Meet Meghan Wright | Soapmaker & Small Business Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Meghan Wright and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Meghan, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I started my own business after a grueling and heart wrenching career in public school teaching. I loved teaching more than anything, but found the lack of support in administration to be more than I could take. The decision for me to abandon my years of education and classroom work was extremely challenging. I didn’t just wake up one day and know a change was needed; it was a slow evolution. But when you come home from work everyday, utterly exhausted and sobbing uncontrollably due to circumstances out of your control, you come to realize things are not right. I desperately needed to find a place in the world where I could use my artistic skills and also feel like I was adding value to other people’s lives. And while teaching gave that to me to a degree, it was never rewarded or truly seen as success. I was simply seen as another warm body following a script approved by a school board. Venturing out onto my own gave me what I was lacking most: freedom. Career freedom. Creative freedom. Emotional freedom.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Just like any small business owner will tell you, it’s been a long and winding road. As my formal education was based in child development and K-8 teaching, I had to learn everything through trial and error. No one tells you that you have to be a marketing wizard, know basic accounting, be an amateur photographer/videographer, do graphic design, manage wholesale accounts, learn website coding, AND make soap, etc. It’s a lot! But I’ve always leaned into the philosophy of putting one foot in front of the other. I try and focus on small goals and obstacles as they present themselves. I try not to get too overwhelmed at once (which I might add seems nearly impossible during the holidays!). I tend to put my head down and get to work if I’m feeling inspired; I rest and let ideas go to sleep if I’m feeling lost or inadequate as a creator.

I am a soapmaker by trade. I taught myself from a book, nearly 20 years ago how to make cold process soap from scratch. And while I’ve had many dips in and out of various careers, one thing that has always been there for me is soapmaking. I often tell people, there is magic in soapmaking. It is the perfect balance between art and chemistry. It allows us to make something beautiful (or on occasion, catastrophic). It can reflect our mood, our style, our passions. It tells a story of creativity and joy. It can be an outlet for sadness, grief, or an aide as we trudge through life’s unpredictability. It is never a simple bar of soap someone is buying; it is a piece of my heart and soul.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Honestly, I wouldn’t be here without the massive support and network of my friendors. Friendors are vendor friends that I have met doing markets and events in and around my state, over the years. Some of my closest friendships have come from meeting other makers in my community. These folks have been imperative to my success either through their purchases or word of mouth and I will forever be grateful to know such a rad, and creative group of people.

Website: https://www.foragedsoap.co/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foragedsoapco/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrnGNSxno0AvVnba_2snu4Q

Image Credits
Emily Wong