Life & Work with Heather Radloff of Oceanside

Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Radloff.

Hi Heather, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My journey began with a list of items my husband wanted to do when he returned home from a deployment. While he was overseas he decided he wanted to learn how to make soap, like they did in the movie Fight Club using lye. So on a rainy afternoon in January 2020 I went to Hobby Lobby to acquire supplies for us to learn how to make soap that day. He enjoyed the process, but I fell head over heels in love. I started making batches of soap to give away to friends, family, and coworkers. A few weeks later, I lost both of my jobs in the same day to Covid-19. Not knowing what to do with myself, I made soap. With a lot of encouragement from my husband, I decided to be vulnerable and put my soaps online for sale through the Etsy platform. They sold out in a few hours. So I made 50 more and they sold out in 3 days. At that point I knew I had to go bigger for Mothers Day, so I made 200 bars. Christmas I made 1200. And the rest is history… I now sell more than just soap! Bath Bombs, Perfume Rollers, Handmade Soap Dishes, and Shower Steamers have joined the party along the way. Today I run, manage, and create all things H.Jo Co. from my Home Studio in North Oceanside, CA.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
H.Jo Co. has definitely seen it’s fair share of struggles. During part of 2020 I moved to Oklahoma to work on a real estate project for my family. Being off work at that time because of the pandemic, it was an easy decision to send me there for a few months to help with the building project. While in Oklahoma, I was lucky to have an area to still make soap and keep H.Jo Co. going. In November, I was done with my part of the work in Oklahoma, and I packed my car to head back to California. I had made 1,200 bars of soap for upcoming Holiday Sales, and I needed them to all make it back to California safely. My car broke down 2 hours into my drive with ALL of my Christmas inventory. It was a complete mess. My car sat (with those 1200 bars) for 2 weeks in Oklahoma City getting a free engine replacement, due to a KIA recall. It was one of the most stressful times of my life. It all eventually worked out, but it was a very hard time in my life. Running a small business is like walking through a car wash, you’re not sure what you’re getting hit with next, but you know it’s coming.

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?
First and foremost, I am a soapmaker. I specialize in making soaps with tons of color chunks in them. This effect is known as confetti/terrazzo soap. I fell in love with this technique because I felt it was the best way to use up any excess soap so nothing goes to waste. Every bar I cut into with this style brings me joy, so this is the only technique I use now.

I also make other bath products! I am known for making large bath bombs, that shoot color, actually float, and leave you feeling nice and silky at the end of your bath! My most famous bath bomb type has a dinosaur inside.

What matters most to you? Why?
Comfort. Life is very hard, and having a place where I feel comfort is important to me. My husband, my studio, my kitchen, walking in Oceanside harbor these are places where I feel great comfort.

Contact Info:

• Email: hjocosoapworks@gmail.com
• Website: etsy.com/shop/hjoco
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/h.jo.co.soapworks/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/h.jo.co.soapworks/