Lotion, Butter, Salve: What’s the Difference? Posted on February 4, 2023 by joshuasopko Lotion, Butter, or Salve, what’s the difference? As we battle the cold weather during the winter months, our skin can take a beating. There are many options for moisturizers and choosing one that fits your preferences best is key to hydrating your skin! Here’s a breakdown of some of the most common options. Lotions are typically lighter in weight and contain water or aloe. These products are for light moisturizing regimens. They work great for quick rehydration during the day but require reapplication often, especially during the dry winter months. Lotions absorb quickly, they can be a great option for a quick hydrating boost throughout the day and don’t usually have a greasy feeling. At room temperature, body butter is a solid lotion that melts when in contact with your skin. In most cases, these are all oil or butter based. This means no water is added, giving them a dense feel as compared to lotions. Body butter can leave you feeling a little greasy and is best applied at night or right after a shower while your pores are open and your skin is damp and ready to absorb the oils of the product. Butter is a good choice in the winter, especially if you have severely dry skin and want deep hydration. Salves are herbal-infused nourishment that is designed to help treat specific ailments. Our salves contain herbal oils and infusions plus beeswax to help solidify the final product. These can be used on specific areas of the body or face. Salves are great for dealing with red, blotchy skin, or dry, itchy skin around the nose or elbows. These are perfect to pair with lotions and body butter for a full-body regimen. We call these salves the secret weapon to skin hydration and battling the extra tough spots. Some specific salve types examples include our eczema salve, dry and scaly skin salve, menstrual cramp salve, and our most popular Hippie Healer (for general scraps, cuts, and burns). We carry all 3 of these types of products in our store and hope this helps you choose the proper nourishment for your dry skin! Links: Lotions Body Butter Salves Have a question about which one you might need? Send us a message!
Our 2022 Year in Review Posted on December 31, 2022December 31, 2022 by joshuasopko Okay, so 2022 was a little crazy. And I don’t mean a little hectic, I mean it was crazy. Countries were invaded, some guy spent too much money on a broken app (ahem, Elon), and the Queen of England died (let’s be honest, the last one is the only one anyone cared about anyway…). And in our everyday lives, it was just as crazy. Inflation has become a real threat to our families and the way we live, stores are consistently out of stock of goods, and the weekly grocery bill seems to have doubled. But hey, it wasn’t all bad. Especially for us at the store. Certainly, we faced our share of obstacles. Supply chain issues have been and will continue to be a real issue, our product costs have skyrocketed, and with inflation affecting every American, our retail sales are down. Well, that was a pretty dismal list, but as I said, it wasn’t all bad. For example, we had a record turnout for our 4th Anniversary party, we added another member to our family, and we launched a new website that has well outperformed our sales goals in the first 2 months. We’re calling it a win. 🙂 We thought we’d give you a fun update about some of the positive details about our year, as well as a glimpse into the coming year. We won’t let a little inflation get in the way of life! So here it goes: Our 2022 Year in Review. Record turnout for our 4th-anniversary party Every August we hold an anniversary party. It’s typically our biggest sale of the year that includes an incredible swag bag of gifts, new products, coupons, and more. Each year we’ve seen this party grow, and this year was no exception. Despite a recession and inflation, you all showed up HOURS before the event and waited in line at the front door. This day is easily our favorite day of the year. We get to see all the smiling faces of our customers, and we take the opportunity to say hi face to face, and really nurture the community around our business and the natural products we make. We can’t thank you enough, but let’s just say that next year, we’ve got plans to ramp it up EVEN BIGGER. Stay tuned! Sopkos had a Baby! If you follow us on Instagram or Facebook, you probably saw this. On March 2nd we added baby #5 to the Sopko family roster. It’s so fun for our customers that live out of town or only visit a few times a year. One lady came in and said, “You had a different baby on your hip last time I was in, right?” Yes, indeed. This is a different one. The one you remember is that blond-headed spitball running around the shop behind you (Wilder). If you ever stop in the store, it’s more than likely you’ll see him. His name matches his personality a little too well. But now, as we close out the year, Nora Grace isn’t so much a tiny baby. She’s a 10-month-old chunk of love. Hands down the smiliest baby with abounding light in her eyes. She truly is a joy to have around. (And for those of you wondering, we are done…knock on wood. #snipsnip) Our new website launched! This was huge for us this year. A new website has been in the works for a while now. But as with all things in brick-and-mortar retail, the digital side of things often takes a back seat. When the floor needs to be mopped, it needs to get mopped. But alas, it’s here. The results have been fantastic, too. Among a far easier and streamlined