglect and/or abuse, short-term shelter for boys and girls 0-18, and preventative care to families.
Safe Harbor
Safe Harbor is a nonprofit organization that provides safe shelter, counseling and advocacy for victims of domestic violence as well as leadership for education and prevention efforts throughout its four-county area of Anderson, Greenville, Oconee and Pickens, South Carolina.
The Impact ~ Why help?
Our business is our passion. Everyday we get to wake up and have a job that makes us feel fulfilled. We get to walk our talk while we share our lifestyle and passion with others. Each box we take to the Post Office is one more person that is making a healthy choice for their skin and supporting a small business.
We travel to local art shows, health expos, and farmer's markets selling our wares. We're always showing our SUPPORT to LOCAL farmers and other artisans whenever we can.
Here is a chance to provide amazing lotions, lip butters, soaps, and salves to women and children in shelters, while helping a local business expand. It’s like a double dose of good karma!
- If we raise $3k we will be able to resume renovations on the trailer!
Media and Links
Other Ways You Can Help
Some people just can’t contribute financially, but that doesn’t mean you can’t help:
- Spread the word, tell your friends, click those buttons and share our links!
- We’re open to donations of services or bartering. Anything from website design, contractors for electrical, plumbing, carpentry, eco-construction, etc.
- Support the amazing Photographer that donated her time and skills to help our project. https://www.facebook.com/JamieBabbPhotography
- Support the shelters directly with donations of goods, time, services or funds. http://shrcc.org/how-to-help/donate-goods/ , http://www.hopecfc.org/donate.php , and http://safeharborsc.org/how-you-can-help/
If you’ve gotten this far we really want to say Thank You for your time and consideration.
Many Hugs, Contagious Smiles and Much Love! <3
Carolyn Bourassa & Ulrich Shreiner, The Natural Choice Apothecary