YouTube Video

Podcast Transcription

Jasna Burza 0:00
work, which is always exciting, Jessica, welcome to Business Spotlight.

Jessica Ottman 0:05
Thank you for having me

Jasna Burza 0:06
on. It’s such a pleasure, such a pleasure. I told you, Jana has really practiced like, you’re gonna love Jessica and I had an opportunity to watch your segment on Twin Cities Live and tell them more about marry your mom and the efforts that you have been making, which is really incredible. So we’re gonna get into, into all of that. So you with your mom started the company, Sienna soap. So please tell us, first of all the name where it comes from and how did you get started? And what is cms? Oh, that’s three questions are there.

Jessica Ottman 0:43
Okay, I’ll try to remember them all. So it’s Siena sub company is named after Catherine of Siena from Siena, Italy, she stood for purity. And it’s just someone my mom’s always looked up to. And so that’s kind of where the name came from. My mom actually started the company. And it started out of a need in our family. I’m the oldest of five children. And some of my siblings had different diverse skincare needs. And we grew up in the northern suburbs, and there wasn’t a lot of options. And my mom took some of my siblings to the doctor for their skin condition. And they just threw steroid creams at them and made the issues worse. And my mom has her master’s in public health from the U of M. So she started researching natural alternatives and solutions and started making products that she had researched and trying them and it just worked amazing. And people started noticing and asking if she could make some for them. And then one, I was still in college, I remember, it was just near the end. And my mom went to the natural coop and shore view. I’m trying to remember the name of it, it’s right off 96 And she got a bar of Rose soap. And she became obsessed with it. She was so obsessed. She called me literally just to tell me about the bar so she would not stop talking about it. And she went back and got everyone a bar in my family. And she was so excited for me to come home from college so I could try it. And so I think it was that year, the next year for Mother’s Day, I got her a couple books on soap making and it just started from there and never stopped. So she started it just as a small little hobby doing just like to I think maybe three events little craft fairs a year. And I had since graduated college and was working full time and I decided to join her because there was just so much so many people were enthusiastic about the products and really love them. And they’re such great quality. So I decided to join her and make it a real business and grow and so now we’re up to over 55 products I’ve lost track to many

Jasna Burza 3:13
wasn’t incredible, empowering and also heartfelt story and to be in business beyond mom. I love that you know all the great businesses really come from a need that someone is trying to solve and this couldn’t be a better example of it. And what’s so beautiful is that I am such a big fan of repeating this every Wednesday. These are the kinds of brilliant people that live among us in Minnesota it’s amazing that you just kind of started saw need a creative solution, which is really the definition for creating a successful business. So you issues are you still doing the skincare for skin conditions? Or um because I know that you have lotions that are that are they’re really amazing. Then you have the soaps what are all the what is the range of products that you sell?

Jessica Ottman 4:08
Yeah, so we have a full line of natural skincare we don’t use we’re 100% natural so we don’t even use dyes fragrances, preservatives. Any scent in our products is infused with aromatherapy grade essential oils. So they not only smell good but they’re safe for you and then you get all the aromatherapy properties. Any color in our products comes from clays herbs or Mike does so we never even use dyes which can be harmful. And we have a variety of products for men, women, teenagers, babies, we have CBD products we have healing SAVs for eczema and several other conditions deodorants even products for war destroyers we just we have a ton and a lot of Our products are eco friendly, plastic free as well. So they’re great for that and even traveling.

Jasna Burza 5:07
But it is so remarkable. And I know that they’re all made their handmade home. So they’re, you know, like Elizabeth, Risa, they’re all works of art, they’re all individual art. And they are, which is really remarkable. So what is the hope for you for for the company, and you know, the word you want to take this because when you what I’m hearing you say is that not only have you created a product that smells good, feels good, it’s all natural and devoid of, you know, all the harmful substances. And all those toxicities are really making us sick, you’re actually assisting in issues that real issues that people are using, that they cannot find a solution for, which is remarkable. So that tells me like the the possibilities are endless.

Jessica Ottman 6:01
Mm hmm. Definitely.

Jasna Burza 6:03
So where do you want to take the company,

Jessica Ottman 6:06
I think just to continue growing it. Year after year, we’ve had good steady growth, even through the pandemic, which is super tough. We just launched in fresh time, which was really exciting. So we’re in all nine of the Minnesota stores. And so my hope is to just continue to grow that way with our wholesale accounts, we have lots of wholesale accounts, but to get some of these bigger accounts, like fresh thyme has been amazing. And to just continue to grow a presence.

Jasna Burza 6:40
I love that. So folks, if you’re listening to this right now, or watching it later, when we’re going to, you know, share this on YouTube, or LinkedIn or wherever else else, if you can think of someone who might be interested in selling this or, or hosting, or here’s the solution for our own households, which is really remarkable. I am curious how much of the conversation and the necessary emphasis you and your mom is on the need to have an incredibly natural product. Because everywhere we look at everything has a cancer warning, everything has a level of toxicity, people are getting really, really sick. And while majority of us are like, Oh, that’s not sure we should disregard it. The studies are showing that we are really being affected and inundated by fragments and dyes and that they’re all hormone disruptors. So is that like a real intentional emphasis for you and in, in your marketing and in Congress conversations that you’re having?

