Handmade

Every product has a story. Some start with a business plan. Some start with market research.

Hot Cocoa Bath Soak started with Stacie saying, “What if bath time smelled like hot chocolate?”

That’s it. That’s the origin story.

How It Actually Happened

We were at a craft show (I think it was Central Dauphin Band Boosters, but don’t quote me on that), and Stacie was doing what Stacie does: talking to customers, asking what they wished existed, mentally filing away ideas.

This Is Where It All Started

Hey friends. Stacie here. Can I tell you a secret?

Momma Bears Creations didn’t start as a business idea.

It didn’t start with market research or a business plan or dreams of craft shows.

It started with teacher gifts.

Let me take you back: Maddi was in school. Every year, the same dilemma hit: What do I give her teachers to show I actually appreciate everything they do?

We All Have “That Person”

Hey friends. Stacie here. Let me tell you about my friend.

She’s amazing. Kind, generous, always there when I need her. She’s supported our business from day one, shows up to our craft shows, tells all her friends about us.

She also has EVERYTHING.

Seriously. If she wants something, she buys it. Her house is beautiful and curated. She doesn’t need more decorative objects. She doesn’t want clutter. She’s practical and particular.

The Candle Dilemma (Every Gift-Giver Knows This)

Hey friends! Stacie here. Let me paint you a familiar picture:

The scenario: You need a gift. Teacher appreciation, friend’s birthday, Secret Santa at work, Mother’s Day, “thank you for helping us move” gift. You want something thoughtful, but you’re stuck.

Your thought process: “Maybe… a candle?”

Look, I LOVE candles. I burn them in our Enola house constantly. But here’s the truth: Everyone gives candles. That teacher already has 47 vanilla-scented candles. Your friend has a whole closet shelf of unopened candle gifts.

“How Many Bars Can You Make in a Week?”

Hey friends! Stacie here.

Someone at Pumpkinfest last year asked me: “How many bars of soap can you make in a week?”

I thought for a second. “Depends on the week, but maybe… 100-150 bars?”

She looked surprised. “That’s it? There are companies that make MILLIONS of bars!”

“Yep,” I said. “But those aren’t made the way we make ours.”

“What do you mean?”

What Teachers REALLY Think About Your Gifts (The Honest Truth)

Hey friends! Stacie here. Let me share a secret my daughter Maddi (who taught for years) told me:

The truth about teacher gifts: They appreciate the thought. They really do. But…

They already have 47 “World’s Best Teacher” mugs.

They don’t need another apple-themed anything.

And please, for the love of everything, no more scented candles they’ll never light because they’re allergic to synthetic fragrances.

The Gift Dilemma We All Face

Hey friends! Stacie here. Let me paint a familiar picture:

The scenario: Your mom’s birthday is coming up. She has EVERYTHING. When you ask what she wants, she says, “Oh honey, I don’t need anything.”

Your panic: What do you GET someone who doesn’t need anything?!

The usual solution: Generic gift card. Candle she won’t light. Picture frame she’ll put in a closet. More STUFF to add to her already-full house.