Today we’d like to introduce you to Tara Mettler.
Tara, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
All of us want to live our best life ever. Sometimes it comes to you through no effort of your own; sometimes, you have to make it happen. Healthy living has long been a passion of mine, but years back, it became an absolute necessity. I started experiencing increasingly worsening health issues all stemming from estrogen dominance. I had to take firm hold of my food, my cleaning products, and my beauty routine.
Since many products we come in contact with each day can worsen estrogen dominance, I spent a lot of time researching how to prevent additional estrogen or, even worse, “estrogen-like” chemicals from entering my system. In doing this research, I found out that there were so few beauty and personal care lines available that didn’t have the standard, go-to chemicals or preservatives in their products that disrupt our natural hormone cycles. It meant I had to make great changes, even sacrifices, in what products I would purchase and use for myself and my home.
Those sacrifices pushed me forward, though. It was clear to me that I would need to start making some products on my own. And so I did! For years! But it was something I just did for myself. Then, an opportunity arose at work one day, where our staff was stressed; they had been working extra hard and were feeling drained. I wanted to do something to lift their spirits. I didn’t want to bring in food or flowers, I wanted to do something different. Since I love making scrubs for myself and look forward to how amazing and relaxed you feel after using one, I thought that’s what I’ll give everyone.
So I picked out a few of my favorite recipes, made batches of each, fun labels for the jars and brought them into the office. The staff was blown away. They were so excited to use them and were very appreciative. Morale was boosted! Mission Accomplished!! I didn’t give it much further thought until a few days later, a coworker came to me that their scrub was all gone (their roommate found it and used it). Could they buy another one? Another one came to me and wanted to give a couple jars as gifts, could they buy some from me?
And another, and another. I came home to tell my husband that I thought it was amusing this was happening and he literally sat me down and said “Babe, I think you just started a business. Let’s focus our attention on this to make it grow. What do you need me to do?” Sweet On You was born and organic body scrubs were our flagship product! We have since expanded our scrub line to face, lip, and scalp and are currently developing a facial moisturizer line and eye serum.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
No, it has not been smooth. Right from the start, I knew I wanted to make a superior product. I wanted it to be truly organic and free from hormone-disrupting ingredients. Once I researched ingredients and preservatives further, it became clear why so many personal care companies use the chemicals they do; it’s a lot more cost-effective. But I knew that if a product like this was important to me, it would be important to other people, too.
I am very proud to be able to say that my products are 100% organic, vegan, and paraben-free, but that has been a very difficult achievement to accomplish. I’m constantly researching to find better ingredients and better techniques to make a high-quality product. I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I had improved my formulation, right when I thought I was satisfied with it.
The climate is changing in the personal care and beauty industry, too. Other parts of the world are cracking down on the chemicals that are in hair and skin care products due to the negative disruption of our bodies and the environment’s natural pathways and processes. More and more of these ingredients and preservatives are being questioned and even banned in Europe and Australia. The good news is that since this is the direction the industry is going, the call has gone out for better, healthier, safer ingredients which makes it easier to achieve that “gold standard” in beauty care.
The advice I have to women starting their journey is don’t sell yourself or your dream short. A lot of times we superimpose our own feelings on other people and talk ourselves right out of an idea or a sale. “People will never pay this price.” “Anyone can do what I’m doing.” “That market is glutted.” “What makes my product special?” Thinking like that doesn’t build confidence in yourself or your product. For me, is my product the cheapest on the market? Nope, because cheap products can often mean cheap ingredients. I wanted quality of the highest caliber. The ingredients are honest and it’s filling a need I share with other women. I know there’s going to be a whole community of people out there who are looking for exactly what I have to offer.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Sweet On You – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Aside from the fact that our products are truly organic, a lot of times scrubs leave you feeling greasy and your tub slick and slippery. The biggest thing that sets our scrubs apart from others is that they become a lotion when they come in contact with water. So not only is it delivering a deep moisturization as you’re exfoliating, but it washes off of you and leaves your tub clean. Many of my clients rave that they don’t need to use lotion for days after using a scrub. It combats dry, ashy skin quickly!
Were there people and/or experiences you had in your childhood that you feel laid the foundation for your success?
My mom is this amazing font of great, creative ideas. So she naturally encouraged that creativity in me growing up. She taught me to be independent, a leader, and a critical thinker. So I’m very adept at thinking “outside the box” and coming up with something new or different. Those skills have been invaluable as a business owner over the years. My husband, who is very entrepreneurial, saw that in me and encouraged me to start my first business when I was 20. I’m very grateful to the influence both of them have had and continue to have in my life and career.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sweetonyou.net
- Phone: 920.901.5890
- Email: info@sweetonyou.net
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/sweetonyou_official
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sweetonyou.official
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/sweetonyou_too
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/sweetonyouofficial
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