Jessica Ottman 7:45
Yes, absolutely. And, you know, it’s also we won’t put anything in a product that we won’t use on our own skin, and working and making product in such high volume, you’re working with very large, concentrated ingredients. So we wouldn’t want to put ourselves for the people that help us at risk in any way. So it’s kind of twofold in that regard is offering healthy products, but then also making healthy products and keeping it safe while we make it. Now that I’ve been pretty much all natural for many, many years. product wise, anytime I walk into a room with a fragrance or pass Bath and Bodyworks or anything like that, I instantly get a headache. I mean, it’s, it’s amazing once you start going more natural, how subtle little things can even affect your body.

Jasna Burza 8:44
It’s so interesting, isn’t it? I think that I’m glad that you are taking the initiative in having this conversation because it is a conversation that I think needs to be had. It’s long overdue. And yet so many people are not aware of the hazards in the soaps in the lotions in the makeup in all these things that we just we don’t think about and I think it’s time with brands like Sienna soap, were saying, Well wait a minute. This is we should be thinking about it. It is important and what’s also beautiful is that I’ve heard your soaps last for such a long time. So they’re really not only in the long term, they’re even more affordable than other products because of their their quality and longevity.

Jessica Ottman 9:33
Absolutely, yes. And one thing is our soaps are unique because we use the ancient process of cold process soap making. So we’re not doing any type of melted pores which a lot of companies do. They just find the base and melted and pour in the fragrances or the colors or whatnot. We make it 100% from scratch. Once we make the soap and has to sit in the mold for 24 to 48 hours. And there’s the naturally occurring saponification, it actually heats itself. And then we take it out of the molds, we cut it, and then it has to cure on the racks for four to six weeks. So and then during that time, we also buffed it up to smooth it when it’s just soft enough, but firm enough. So it’s actually a pretty long process for one simple bar of soap.

Jasna Burza 10:27
It’s very labor intensive. And there’s so much more into it, which is amazing. Well question for you why the four to six weeks curing period, what does that do to soap.

Jessica Ottman 10:37
So it has to that’s for the curing of it with we do it’s lie based soap. So there’s a natural chemical reaction with the lye and the olive oil base. And so that’s curing and working its way out of there, as well as the soap is very soft. And so it needs to firm up and harden, and then it will last much longer. Because if it’s super soft, it will just get mushy once you use it and not last as long. So the longer a bars cured actually, the better it’s going to be used for you and the longer will last long term.

Jasna Burza 11:18
Okay, I love that. And actually what I love is some of them. I know that you buffed them and cut them because people want nice, I’ll dig but some of them the some of the rough edges. I really find idli they’re so beautiful. That’s what attracts for because they are in the works of art. Right and holding them really? Yeah. Like you’re part of the process somehow.

Jessica Ottman 11:40
Yeah, yeah.

Jasna Burza 11:42
So lastly, tell me about the lotions that that you have. Because that is the first time I’ve seen a lotion in a bar, which was solid. Yeah.

Jessica Ottman 11:52
Yeah, so we have solid lotion bars. It’s basically just lotion minus the water. When you buy liquid lotion at the store, you’re paying for 70 80% water. So this is more concentrated. It’s intensely moisturizing. So great as we go into the fall and winter. I don’t have an example with me, but they’re little in heart shapes. They last a really long time. And then we put them in eco friendly tins. So they’re plastic free. They’re great to travel with because they’re a solid. And they’re great gifts as well.

Jasna Burza 12:26
I love that. Oh my gosh, I I’m in love. I cannot wait to try some and actually give them as gifts. Now all of a sudden, everyone listening. It’s not too early to think about Christmas, is it?

Jessica Ottman 12:40
No, that’s right. We actually just, Oh, I’m sorry. Go ahead. No, go right ahead. Oh, we just started planning for the holidays. We already made our third batch of holiday. So So we’re already in full holiday mode. Oh, I

Jasna Burza 12:56
absolutely love that. Of course you have to plan. Oh, my goodness. So Jessica, what is the best way to support you? And where can we find you?

Jessica Ottman 13:04
Yeah, you can visit us on our website. It’s just Ciana with one en si nso.com. We do have a shared studio space in the north group King building in stray collective. We’re on the first floor right when you walk in in studio 179 in Northeast Minneapolis. It’s a really fun studio. There’s nine of us local makers in there. And the summer hours, we’re open three days a week, Thursday through Saturday. Otherwise, you can find us at any fresh time. Minnesota store we’re also in ridgedale Mall in on the second floor in the homespun store. So we’re a little bit of all over the place. And then we have lots of events too, you can always check on our website to see what next Art Fair will be at as well.

Jasna Burza 13:56
Oh, I love that. So the best. So go to our website, Sienna, soap, Sienna with a one en si e and a soap.com. And also, they can follow you on Instagram and see all the amazing things that you’re doing and how you make the soap and the love and the effort you put into it. I love not only the story, I love the heart that comes through which you create the works of art and how conscientious you are not just about creating a product that can be sold, but actually doing something revolutionary by creating a good product that is good for for that. Kudo. Thank you so much. And thank you for taking the time to talk to me today.

Jessica Ottman 14:40
Of course. Thank you for having us

Jasna Burza 14:42
such a pleasure. I’ll talk to you very soon.

Jessica Ottman 14:44
Okay, thank you. Bye bye