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

Hi Heather, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Being a wife, a mother of three, and living in the world of Corporate America, finding time for myself seemed impossible. My cell phone was always ringing, the kids needed help with homework, the emails were non-stop, the laundry needed doing, and so on.
It was only when the kids were in bed, the kitchen cleaned, and the house picked up that I snuck away to my tub. There I sat for as long as it took.

No one needed me in those moments. It was beautiful.

As time passed and my children grew more independent, I spent hours in that tub envisioning my world beyond this stage of motherhood and beyond corporate America (which was slowly draining the life out of me).

After nearly 15 years of dedication to the same company, I turned in my notice.

Shortly thereafter, my path unfolded.

I began filling my days with research and my counter tops with soap.

I wanted others to have that same haven of calm that I so desperately clung to when my days were long and overwhelming. I wanted people to have a sensory escape from the “noise” of life and to experience feel good moments of stillness so that they too are able to connect to their most authentic self.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have created a product line centered around moments of quiet simplicity. Taking a less is more approach, I am able to focus on every detail. From beautiful ingredient choices to muted color palettes, everything about Naked Goat offers sanctuary by way of texture, scent story and purpose.

Over the last eight years, we have been able to make donations to NAMI Central VA (The National Alliance on Mental Illness) and have recently started shipping our soap shavings and end cuts to ECO Soap Bank where they are processed and transformed into new bars and distributed to those in need. I am humbled to know that Naked Goat’s impact it felt far beyond our reach alone.

Demands of a small business can be overwhelming at times and doing it “all” is not an option for me. Contracting with our graphics & web designer (IG @amavistudio) and photographers (IG @hannahlozanophoto and @emset_) have been the best business decisions I’ve made. Finding a women owned, small business dream team who aligns with my vision has allowed me to stay focused on production and product development.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The first stop would have to be our little farm and the soap studio! From there, we would take a 20 minute drive into Richmond, enjoy brunch at Can Can Brasserie (the Blueberry Crêpes are amazing) and then stroll through the shops in Carytown.

An afternoon spent at Apothec on Libbie Avenue (the most dreamy apothecary and herbal libations bar) is a must! Shop owner (my friend dear friend, Tricia) would likely mix up some sort of mind blowing, herbal mocktail for us to enjoy in the loft, surrounded by plants and books or we could sit on the patio where eucalyptus and piles of fresh herbs fill the most beautiful flower boxes.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Walking away from (what could have been) a lifelong career was hard, depending on my husband (George) to support our family felt wrong (to me) and staying in an unfulfilling job was draining. With his encouragement, I took a deep breath and I jumped. George gave me the space I needed to reconnect to myself, that was the most precious gift.

In the beginning, I gave my soaps to friends and family with the hope that (like me) they would find stillness and clarity in a well-crafted ritual. In December 2014, my friend Jackie shared with me that when she washed with our soaps, a feeling of peace and calm filled her heart, she insisted that I open a company and share my soaps with the world.

A few weeks later, Naked Goat Soap Co. was official.

Website: https://nakedgoatsoapco.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nakedgoatsoapco

Image Credits
Hannah Lozano Photography Emily Setelin | Interdisciplinary Artist

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