Conversations with Heather Owens

Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Owens.

Hi Heather, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I spent a decade in craft cocktails before shifting gears into esthetics and soap-making, and there is actually lot of overlap between the salon and, you know, the saloon. There’s a science and an art to both a craft cocktail and a bar of cold-process soap. Like being behind the bar, the bulk of what ensures guests enjoy themselves is process, not product. For me, how I treat people is as important to me as the quality of the products I use, make, and sell.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Ha, well the soapmaking began as a covid quarantine cope (or outlet) so struggles kind of catalyzed or conceived the whole operation. I’ve moved across the country twice while building Wild Roam Club (from Boulder, CO to Omaha, NE, and then to Macon, GA), so navigating paperwork and temporary workspaces has presented a challenge, but I’ve been fortunate to find supportive wellness and maker communities all over. The road wasn’t exactly smooth (think the high, global trauma of the covid years) but I’ve grown a lot for it. Wild Roam Club is one way to tell that story: learning, making, growing, and changing.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I make cold-process, vegan, and organic soap by hand. I also make body oils, bath soaks, and vegan lip balms. I’m also a licensed esthetician so I do facials, waxing, lashes, and eyebrows. I’d say I specialize in attention to detail. Maybe hospitality. Ordinary things like soap help us orient our small rituals through the day. I make my products so these rituals can feel lovely in addition to being mundane.

Any big plans?
The whole city of Macon seems on the cusp of something big right now. It is an exciting time to be new here and a real gift to be back in the South after so long away. My partner and I are both from North Carolina originally. Right now I’m doing services out of a studio I’m renting in downtown Macon and selling soaps at markets across Middle Georgia. I’m certain things will look different this time next year, but the biggest change has been our ability to settle for a while, so I’m planning to keep my foot on the gas.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wildroamclub.com/
• Instagram: @wildroamclub

Image Credits
Topher Booth and Amariah Roderick