Closing Shop

This will probably come as a surprise to just about everyone.

I have decided to close up shop, Wonder Turtle friends.

For the past few months, I’ve been asking myself some tough questions, and I feel Wonder Turtle Soaps has run its course. Several factors went into this decision, both personal and financial.

Mostly personal, though. Yes, it’s true that I’ve been operating way in the red for nearly two years now and I’m not even close to breaking even. Even so, financial issues are not at the forefront but they are nonetheless relevant.

Also, my husband is probably looking at a career move in the near future, which would most likely involve a geographical move as well. No word yet on when or where that will be, but we are excited about the prospects. If and when we do move, I don’t plan on Wonder Turtle Soaps coming with us.

While those issues figure into my decision, there is a larger factor at the root of all of this: My heart just isn’t in it anymore. Don’t get me wrong - I love to make soap. But I realized that I was having more fun when I was making soap for my own amusement without being worried about running a business. Having even the smallest business requires a lot of maintenance and attention … attention that I frankly would rather devote to why I got into this in the first place – soaping. So, I plan to continue on with soapmaking, but as a hobby and not as a business. I am looking forward to pouring more energy into creating and experimenting and not having to fool around with Excel spreadsheets, Schedule C forms, sales and use tax returns, permits and paperwork, revenue and expense reports, inventory, marketing, etc., etc., etc.

So, all things considered, I think it’s a good time to bow out. At the end of January, Wonder Turtle Soaps will officially close.

It will be strange to make a soap batch and not model it in dozens of different poses for Etsy photos immediately after unmolding it, or to buy supplies and not file the receipts away for my expenses report. But I think all of the time that I’m not spending on stuff like that will be put to good use fueling my creativity and passion again.

There are parts I will miss. I will especially miss the people - my wonderful customers, fellow crafters, and handmade soap enthusiasts. I have met some fantastic folks on this little adventure. I’ve made lots of friends through craft shows, Etsy, blogs, and Facebook. Thank you to each and every one of you who supported Wonder Turtle Soaps by encouraging me, purchasing my soaps, reading my blog, and joining my FB Page! You are all lovely, and I could not have done any of this without you! And while this is a bit of a farewell, I will still be in the loop. Thanks to the magic of The Online, I will be able to keep up with lots of you through blogs, forums, Facebook, and whatnot.

Finally, I want to say that I am not sad. I had a great time, met some marvelous people, and tried something new. And I am very happy about all of that.

I am looking forward to having more time to enjoy soaping again, and I hope to attempt new things as well. (Who knows, maybe I’ll even give cold-process soaping a try.)

I also hope to have more time for other interests. I’d like to:

Read more books.

Get back into tracing my family’s genealogical history.

Delve into more advanced cooking. (I’ve always wanted to try making homemade tamales.)

And maybe even finally learn a foreign language. (But probably not.)

So, with peace in my heart, I move onward to the next adventure, whatever it may be!

Happy travels to all of you through your own life adventures. Thank you for being a part of mine!

♥ ♥ ♥,
Jenny and Wally the Wonder Turtle