Meet Imani Varker | Owner, Grandeur Lathers LLC

We had the good fortune of connecting with Imani Varker and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Imani, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
“Made from scratch” is my love language. When I realized anyone could make their own soap instead of having to buy it from a grocery store, I was fascinated and had to try it. I immediately wondered if anyone would want to buy my soap because I knew I wanted to make way more than my family could use. A couple of years ago, I wound up in a situation where I was concerned about the future of my finances and figured since I had already thought about making and selling soap, I should just go for it.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I hadn’t ever considered myself artistic in any way. In fact, I was jealous of people who had artistic talents. I had always wished I had the ability to create something appealing. I really do feel like soapmaking found me. It unearthed a creative streak in me that I had no idea ever existed. The first thing that really excited me was creating my own recipes. I thoroughly enjoyed researching oil properties and creating formulas. Once I got really comfortable making my soaps, I turned to YouTube for different techniques to create unique designs. The way soapmaking combines science and art is truly magical for me. I like to say soaping makes both halves of my brain extremely happy! I love when people comment on the designs and colors of my soaps. I tell them I decided that if I’m going to make my own soap, I want to try to make it pretty!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love the outdoors. So, once I made sure they’re hydrated, we would hit the trails. I definitely have a few favorite places to hike around town. I would love to share places like EJ Peak and Silly Mountain with friends. I’m always in the mindset of kid-friendly fun, so a trip to the zoo and botanical garden is always a go-to. The Arizona Boardwalk is a great place for some indoor fun. But the top priority would be to check out some of the markets around town so they could go home with some fantastic, high-quality souvenirs from some amazing local artisans and crafters.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
A lot of people have played different roles throughout my life and helped to shape the person I am today. I’m grateful for the fact that I was never told I wouldn’t be able to achieve something. In fact, my mom pushed me to literally reach for the stars. I was once on the path to becoming an astronaut. When I ultimately decided to stick to a more grounded career, I was thankful to everyone who took a chance on me and hired me for jobs before I was even done with school. It’s one thing to know you’re qualified to do something, but there’s an extra layer of confidence you get when others believe in you as well. Right now, I feel very lucky to have my husband supporting this crazy adventure in so many ways. He encouraged me to go ahead and take a chance on myself and doesn’t hesitate to jump into a project when I make a big request on behalf of my business. I also have to give a shoutout to my kids for always reminding me of why the anxiety of owning a business is so worthwhile. Being able to prioritize them whenever they need me is the most rewarding part of this journey.

Website: https://grandeurlathers.com

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Facebook: Grandeur Lathers https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087978560549