Today we’d like to introduce you to Mandy Wallace.
Hi Mandy, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am what many folks call a “crunchy mom,” meaning that I choose natural options when it comes to my family’s food, healthy, and daily lifestyles. We are the kind of folks who use cloth diapers, ditched the plastic sippy cups for the stainless steel ones, and let our kids run around barefoot. My natural health journey began when I was a teenager and was experiencing a host of health concerns, and was prescribed a laundry list of pharmaceutical drugs, being told I would need them for the rest of my life. I started asking questions and digging for root causes, and what started with some dietary changes eventually led to an entire overall of everything I consumed, including what I put on my skin. Fast forward about a decade, and I met a wonderful local soapmaker in Cassopolis: Jen Eby of Eby Farms. I immediately recognized Jen as “my kind of person” because of her knack for making simple, natural products. Her soaps, body butter, and deodorant had clean ingredients I would actually use, and I developed a deep trust for her. Over the years of being a customer of hers, we became friends, and bonded over over shared homesteading and homeschooling activities.
In 2023, my husband and I had considered selling our 33 acres and downsizing, but instead decided to stay here and find ways to expand the use of our property. We started a small scale outdoor grow area for gourmet mushrooms, and began researching how to raise turkeys. In the fall, I asked Jen about her previous experience with turkeys, and she surprised me by saying that turkeys were really a challenge to be profitable with, but “do you want a soap business?” I laughed and told her that I would never need a soap business because I had her! That’s when she informed me that due to some life changes, her time as a soap lady was ending, and she was closing her soap business of 13 years.
After much discussion and prayer, my husband Shane and I decided to take the leap and purchase Jen’s soap business. She has served as an incredible mentor to me, teaching me all of her recipes, and I’ve been able to combine her product line with a few items I had been making for my own family and friends, and we are now going into our third year as Acres of Grace.
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?
Compared to other new businesses where there was no roadmap, I would say this experience has definitely been more on the smoother side. Jen was a master soapmaker and a solid businesswoman, so she was able to provide me with a turn-key opportunity. That being said, I have still had to rebrand and make things my own, including learning the process to formulate new soap scents. Sometimes I read about blend combinations that sound lovely, but when you mix them up to test, they smell absolutely awful! Recently, a long time essential oil supplier went out of business, and I’ve had to find new suppliers who carry the same high-quality, rare essential oils, at an affordable price point. That has proved to be a challenge that I’m still working through.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I have a Business Administration degree from Southwestern Michigan College and Ferris State University. I kicked off my career as a college enrollment specialist at SMC, before Shane and I moved to Washington, DC when we were first married. There, in the DC suburbs, I worked as an office administrator for an architectural and construction firm, where I learned the ins-and-outs of daily business, and developed a passion for small businesses. We moved home in 2014 when we were expecting baby #1, and I went to work for a small CPA firm in Dowagiac. There, I was able to take my real life experience from the architecture firm and deepen my skills by working with a variety of different businesses across different industries. That firm was acquired by a larger firm in 2019, and now is part of UHY Advisors, a global network of CPA firms. I am still there two days per week, providing bookkeeping services, QuickBooks consulting, and small business advising to businesses in the Greater Dowagiac area.
I am known for my experience working with small businesses. I understand the challenges because I have been through many myself, or been through them with other clients. I have had the opportunity to work with nearly every industry in this area – restaurants, repair services, medical offices, tradespeople, consultants, and much more.
Because of all of these experiences, I never approached my soap business as just a hobby. Instead, I took it seriously from day one, and have put a lot of effort into efficiency and professionalism. I have a website with an online store, and I fulfill orders for local pick up or shipping across the continental US. One of my best sales opportunities is found at area craft shows. Although some folks may still think “craft show” equates to rows of grandmas selling afghans, today’s craft shows are hubs of pop-up small businesses, with talented artisans and crafters displaying unique, unique items. At local craft shows, I can set up my full product display to be featured in front of hundreds, or sometimes thousands, of shoppers. This how many of my repeat customers initially find me. They see, smell, and touch my soaps; purchase one or two or try; and then seek me out to buy more when they discover what a difference they make in their skincare routine!
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Most people who know me are aware that I have kids, but not everyone knows that I have 5 kids, and the last 3 were born at home! Family and faith are at the center of everything we do, and having a large, tight-knit family, gives us opportunities to make memories that will last a lifetime. Our kids are often with us, helping or tagging along in some capacity. We do everything possible as a family, even if that means some kids go with Shane while some go with me when we need to be two different places at once. Life truly is short, and we are striving for quality over quantity when it comes to our time and experiences with our kids.
Pricing:
- Soaps $8.50-9.50
- Hair care products $9-$12
- Body butter, lip butter, deodorant $3.50-30
- Facial products $12-24
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.acresofgracemi.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acresofgracemi/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acresofgracemi/
