After setting foot in the corporate world, Jennifer Jack decided her passion was elsewhere. Within one year, Jennifer quit her job, sold her house, and began making handmade soaps out of her apartment. The job was a risk, but during her first open house in December 2006 she sold hundreds of products. She immediately knew she was putting her time, money, and heart in the right business. Her company, Good Fortune Soap, was established in Chattanooga, and her studio and shop are now open in Athens, Tennessee.
With help from her mother, Jennifer began making soaps out of the family’s old dairy barn. She spent eight months researching the soap making process by reading books, internet sites, and attending conferences. Today, she is one of only 49 people to be certified as a Cold Process Soapmaker by the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild. As a graduate from the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga, Jennifer also uses her background in graphic design and photography to create all of her labels and product designs. She notes, “When I do something, I want to do it to the best of my ability.”
Jennifer challenges herself to create products that are all natural and earth-friendly. She wants her line to inspire her customers to be spiritually and physically healthier. Good Fortune Soap only uses recyclable paper, aluminum, and plastic in the packaging of its products. She reflects and adds, “It is our duty to take care of our planet.”
In 2006, Jennifer attended the 81st conference of the Handcrafted Soap Makers Guild. She submitted two bars of soap, sandalwood and lavender, and won “best package design” and “best overall” in show. While looking back on the event she adds, “It was a great accomplishment to win two years in a row out of 320 other contestants.”
Jennifer continues to be successful in her business by taking things one step at a time. “My biggest challenge is time management and staying focused on what needs to be done, instead of what I want to have done,” she says.
As an artist, Jennifer works like a mad scientist to create and discover new products. Good Fortune’s products are all made by hand. Jennifer has three part-time employees who help her package and label her lip balms, message oils, candles, lotions, and scrubs. Each individual body and bath line is created by Jennifer. Every batch of soap is created differently because it is made in small batches. Working with smaller batches allows Jennifer to monitor the ingredients in the product and ensure that the quality is exceptional. All of the ingredients in Good Fortune Soap’s products are formulated with 100 percent vegetable oil, natural clay, honey, Shea Butter, and natural exfoliations.
Applejack, a warm spicy cinnamon-apple scent, is the company’s best seller. Jennifer’s favorite product, however, is the Kiss Me Kit. The kit includes a lip balm and lip scrub made of peppermint essential oil, brown sugar, and vanilla. All of the ingredients are edible. Jennifer also makes a unique product called Faucet Soap, a handcrafted soap inside an exfoliating waterproof mesh bag. It is a popular product with travelers because it combines the sponge and soap, which means less packing and more convenience.
Good Fortune Soap’s products can be purchased online at the company’s website. Many can also be purchased at stores in Chattanooga. Jennifer is currently selling lip balms and soaps at Greenlife Grocery, World Next Door Market, and Hair a Go-Go.
Several of the products make great party favors for special events, such as weddings. Utilizing her experience in graphic design, Jennifer is able to make custom labels for a specific event. She designs the label to match the customer’s preference for the product and the event.
In 2009, Good Fortune Soap will launch an event called “Spa Night.” Customers can sign up for the occasion in advance at the Athens studio, or get a group together to reserve a specific night. The event will allow customers to come into the studio to create their own products. Jennifer will teach each customer what ingredients are used and the process for making unique types of soap. All of the supplies will be provided. “I love to talk to people and encourage them to be creative,” says Jennifer. “I want to empower people with strength and knowledge to help not only themselves, but also their planet.”
In the future, Jennifer sees her business expanding. She would like to open more boutiques and increase sales at wholesale stores. She also plans to have women in direct sales positions selling her products. “The most fulfilling part of my job is meeting other women who are looking for their calling and to encourage people to listen to their heart and just go for it,” she says.
Good Fortune Soap has expanded greatly since it opened in 2006. A role model for how one can realize his or her dreams through hard work and determination, Jennifer is frequently in Chattanooga showcasing her products at various stores. For event dates and information on individual products, please visit her website at www.goodfortunesoap.com.