The Question I Get Asked

By Scott (Papa Bear)

People ask me all the time: “Why did you start Momma Bears Creations?”

And honestly? We almost didn’t.

Not because the products weren’t good. Not because there wasn’t demand. But because Stacie would have been perfectly happy giving everything away for free.

Let me explain.

Stacie’s Heart

My wife, Stacie (Momma Bear), has always made things. Soaps, lotions, balms - all from natural ingredients, all by hand, all from the heart.

But here’s the thing about Stacie: She makes them because it brings her joy to give them away.

Teachers at our kids’ schools? Homemade soap for Christmas.
Friends going through a tough time? Lotion bars to brighten their day.
A kid at a craft show who couldn’t afford anything? “Here, this one’s for you.”

Stacie thrives on the JOY her creations bring to others. The payment is the smile. The profit is the gratitude. The success is knowing someone felt cared for.

If I’d let her, she’d still be giving it all away.

The Tension (My Role)

And that’s where I come in - Papa Bear, the business guy, the one who has to balance Stacie’s generous heart with, you know, reality.

Because here’s the truth: If we gave everything away, Stacie couldn’t afford to KEEP making things for people.

The ingredients cost money. The time has value. The craft deserves respect.

My job isn’t to change Stacie’s heart. It’s to protect it.

I’m the one who says, “Yes, you can give that kid a free soap. But we need to sell enough at this event to afford making more, so you CAN keep giving.”

Stacie gives from abundance. I make sure the abundance can continue.

It’s not always an easy balance. But it’s an honest one.

Maddi’s Dream

Then there’s our daughter, Maddi.

She didn’t start Momma Bears to build an empire. She started it to spend time with her son - our grandson.

Maddi works full-time. Her hours are long. Her time with her little boy is precious. And she wanted MORE of it.

So she came to us with an idea: “What if we turned Mom’s soapmaking into something? A way for me to work flexible hours, spend more time with my son, and still contribute to the family?”

That’s the real origin story. Not a “kitchen table epiphany” or a calculated business plan. Just a daughter who wanted more moments with her child, and parents who wanted to help make that happen.

And you know what? Our grandson took his first steps at East Pennsboro Pumpkinfest while we were vending our first year.

Think about that for a second. Maddi started this business to spend more time with her son. And he took his first steps at the very event that turned Momma Bears into something viable.

That’s not strategy. That’s not marketing. That’s why we do this.

The Beautiful Mess

So here’s the truth about Momma Bears Creations:

We’re not a typical business.

Stacie STILL gives products away. (To kids at events. To people having a bad day. To folks down on their luck.)
I STILL have to gently remind her we need to cover costs.
Maddi STILL brings her son to events and craft shows, even when it’s chaotic.

And that’s exactly how it should be.

Because if we lost Stacie’s heart for giving, we’d lose the soul of this business. If we made it purely about profit, it wouldn’t be Momma Bears anymore.

Why This Matters to You

You might be wondering: “Okay, sweet story. But why are you telling me this?”

Because when you buy from Momma Bears, you’re not just getting a product.

You’re supporting:

A wife who creates from joy
A husband who protects that joy with sustainability
A daughter who chooses family time over corporate hours
A grandson who took his first steps at the very event that made this dream possible

You’re buying from real people. Not a faceless corporation. Not an algorithm-optimized dropshipper.

You’re buying from Stacie, Maddi, and Scott - a family in Enola, PA, trying to build something that honors generosity while staying sustainable.

The Stacie Standard

Here’s my rule of thumb when making decisions for Momma Bears:

“Would Stacie be proud to put her name on this?”

Would she be proud of the ingredients we use? (Only if they’re natural, safe, and simple.)
Would she be proud of how we treat customers? (Only if we treat them like family.)
Would she be proud of the price we charge? (Only if it’s fair - not gouging, but not undervaluing her craft.)

If the answer is no, we don’t do it.

Even if it’s profitable. Even if it’s trendy. Even if everyone else is doing it.

Stacie’s heart is the compass. My business sense is the map. Together, we’re building something worth being proud of.

What Happens Next

So what’s the future of Momma Bears?

Honestly? I don’t know.

Maybe Maddi gets to quit her corporate job and work from home full-time when baby #2 comes. (That’s the dream.)

Maybe we keep doing craft shows and selling at Carlisle Creative Vibes for years to come, and that’s enough.

Maybe our grandson grows up helping Grandma Stacie make soap, carrying on the tradition.

But here’s what I DO know:

As long as Stacie is creating from joy, and Maddi is spending time with her son, and I’m making sure we can keep doing both - we’re succeeding.

Revenue is just a scorecard. Joy, family, and sustainability? That’s the real goal.

From Our Family to Yours

If you’ve bought from us at a craft show, you’ve probably met Stacie. She’s the one who lights up when you ask about ingredients. The one who genuinely wants to know if the soap worked for your skin. The one who might slip an extra sample in your bag because “I thought you might like this one too.”

That’s not a sales tactic. That’s just Stacie being Stacie.

And when you shop at Carlisle Creative Vibes, or buy from us online, or stop by our booth at Pumpkinfest - you’re supporting that.

You’re saying: “Yes, keep creating. Yes, keep giving. Yes, we value what you do.”

And for that, from all three of us (and our grandson, who’s probably climbing on something he shouldn’t right now) - thank you.

— Scott, Stacie & Maddi Momma Bears Creations, Enola, PA

P.S. - If you’ve never met Stacie in person, come find us at an event. She’ll probably give your kid a free soap. And I’ll probably sigh and shake my head. And she’ll wink at me, and we’ll both know - that’s exactly what Momma Bears is supposed to be.

Want to read more about our journey? Check out From Gifts to Williams Grove or Pumpkinfest: Our Home. Or hear it in Stacie’s own words about why she makes soap.

Stacie Scott family business authentic story Enola PA handmade with love Papa Bear

Why Stacie Creates: It's About Joy, Not Just Business