We recently connected with April Champagne and have shared our conversation below.
APRIL, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
I would have to say that I get my work ethic from parents, I grew up on a 365-acre dairy farm and am the oldest of 6 children. It took working together, a lot of hard work to make everything function on the farm One thing that I always remember my dad saying was ” if you are going to do something do it right the first time”. He was a Marine Veteran so we always also heard many times growing up also him say “improvise, adapt and overcome” . A few of those things that just stick with you and make you who are as an adult.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
In July of 2023, I created Simply Suds & More, LLC with the Motto, “Because your BODY Matters.” and “It all began with an idea.”
I am a retired Navy Yeoman Chief, and currently a Legal Specialist with the Federal Government and the owner/operator of Simply Suds & More with two sons. One who battled all his life and still does with eczema. By the time he was 17 YO, we had seen many different dermatologists and tried several types of lotions, creams, and ointments. The doctor finally suggested an injection medication. It was effective but my son just could not manage to inject himself and that is when we explored natural soap, and essential oils and it helped.
This is when I started doing more research and took a couple courses on soap making and I was hooked. It went from a hobby for my family to helping others and wanting to spread the word of the goodness that natural oils and butters do for skin and hair.
The idea is to provide high-quality, natural self-care products that nourish the skin and promote overall well-being. As a veteran-woman owned small business I am dedicated to crafting artisan soaps, bath bombs, body butters, and more, each carefully formulated to harness the properties of nature.
Believing that your body deserves the best, using the finest natural ingredients products that they are paraben and phthalate-free but also beneficial for your skin is our promise to you.
From the moment you step into the tub or lather up with our luxurious soaps, you will feel the difference that our commitment to quality makes. Immerse yourself in the soothing scents and nourishing textures, and let your body and mind be rejuvenated.
New products are being formulated all the time. Our newest line is using Tallow/Lard which you will be able to see appearing on our Social Media pages and our website soon.
We can be located on social media, and you can shop with us online or locally when we are out at different festivals, markets, and different community events. We post these upcoming events on our Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
On our website we have an events page as well, to keep everyone informed, with the name, location, and times. Our next Local event is always an exciting time to meet other vendors and interact with our customers. Talking about the various products that I have and what they are looking for is so satisfying.
Currently on our calendar this is where we are going to be in the local community:
2025 BMK Spring Craft Market Town Center Cobb (Belk Court Kennesaw Ga Mar 15 10Am -6pm; Mar 16 10Am -5pm
The latest and most exciting partnership is with the Crunch Fitness Corporate Program, where I have become a Crunch Perk Partner. This program has allowed me to promote my business in a health-focused environment while connecting with amazing individuals. It has been a fantastic experience, and I highly encourage anyone interested in joining a Crunch Gym to explore the Crunch Corporate Perks Program. Simply Suds & More visits one of the six different Crunch Gyms three times a month: twice during the week and once on Saturday. The participating locations include Crunch Hiram, Crunch West Cobb, Crunch Kennesaw, Crunch Acworth, Crunch Marietta, and Crunch East Cobb
Social Media:
Facebook Simply Suds & More
IG @simplysudsmore
TikTok: @simplysudsmore
Website: simplysudsmore.com
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Organization/planning, patience and effectively researching the material/knowledge needed to create the products I wanted to develop are qualities/skills that I feel have been impactful in my journey. Take your time with building your brand. It is not a race; it is exciting, and you will have so many amazing ideas but there are only so many hours in a day. Building a solid foundation first is key and doing it all correctly and not missing any steps in the process. You are always going to learn a tip or trick from someone that you can apply to your business. I have modified things to fit my business from candle makers, t-shirt businesses and even a Handyman business and I am so grateful. Give yourself grace through the process, You Got This!
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
The area that I have improved the most in would be the social media presence. I am getting better all the time in this area
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.simplysudsmore.com
- Instagram: @simplysudsmore
- Facebook: https://Www.facebook.com/simplysuds&more
Image Credits
all pics were taken by myself
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