cart and checkout process, we’re also able to see a lot more information about how people are using our website. That helps us with retargeting marketing campaigns, as well as guiding us toward making better product decisions! Have a product or website suggestion? We’d love to hear it! New Products of 2022 I almost forgot to mention the handful of new products that were launched in 2022! There was a point in the early days of business when new products were launched every few weeks. But we’ve slowed down and really tried to be thoughtful about new products. Listen to our customers, and take our time on new formulations and customer needs. Here is a breakdown of the new products that were created in 2022: Deodorant Cream We’ve had a natural deodorant for a long time, but nothing like our Deodorant Cream. Brittany craftily reformulated her recipe to create a semi-solid cream that lasts longer and works better. It’s extra strength and stands up to the test of my working construction in the summer. Take it from me, it’s awesome. Shop Deodorant Cream Now Baby Oil This essential oil-free and fragrance-free oil is a better alternative to mainstream baby oils and lotions. It’s a good general recommendation to avoid using essential oils on babies (especially babies under 6 months), but to help soften their sometimes scaly skin, our natural baby oil will help! Shop Baby Oil Eyelash Growth Serum This growth serum utilizes castor oil to promote the natural growth of eyelash hair. It’s essential oil-free (you don’t want essential oils near your eyes! It applies similarly to mascara and has the best results if applied at night for a few weeks. Shop Eyelash Growth Serum And finally, a list of the top 4 MOST POPULAR products of 2022: 4. Sleep Cream A magnesium-based cream specially formulated with natural herbs and oil to help reduce muscle anxiety, nighttime muscle spasms, and restless leg syndrome. Shop Sleep Cream Now 3. Shampoo Bars A must-have product for so many of our customers. If you’ve never tried a shampoo bar, this is your sign. So many customer reviews like this one from Michelle: “I didn’t know what to expect going from a high dollar salon shampoo in a plastic bottle. This shampoo bar leaves my hair feeling natural, non-greasy, and healthy. For the first time in years, I’m happy with my hair!” Wow…enough said. (and thanks for the props Michelle!) Shop Shampoo Bars Now 2. Foaming Facial Scrub Among many of our face products, the foaming facial scrub has become a staple in so many bathrooms. It’s a great scrub for helping to promote your skin for moisturizing regimes, cleans makeup, and generally leaves your face feeling refreshed! This is one you’ll want to keep on hand because it’s often out of stock! Shop Foaming Facial Scrub Now 1. Miracle Muscles You can likely guess why this one is popular. But a quick story, this product was developed back when I was running and training for a marathon. After my long runs on the weekends, I would struggle during recovery to even walk. My wife knew just what to make that would help. This became the first magnesium-based product in our line-up and after just one time of use, the name was dubbed ‘Miracle Muscles’. And for good reason. This is a staple product for so many athletes, and general people who exercise, as well as elderly and blue-collar working folks who have general muscle aches and pains. Shop Miracle Muscles Now That’s it! That’s a wrap for our year in 2022. But, as we close out the old and welcome the new, we wanted to leave you a gift. Enter your email to save 10% off your first purchase of 2023. We’ll keep you updated on some exciting new plans for the coming year.
2022 Christmas Gift Guide! Posted on November 28, 2022 by joshuasopko Our 2022 Christmas Gift Guide is Here! Everyone is feeling the squeeze this holiday shopping season. Budgets are tight and gift-giving needs to be intentional and affordable. But instead of grabbing more stuff off the shelf at Target that no one really wants or needs, we’ve put together a premium gift-giving guide for the people in your life. This year’s gift guide has three sections: For the hard to buy for people in your life. You know the ones. They already have everything. They want for nothing. And frankly, you’re just out of ideas. And the men in your life. Let’s face it, men can be a challenge to buy for this time of year. Follow this guide, we’ve got you covered. The extra people. This one is for the teachers, the hairdressers, coaches, instructors, and anyone else you think, “do we need to get so-and-so and gift?” Yes, you probably do. But you don’t need a knick-knack for their desk and you don’t need to spend $25+ each. Let’s get started! For the hard to buy for: Shower Spray Shower sprays are a thoughtful gift without adding another knick-knack on the wall. For the person who has everything, a shower spray is truly the perfect gift! Bar Soap Everyone needs soap! Match a holiday bar soap scent with our beautiful wooden soap dish for an elegant, classy gift idea. Lip Balm Our lip balm is one of our top-reviewed products. Especially this time of year, lip balm isn’t just a novelty item. It’s a must-have! Miracle Muscles It’s one of the most popular products we make. Rest assured, the impossible to buy for will love it! Hand Cream Dry and cracked skin is a product of winter. Hand cream is a thoughtful gift to address skin issues this time of year. Give a travel size for those who are always on the go! For the men: Shampoo Bars Our Shampoo bars are clean, easy to use, and minimal in every way. Just how men