Today we’d like to introduce you to Carolyn Zahnow.
Hi Carolyn, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Shore Soap was created in 2017 as a source of income for The Shore Grief Center, a nonprofit I founded in Wake Forest NC for grief support for those who had experienced the death of a loved one. I have since turned the reigns of the nonprofit to another bereaved parent but loved making soap so much, that I kept that going. I didn’t realize at the time how much making soap helped me mentally. It is a creative release for me now as well as an excuse to travel a bit.
After dappling in the melt/pour method of making soap, I branched out into the other methods of soap making: hot process, cold process, and rebatch. And lets not forget the other products: body butter, bath fizzies, Toys in Soap and more!
Even after retirement, I continue to make and sell soap and other bath products. I love the ability to book shows in NC, VA and SC. I have quite a following now and also several wholesale accounts (always looking for more!).
All Shore Soap products are made in my home in the Northern Outer Banks of NC.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has been easy for the most part. It’s difficult to get wholesale accounts so I cherish the few I have. One is in Franklinton and the other Ramseur NC. I have one in OBX now and am working on another one!
Also now it’s harder to get accepted in to shows. Not sure why this is other than there must be more crafters out in the world than there used to be. But I keep trying. Shows tend to put up overnight!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I create soap and other bath products. I make my soap using the hot process method which allows for soap top that many people love. Hot process is using a crockpot to make soap. Soap made this way cures much faster than the cold process method.
What matters most to you? Why?
I love that people acknowledge my soaps are tiny pieces of art 🙂 Not really but they say so. I appreciate their adoration.
Pricing:
- Soap bars are $9
- Body Butter $8
- Toys in Soap $3-10
- Bath Fizzies $6
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Shore Soap NC
- Facebook: Shoresoapnc
