Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Williamson
Hi Jennifer, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Olio was born in December of 2012. Owners are Derek and Jennifer Williamson. Jennifer received her education at Cameo College of Essential Beauty in 2012. The concept of entrepreneurship had been brewing for about 6 months. The Williamson’s got their ducks in a row (business name, business license, inspections) and attended their first event for selling, the Historic Wheeler Farm Farmers Market, with product in hand, in May of 2013.
The Williamson’s had a solid product in hand with zero marketing experience and minor social networking skills. With eduction and determination, Olio began working every event and market they were accepted to. The first two years in business had a sharp learning curve, one example would be graduating from Vista print paper labels to quality labels that would resist our product from penetrating it, allow for a nicer aesthetic. We have many stories along these lines.
Pros: Derek and Jen knew how to sell. Business gained popularity and credibility.
Cons: Lack of capitol and lack of brick and mortar location.
By 2017, small business relationships were formed, Olio had a team, a network. Product line was expanding. Our friends over at The Bean Whole (another small business making way the way we were) talked us into renting some space by them. Being neighbors, we would be exposed to their customers and vice versa. We created a little community within Sugar House, the 21st & 21st business district.
Business was increasing, Olio added educational classes to their routine. The cold process soap classes gained popularity and fun was being had soaping with customers and friends.
Covid slowed us all down in 2020. Then the property and land we had our store on was sold. The Bean Whole and Olio had to look for new space. Rent is not affordable in Sugar House so The Bean Whole and Olio teamed up and created The Neighborhood Hive, which opened in 2022.
Currently, The Neighborhood Hive houses The Bean Whole, Olio and 40 Utah Small Businesses. Olio still has a fantastic product line, educational classes have resumed and they have built a community of small businesses.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Self employment is rarely a smooth road, however the excitement keeps the addiction going. Struggles include, but are not limited to: feeling of doing something wrong, as self employment goes against the grain of modern society. Finding creative ways to market and advertise. Growing a small business in Corporate America. Balancing work/life balance is non-existent. Finding the capitol to put into business for the business to grow. These are some of the major items. Smaller items would include finding suppliers, dealing with the eb and flow of reatil. Dealing with getting a website out.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We are a body product company, producing and selling all natural skin care, beard care, shaving products, tattoo products, cold process soaps, candles and more…all intentionally produced and human made. Olio is Italian for oil. Human skin needs oil and depending on the climate you live in, you may need more oil. We are proud to say Olio is sustainable, palm free, human created and produced, Our cold process soap line contains over 40 choices bar soap. Olio offers soap making classes and candle making classes. We fall in a category called Argri-tourism and enjoy it tremendously.
We would like readers to know that we are passionate about our ingredients, we are transparent and even enjoy sharing education about ingredients. Olio products are clean, will not block hormones or upset the endocrine system.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
All soap recipe books
All gardening books
Podcast interests range from The Daily, Wise Traditions, Life Kit, Stuff You Should Know Podcast, The Moth, 10% Happier to How to be a Better Human podcast and Heal They Self.
Interests in books are great, mostly non-fiction, self help and research
Contact Info:
- Website: https://OlioSkin.com
- Instagram: OlioSkinBeard
- Facebook: OlioSkin
- Youtube: Olio
