Life and Work with Adele Foster

Today we’d like to introduce you to Adele Foster.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Adele. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Like many, I started my employment in the corporate world, but I never felt like the work I was doing was meant to be my “forever”. I often struggled to see myself doing those jobs in the long-term, and when I could imagine it, it felt bleak. I’ve dreamt for a long time of owning my own business doing something creative and seeking success outside of the corporate world, and luckily for me, I’ve had an abundance of strong women in my life to help guide me in this direction. I’ve had some incredible role models of strength, resilience, sacrifice, and dedication, including, but not limited to, my own mother, sister, and sister-in-law. Watching the way handled personal and professional growth and hardship, and being able to take lessons away from their experiences has been an amazing guide as I move forward into entrepreneurship.

I started soapmaking roughly three years ago. My husband is in the military and is very frequently away on trips (some lasting upwards of six months), so I decided that it was time for me to explore some new hobbies and get to know myself without him. As someone who struggles with depression and anxiety, self-care has been crucial to my well-being for many years, so in my search for new hobbies, I decided to try my hand at making bath bombs so that I could use them when I wanted to relax. The more I researched the process of making bath bombs, the more I learned about other self-care products like bath salts, milk baths, handmade soap, candles, etc. I fell in love with the creativity behind making items geared toward self-care, and after a few years of making products for myself, my family, and my friends, I decided to try my hand at opening my own business so I could share my passion with others.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have definitely been bumps along the road. I tried to launch my business in 2018 (amidst planning my wedding, starting a new role at my full-time job, and getting a Great Dane puppy right before my husband left for a trip lasting a few months). Life took off and my business was left behind, so I ultimately had to make the difficult decision to put it on hold without knowing when I’d be able to get back into it. Thankfully the stars aligned and I’ve been able to jump in with both feet first in 2019.

I also learned the hard way that there’s a lot more to starting a business based on a hobby than you would likely expect. I’d dreamt of my business being an opportunity to make products all day every day, but failed to consider every other aspect that goes into it. I am my own product photographer, marketer, salesperson, accountant, inventory specialist, QA team, and more. At first, it was completely overwhelming. I was of the opinion that if it wasn’t absolutely perfect I couldn’t put it out into the world, but I’ve since changed this part of my approach. I now operate with Harry S. Truman’s mindset that “imperfect action is better than perfect inaction.” I’ve also learned to seek enjoyment in every aspect of the job because I know that each step is a necessary piece to the puzzle, though I do have big plans for the future and have pinpointed the areas I’d like to delegate to someone who has a more specific skill set.

The best advice I can offer is to do your research and have a plan for getting started, but don’t try to wait until everything is perfect because that time will never come. Starting a business is a lot of trial and error, and if you give yourself permission to make mistakes, you’ll find that you learn and grow from them, which makes room for bigger and better things. There’s no handbook for starting your exact business because your business is unique to you, your skills, and your ideas. Take the lessons that apply to you, let go of the rest, and don’t get hung up on trying to do things just like someone else.

I’d also like to mention that with the use of social media as a strong marketing tool, it’s easy to compare what’s happening behind the scenes for you with the perfectly curated feeds you see from your competition. Try not to fall victim to that (as I admittedly have in the past), but instead, support those around you because they may be struggling just as much as you are–help others celebrate their wins, listen when they discuss their losses, be genuine, and have integrity. Social media is an incredibly powerful tool, and I’ve found that in using it for good I’ve been able to connect with hundreds of kind, hardworking, honest, and supportive people in just a few short months.

Please tell us about Foster Handmade.
Self-care is the heart and soul of my business. I create handcrafted luxury products geared toward helping my customers live their best and most relaxed life. While most people know me as an artisan soapmaker (and that is one of my specialties), I take pride in every product that I release to the public. I currently offer handcrafted vegan and vegetarian soaps, luxury bath salt soaks, creamy beeswax lotion bars, and hand-poured soy candles with wood wicks, however, I have several other products in the testing phase which should be released later this year.

I’m most proud of the quality of the ingredients that I use and the reusable and eco-friendly packaging my products come in. I hand-pick every ingredient in my products to ensure top quality and safety, any fragrance oils that I use are Phthalate-free and skin-safe, and my recipes are all created with your well-being and relaxation top of mind. In addition, all of my products come in recyclable and/or reusable packaging to ensure that my business is making a positive impact on the world.

I work hard to ensure that in addition to creating the best possible products for my customers, I’m also a positive influence on those around me. One of my dreams with my business is to create a helpful and supportive community over social media where my customers, admirers, peers, and others feel welcome, appreciated, and heard. I strive for honesty and integrity, even when discussing the harder topics. I will always be open about my struggles and triumphs because I feel that it’s important not just to see a business’s highlight reel, but also their behind-the-scenes.

Often it feels as if the media, by and large, is only focused on the obstacles faced by women, but we feel it’s important to also look for the opportunities. In your view, are there opportunities that you see that women are particularly well positioned for?
I personally believe that where we see challenges, we’ll be met with challenges, and where we see an opportunity, we’ll be met with opportunity. Whether it’s an opportunity whose path has already been paved, or it’s an opportunity to change our own thinking or the thinking of others, there is an opportunity in every situation. It’s true that the challenges facing women have been garnering the most coverage in the media lately, but all around me I see success and perseverance. We live in an age where more and more women are taking it upon themselves to question the status quo, to push for change where it’s needed, and to aim high and dig deep. By nature, women are tough. We have the ability to create life, we sacrifice for others, and we have a knack for getting back up when we’ve been knocked down. I feel so incredibly empowered as an entrepreneur to be able to meet so many other awe-inspiring women who are battling inequality, imposter syndrome, and years of being told they’re not capable, to go after their passions with a specific and calculated fierceness. I hesitate to name specific opportunities women are well-positioned for because I truly believe that if we work hard, do our research, and believe in ourselves and our abilities, anything is possible. If the opportunity you’re looking for doesn’t exist, make it. You’re worthy and you’re enough. If the opportunity is there, take it, improve upon it, and grow. If you’re willing to do the work, you can do anything.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.etsy.com/shop/fosterhandmadegoods
• Email: fosterhandmadegoods@gmail.com
• Instagram: @fosterhandmade
• Facebook: @fosterhandmade

Image Credit:
Larissa Welch, We the Light Photography, Adele Foster, Foster Handmade

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