Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicolette Finch.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I am the Owner and Founder of Birdbath, a luxury skincare and candle line from Southern California. Birdbath started in my home kitchen and organically evolved into a small business. I had been making myself skincare for years because my skin likes to freak-out over just about everything. I have rosacea and severe eczema; my skin reacts to pretty much everything that I put on it. Simple natural products were the only thing that seemed to be effective, so out of necessity I had learned to formulate products using readily available ingredients that worked for my skin. During Christmas 2016, I was honestly super broke and making terrible money as a waitress and I was trying to figure out how I was going to buy Christmas presents for my son’s teachers, family, and friends. I realized that my stockpile of skincare recipes would make the perfect gift set for my family and friends and decided to make some sugar scrubs and lip balms – everyone was getting a homemade gift that year. The response was overwhelming. Everyone loved the products so much that I was getting requests to make more and of course I had to test my knowledge at making lotions and what would soon be our signature Body Mousse. Formulating new products became a creative outlet for me, one that I never knew I needed, and I slowly began to expand my knowledge of raw materials to create a few special products. After sourcing a few different containers and designing some labels, I decided to try selling my homemade skincare at a few farmers markets and popups with friends. It was selling like crazy and just like that, Birdbath was born. Birdbath is still a very small handmade business, but we are growing every day and slowly migrating to more and more stores.
Has it been a smooth road?
Owning a small business is extremely challenging, but so rewarding. There are times when I allow the stress to take over because owning a small business can take up so much space in your life that you forget to enjoy the process. I have learned how important it is to remind myself that if I fail, there is knowledge gained. It is important to remember that building a business is a long game. Sometimes, it might feel like you are failing at the moment but then you come out of it and realize it wasn’t a failure, it was simply a shift or change, of course. This experience was necessary to affect a change in the business that will eventually lead to growth and new opportunities. I try to embrace the changes, failures and celebrate the small successes. If owning a small business was easy everyone would do it, so you have to take it easy on yourself. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
As if the personal struggles aren’t enough, there are the never-ending operational challenges that present themselves at every turn. Trying to scale a business that is self-funded seems impossible at times. I always think about how big Birdbath could be with a huge credit line and unlimited funds, but that’s not our world. We have grown organically and are completely self-funded which can make growing a business difficult, so we continue to re-invest our profits into the company believing that when Birdbath really catches on it will be worth the wait. Also, I have never owned a small business before so at times, I experience a huge knowledge gap when it comes to making decisions about the business. I have found that surrounding myself with likeminded individuals who understand the difficulties of running a small business to be incredibly valuable. I have been super lucky to find a group of women that I can bounce ideas off, talk about what is challenging me, and share my struggles with balancing work life and mom life. It truly does take a village and I believe in community over competition. Use your resources and find your tribe. It’s okay to not know things and it’s alright to ask others for help.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Birdbath story. Tell us more about the business.
I created Birdbath with the intention of making quality skincare that is affordable and available to everyone because people shouldn’t have to go buy skincare that is filled with junk because that is all they can afford. All Birdbath products are handmade in small batches and human hands complete every step of the process, including the labeling and packaging. I am not a fan of adding a drop of fifty different ingredients to make the product appear more effective; I formulate my products with ingredients that work synergistically to provide maximum results. Skincare has gotten so complicated and I feel less is always more. I also love the fact that we have been able to keep our manufacturing in house and employ people. My life would probably be much simpler if I outsourced production, but I think having products made with love and care is what keeps them special. I decided very early on that I would fight to keep manufacturing in-house and continue to build a micro-factory to not only ensure the products were of the highest quality, but also I wanted Birdbath to become a place where people that may not normally fit in a typical work environment could find a place for themselves to call home. Everyone has something to offer and even if you have challenges or look different, I want Birdbath to be a company that looks past those differences and provides an environment where someone can thrive professionally regardless of their challenges. I can’t wait to grow larger and build the Birdbath family.
Looking back on your childhood, what experiences do you feel played an important role in shaping the person you grew up to be?
My father was such a hard-working man. He put himself through school and created a life for his wife and six children. We had a loud and crazy home filled with so many different personalities. We never had a lot of money, but my father always found a way for us to have what we needed and we never went without. I think his work ethic and loyalty is what drives me in my work today. I strive every day to be someone my children can look up to the way I admired my father. I want them to witness me building this business so they can see that hard work and determination will allow them to make a living doing what makes them happy.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.birdbathbodytreats.com
- Phone: 949-439-2526
- Email: nicolette@birdbathbodytreats.com
- Instagram: @birdbathbodytreats
- Facebook: Birdbath Body Treats
Image Credit:
Jordan Anast
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