Today we’d like to introduce you to Frank Kerrigan.
Frank, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
The Apawthecary Co. really started from a mix of curiosity, creativity, and frustration. I’ve always been someone who likes figuring out how things work and improving them, and over time that turned into experimenting with candles, skincare, and body care products at home. The more I learned about ingredients and formulation, the more I realized how many products on the market seemed designed more around marketing than actual performance.
One of the biggest turning points was when my wife, Lauren, was struggling to find a face lotion that didn’t irritate her skin or cause breakouts. Product after product either felt overloaded with unnecessary ingredients or just didn’t work well for her skin. After a lot of research, testing, and reformulating, I created a simple lotion that worked incredibly well for her, and she still uses it to this day. That experience really shaped the direction of the brand and how I approach product development now.
A big part of our philosophy is that ingredients should do the heavy lifting — not just look impressive on a label. We try to focus on products that feel simple, effective, comforting, and genuinely enjoyable to use every day.
As the business grew, the vision behind it became clearer too. The Apawthecary Co. was built around the idea that self-care and comfort should fit naturally into homes shared with the people and pets we love most. While the brand has a playful pet-inspired side to it, we’re really focused on handcrafted skincare, body care, candles, and cozy home fragrance products designed for everyday life.
We’re also continuing to grow into more of the modern apothecary direction that originally inspired the brand, especially through botanical-focused products and calendula infusions we’ve been developing. A lot of the business is still very hands-on, from testing formulas and blending scents to refining products over time. We’re always looking for ways to improve and expand the lineup, but I never want to rush products out just to grow faster. If something carries our name, I want it to feel carefully made, high quality, and worth bringing into someone’s home.
It’s been incredibly rewarding watching people connect not just with the products themselves, but with the comfort, personality, and intention behind the brand as well.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not. Like most small businesses, there’s been a lot of learning, trial and error, and figuring things out as I go. One of the biggest challenges has been balancing quality with growth. Social media can make it feel like you constantly need to launch new products, chase trends, and always be “on,” but I’ve never wanted to rush products out just for the sake of growing faster.
A huge part of the brand is making products that we genuinely feel good about bringing into our own home and using around the people and pets we love. That means spending a lot of time testing ingredients, refining formulas, and sourcing materials that align with our standards, especially because being cruelty free is something we take seriously as a Leaping Bunny Certified brand. Finding reliable suppliers that consistently meet those standards hasn’t always been easy.
There’s also the reality that running a small business today involves so much more than just making products. You’re suddenly learning photography, content creation, SEO, social media, shipping logistics, customer service, inventory management, website management — and honestly, any one of those could be a full-time job by itself.
On top of that, costs have continued to rise across the board, from ingredients and packaging to shipping and supplies, so there’s always a balancing act between keeping products affordable while still maintaining the level of quality we want.
I also think transparency can be challenging sometimes. We live in a world where brands are judged very quickly, especially online, and people don’t always see the amount of testing, care, and decision-making happening behind the scenes. But I’d still rather be honest and intentional about what we make than try to overhype products or pretend to be something we’re not.
At the end of the day, though, those challenges have probably helped shape the brand in a positive way. They’ve forced me to slow down, stay thoughtful about growth, and focus on building something long term instead of chasing quick wins.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Apawthecary Co?
The Apawthecary Co. is a handcrafted self-care and home fragrance brand based in Maryland. We specialize in skincare, body care, candles, and cozy home products made with thoughtfully chosen ingredients and a strong focus on comfort, quality, and everyday use.
A big part of what sets us apart is that we try to keep things simple and intentional. We’re not interested in loading products with trendy ingredients just for marketing purposes. We want ingredients to actually serve a purpose and contribute to how the product performs. Whether it’s a lotion, candle, balm, or soap, the goal is always to create something that feels genuinely enjoyable and worth bringing into your daily routine.
Another thing that’s really important to us is making products we genuinely feel good about using around the people and pets we love most. While we’re not strictly a pet-focused company, that mindset absolutely influences how we approach ingredients, formulation, and the overall experience of the brand. We’re very conscious about the materials we use, and becoming Leaping Bunny Certified was something that mattered a lot to us because cruelty free standards are a major part of who we are.
I’d say we’re probably best known for combining a cozy, comforting aesthetic with a more playful personality. A lot of our product names and branding pull from humor, pop culture, comfort, pets, and everyday life because I never wanted the brand to feel overly serious or intimidating. Self-care should feel approachable and enjoyable, not like a luxury experience you have to “qualify” for.
One thing I’m especially proud of is that the business is still extremely hands-on. A lot of time goes into testing formulas, refining scents, improving products, and making sure anything we release is something we’d genuinely use in our own home. We’re continuing to grow further into the modern apothecary direction that originally inspired the brand, especially through botanical-focused products and calendula infusions we’ve been developing.
More than anything, I want people to know that there’s a real level of care and intention behind everything we create. We’re not trying to rush out endless products or chase every trend. We’d rather grow thoughtfully and build a brand people genuinely trust and enjoy bringing into their everyday lives.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I think one thing I’d want people to know is that building a small business today is both incredibly rewarding and incredibly humbling at the same time. Social media can sometimes make growth look instant, but in reality there’s usually a lot of learning, adjusting, failures, late nights, and persistence happening behind the scenes that people never see.
I’m also a big believer that people are craving more authenticity again. A lot of consumers are becoming more thoughtful about what they bring into their homes, what ingredients they use on their skin, and which businesses they choose to support. I think that’s a good thing, and it’s something we try to stay mindful of with everything we create.
At the end of the day, I’m just genuinely grateful for every person who supports the brand, shares a post, leaves a review, or chooses to shop small with us. There are so many options out there today, so it means a lot anytime someone connects with something we’ve created.
And honestly, I hope people never feel like self-care has to be overly serious or complicated. Sometimes comfort can be as simple as lighting a candle at the end of the day, finding a skincare product that finally works for you, or smiling at a product name that makes your day a little lighter. That balance of comfort, quality, and personality is really what The Apawthecary Co. is all about.
Pricing:
- We try to keep our pricing approachable and realistic for everyday self-care while still using high-quality ingredients and maintaining our cruelty free standards.
- Most products range from about $6–25 depending on the product type and size, with many customer favorites falling under the $20 range.
- Customers can also use our Subscribe & Save option on select products for additional savings and convenience on products they use regularly.
- We currently offer free shipping on orders over $35 within the U.S.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://TheApawthecary.Co
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theapawthecaryco/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/881840978344825
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheApawthecaryCo
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@apawthecaryco
