We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Olga Boldyreva a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Olga , thank you so much for making time for us. We’ve always admired your ability to take risks and so maybe we can kick things off with a discussion around how you developed your ability to take and bear risk?
I’ve always believed that taking risks is rooted in having faith in yourself and your passions. Over time, I realized that the more I trusted my instincts and followed what truly excited me, the more willing I became to step out of my comfort zone. Though taking a risk in my craft doesn’t really scare me—I’ve been fortunate to have a support system of family, friends and loyal customers who encouraged me and my creativity along the way. Their belief in me helped me believe in myself, making it easier to take calculated risks and grow from each experience. I don’t waste too much time dwelling on what could have been or something not going as planned, it’s always about perfecting and on to the next!
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My husband and I have always devoted ourselves to living a healthy and clean lifestyle. When our son was born, it only motivated us to focus more on our personal wellness and lead by example with a clean and simple approach to the things we use and consume daily. When we had our daughter Sophie, we quickly realized expanding our baby products was way overdue. Today, we’re a blessed family of four who try to eat organic and locally produced food, wear simple cotton clothing, raise healthy spirits, practice yoga, explore the outdoors and, most importantly, use all natural skin and body products that are safe for our home and the environment.
Many years ago I developed eczema, and my daughter seems to have inherited sensitive skin as well. In search of a solution, I spent a lot of time and money on products that temporarily relieved my symptoms or even worse — didn’t seem to work at all. Eventually, I began doing research on how to make homemade lotions and dedicated my time to studying various natural oils, butters and herbs. Before I knew it, I had created my own remedy.
Over the years, I continued to research and experiment with different ingredients and perfected the lotion that I use today as my eczema treatment. This one creation led me to a number of products that are my go-to best kept secrets for stretch marks, acne, hair growth and more. Creating MION and producing products that have helped me in a way that can help others has been the most rewarding part of our business.
Since our journey began, we have always used the highest quality of ingredients, without the use of preservative, parabens, artificial colorings and perfumes. We use a variety of herbs that give our products their unique vibrant colors and are blended to maximize the beneficial effects of each ingredient.
I started creating products at home and selling at local farmer’s markets. Eventually, with our growing success, we realized space was becoming an issue, especially with a desire to expand our product lines. In 2020 we opened our Downtown Wheaton location, which serves as our home location for making our products and holding inventory. In fall of 2022, we opened our Downtown St. Charles location, and now, we’re excited to announce we plan to open a Downtown LaGrange location later this year. Being supported by our loyal customers, the various cities we have a presence in and even being recognized with an Illinois Made award has truly made our growth possible.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back, I’d say that perseverance, a genuine passion for natural skincare, and a willingness to learn were the three most impactful aspects of my journey. Perseverance helped me push through challenges and setbacks, reminding me that every step forward counts, even the small ones. My passion kept me motivated and focused on creating products that I truly believe in, which resonated with others. Lastly, being open to learning—whether from mistakes, feedback, or new trends—allowed me to grow and adapt in ways I never expected.
For anyone on their own journey, my advice would be to stay true to what you’re passionate about, surround yourself with people who uplift and support you, and never be afraid to embrace the lessons that come your way. It’s all part of the process, and each experience, good or bad, shapes your success in ways you might not see right away. Keep going, and trust that your dedication will lead you to where you’re meant to be.
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
I would say my biggest area of growth has been stepping out of my comfort zone, and trying to establish new relationships and avenues for our loyal customers to shop our products. While we love the support that we receive from online shoppers, or those that regularly stop at our stores and visit us, we recognize people’s shopping preferences vary. Recently, we began listing a short list of products on Etsy, and over the next few months, we have a booth setup at the newest location of The Rustic Fox in Carol Stream. We value our current presence, but if we can expand and tap into other areas customers prefer to shop, we’re definitely open to it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mionartisansoap.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mionsoap/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MionArtisanSoap
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpORXAqK4gIkqIjzCnAvnbQ
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