Rising Stars: Meet Schelli Collins

Today we’d like to introduce you to Schelli Collins.

Hi Schelli, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
Around the spring of 2019, I was looking around for unique thank-you gifts to give my friends and family for attending my 50th birthday trip.

Of course, I looked at Pinterest because even back then they were the go-to website/app for party ideas, planning, basically everything. I have always been a fan and user of handmade soaps and body butter. So when I saw a few images and videos of thank you soaps, a lightbulb went off in my head. The soap videos I saw made it look easy and most of the ingredients I had in my kitchen, such as olive oil and coconut oil.

So I got the ingredients for melt and pour soaps and ingredients for cold process soaps which involve working with lye (sodium hydroxide) which I was terrified of at first. I was so terrified in fact that I mixed it outside on my balcony. I felt comfortable using the melt and pour because I was doing the easy version of melting the soap base, adding a fragrance oil, and putting it in a festive mold. Now my first few attempts at “cold” process soap making were a hot mess and I could not give those bars as gifts lol. I went in a different direction and had tote bags made instead. But I kept going with the soap making and found the great ones on YouTube to learn from such as Ann-Marie from Bramble Berry, Katie from Royalty Soaps, Chantine from Soap & Clay, and so many others. I also found it very relaxing as well as a way to exercise my creative side. I made so many soaps and gave so many away to my family and friends that they said, you need to start selling them.

I started researching the business side to learn that I should have a business bank account, EIN for tax purposes, insurance, etc. Then the pandemic hit and 4U by Schells was born! I was already on social media so I made/make use of the free advertising. I’ve also been blessed to be asked to provide products for swag bags used in gifting suites for the Academy Awards (Oscars) in 2022, the Grammy Awards in 2023, Miss Maryland USA in 2023, and Diner en Blanc Baltimore in 2023.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road has not always been smooth. But if it was, it probably wouldn’t be worth it. There have been and continue to be struggles as a small business owner.

First is that having a business comes with costs. A lot of people say that there is a cost to doing business and that is so true! There are costs for insurance, keeping my LLC in good standing, TAXES lol, the website, the domain name, the equipment, etc. Add to that there are plenty of months where I have no sales either from my website or very low sales at in-person events.

Time management is another struggle because this is not my full-time job and I have so many ideas that I want to implement and test but there are not enough hours in a day or days in a week.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My name is Schells and I love to make pretty and functional soaps! Pretty because colors and designs in soaps make me happy. They help me start my day on a happy note to see a pretty soap sitting in my shower. I specialize in making soaps and candles and more recently started making body butter and lotions. I am proud of every product that I make and they are like my babies, corny I know, lol. Last year, I enrolled in a series of online classes by Formula Botanica.

I have completed and received certificates for Natural Cosmetic Preservation and Cosmetic Stability Testing. I am also >> << close to completing my Diploma in Organic Skincare Formulation. I will be done when I’ve passed the final project. What sets me apart from others is my energy, my creativity, and my quirkiness. Seriously though, all of us soap makers are unique because you can give all of us the same soap recipe and we will all create a different and unique-looking soap. That is what draws me to handcrafted products, no two items are the same even in the loaf of soap.