like it. Bar Soap Bar soap is a great gift for men. Our bold scent is the perfect masculine scent without being too dominating. Wooden Soap Dish Responsible soap handling isn’t on the top of a man’s list. Pair our elegant wooden soap dish with a bold-scented bar soap or shampoo bar to make sure he gets the most out of his soap! Miracle Muscles The perfect gift for the man who always groans when getting out the lazy boy from sore joints and muscles. Our most popular product! Dry Skin Salve Get him something he’d never get himself. Our dry skin salve helps address the irritating dry skin that comes with old man winter. Foot Cream Did he miss his last pedicure? Dry and cracked feet often go unaddressed in men. Our foot cream absorbs well without leaving a greasy residue to address foot issues. For the extras: Mini Gift Box A pre-made gifting solution for under $12. Our mini gift box includes a hand cream, lip balm, and delicious chocolate. Simple, elegant & perfect! Bar Soap Everyone needs soap! Match a holiday-scented bar soap with our beautiful wooden soap dish for an elegant, classy gift idea. Lip Balm Our lip balm is one of our top-reviewed products. Especially this time of year, lip balm isn’t just a novelty item, it’s a must-have! Shower Spray The extras in your life don’t need another thing on their desk or a picture frame for their wall. Get them a consumable product they’ll use and love! Oil Roller (see recommendations for links) We have a wide array of oil roller options, but our top recommendations for the extras in your life are immune, relax, and sniffles! Hand Cream Dry and cracked sin is a product of winter. Hand cream is a thoughtful gift to address skin issues this time of year. Give a travel size for those who are always on the go! That’s it! If you’d like to see all our gift guide recommended products in one place, shop our Giftable section. Need something more? We’ve also created pre-made gift boxes to fit every budget. Shop our gift boxes here. From us to you, we’re praying for an amazing holiday season. Merry Christmas, cheers!
Black Friday & Small Business Saturday DEALS! Posted on November 24, 2022November 24, 2022 by joshuasopko It’s here! The biggest shopping weekend of the year. We know you’ve already been through the Thursday paper ads. We know you’ve got a list started and a plan made for Friday and Saturday. But once you’re done with the big box store shopping, head down to your local shops and support us, too! Here’s a breakdown of what it looks like at our store: Black Friday 5 Different Products are on Sale for $5.50 each. Lip Balm Select Bath Bombs 2 oz Shower Spray Pillow Spray Travel Lotions Small Business Saturday 20% off Storewide & Online Free Swag Bags in-store Free Gift w/ any Online Order Included in Small Business Saturday, we’re hosting a mobile Coffee truck from Rooted Plant Shop. They’ll be set up around 9 am as doors open at 10 am! Also, Effortless Bows will be set up with a table in our store. These are the PERFECT gifts for the hard to buy for people in your life. We’ll have some sweets and hot apple cider for free in-store as well. The weather looks to be amazing and we’re honored to be added to your weekend shopping list! See you this weekend! And if you can’t stop in to see us, we’re always around online on our new website! Cheers.
How we do Turkey Day Posted on November 24, 2022November 24, 2022 by joshuasopko Thanksgiving can be bittersweet for many small business owners. It’s the eve of the biggest shopping weekend of the year. It’s the calm before the storm, as they say. It’s no different for us at Juniper. Most Thanksgivings we host our extended family from Joshua’s side. Including kids, it totals about 25-30 people most years. It’s a great morning of good food, fellowship with people we love, and a house full of rowdy, rambunctious, fun-loving kids that don’t see their cousins nearly enough. But as we’re preparing the turkey and peeling potatoes, our minds are fixated on the weekend ahead, including the subsequent weeks to Christmas. For us, the next few weeks account for about 40% of our total annual revenue. It’s a serious matter to make sure we have inventory, content, raw materials, help lined up, etc. We start preparing for the Christmas shopping season in September. But as it tends to happen, the big holiday shopping kickoff weekend always comes faster than we think. What’s the mean for a maker? It means we work on Thanksgiving. Our morning started with hosting family, playing games, and watching some football. But after the house was empty of guests, our minds quickly transitioned back into business prep and content writing. Running a small retail business isn’t for the faint of heart. But we wouldn’t have it any other way. Thanksgiving is about being thankful, and every year, no matter how much we work, we can’t help but do it with a smile. Because without this business, we wouldn’t have you. And without you, we wouldn’t have this. And for this, we are thankful. To all our amazing customers, we’re thankful to you. We’re thankful for our family who supports us on this crazy journey. We’re thankful to all the customers who show grace and understanding when our kids get a little wild in the store. Or when their package arrives with some crayon drawings on the side of the box. We’re thankful for a challenging year as it makes us stronger. And thankful for all the provisions God provides through those challenges. Here’s to what we know will be a successful holiday shopping weekend and holiday season. From the whole Juniper Family, cheers.