Daily Inspiration: Meet Margaret Hugo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Margaret Hugo.

Hi Margaret, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was a Registered Nurse for more than 30 years. We began keeping bees about 15 years ago while living in Rhode Island. 10 years ago I began experimenting making soaps and skincare with the honey & beeswax from our hives.
COVID hit and working in healthcare not only became very stressful, but mandatory overtime was exhausting. Developing and making soaps became a great way to deal with the stress of my job.
After COVID, I realized I loved creating and making great quality soaps and skincare products. In 2022 we decided to leave New England and go to “The Mountains” and live our passions full time.
We have been in Colorado for just over 3 years, and there is nothing better than doing what I love full time.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
All Gabba Gabba Naturals soaps are made the traditional way with wooden molds and need to be cured. This is called cold process soap making. Making soaps this way means they need to cure at least 1 month, Gabba Gabba soaps cure at least 6 weeks. A challenge is the need to always think ahead as I have to factor in the cure time before they can be sold.
I find major challenges to be the other parts of running a business; bookkeeping, monitoring supplies and inventory.
The biggest obstacle is, honestly, the social media, website and the computer work.
I am a bit older and learning all the social media and networking is very difficult for me.
It just does not come naturally.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My soaps have no colorings, are made with ethically sourced ingredients and I use essential oils for most of the scents. They all contain our own honey and beeswax.
I absolutely love creating new scents and try to have my products match the festival/event I am participating in.
For example for the donkey festivals I make a Donkey’s Milk Soap, just for those festivals. For the holistic festivals I make what I call “Horoscope Soaps” these soaps have a mix of essential oils that work well with each horoscope sign. There is Kitchen & Garden Hands soap that is a great seller in the summer at farmer’s markets.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Only 10% of soap sales are handcrafted soaps.. There is so much room for growth in this industry.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.GabbaGabbaNaturals.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GabbaGabbaNaturals
• Other: Email; GabbaGabbaNaturals@gmail.com