Today we’d like to introduce you to Dustin Herb.
Hi Dustin, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
We are a skincare company treating the public with simple products like Goat Milk Soap and Lotions. We got into the industry through a shared experience that being bad skin. “Bad” meaning tough cases of acne and eczema. My case was so bad (especially with acne on my face) that I even feared leaving the house. In high school, I found myself on the end of a few bullies, and it didn’t get much better into adulthood. Like some teens/young adults, I found myself going to my doctor for treatment. In the end, I found myself on a harsh medication called Accutane, and though it helped with one issue, facial/body scarring became a new one. After being on the medication for nearly two years, I started to look for a different solution. That’s when a dermatologist recommended the use of “Goat milk-based products. I tried a few different kinds and loved the results. Though it didn’t cure it (and won’t), it helped manage it. Plus, the feel of a bar soap never felt so good!
So, we learned to make it ourselves. After years of selling to friends and family, my sister gave me the confidence to make it an official business! Now, years later, the whole family is involved, and we’ve never been so close. We aim to be a strong, friendly, and faithful local brand. We pick our suppliers with great care and aim to do business locally when possible. This is our small way of helping our neighbors find a little confidence in themselves, as well as provide a safer/chemical-free alternative solution.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like with anything, it was a learning experience. I didn’t go to college for business, and it showed right away. I learn new things almost every day and am so thankful for the friends, family, and business owners I’ve met along the way. I’ve had more than one person take me under their wing, and it showed as I navigated the early waters of business ownership. I’m still in those waters now (with being less than two years old) but am more confident by the day, and if not, I know who to turn to for help.
The most challenging thing to date would be our natural liquid soap. Seeing as we don’t use chemicals (aside from lye, an alkaline chemical found in clay and limestone), we often run into roadblocks when developing new products. Our liquid soap would be our greatest example, as a customer loved it so much that they bought 5 pounds of the stuff, only to have it solidify a couple of months later. Naturally, we were very apologetic to the customer and offered a full refund for our mistake. The customer simply laughed and told us not to worry. But we did and pulled it off the shelf until we could find the right, natural solution to fix it. Because of this experience, we take more than enough time when developing our products, and if it can’t be natural, then we simply don’t make it at all.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
D & D Bare Necessities LLC is known for local, natural skin care products, with Goat Milk being the heart of those products. As the founder/CEO, I’m responsible with our contact with store owners, public events, record keeping, and new product development.
My sister, Felisha, handles our professional photography and Goat Milk Lotion Production.
My brother-in-law, Matthew, helps in record keeping and company projections.
My brother, Brandon, now oversees the majority of our Goat Milk Soap Production.
My mother, Barbara, helps in research, as well as postproduction (such as labeling and packaging)
What sets us apart is our process in product manufacture. For example, in soap making, we take a less traveled road known as Hot Process Soap Making instead of Cold Process. This means we’re able to deliver a bar that’s just days old. We also use oils that create a much stronger bar, seeing as most natural soap bars seem to melt away in your shower. We do this process for a few different reasons, but lately, we’ve found our customers trust the process when they get to see it more in action. We can make it right in front of you and sell it to you for safe use only a day later.
I’m most proud of the work we do locally. When we began, I remember wondering what we were going to do. Online, or take a more traditional route. Though we ship off the occasional order to places in the United States outside of Georgia, we try to remain in our local area (or surrounding counties). The main reason is simple. We aim to help our neighbors first and boost our local economy the best we can but selling and then buying from that same market.
We offer a range of products and services. As far as products, we currently offer a wide selection of Goat Milk Soaps and Lotions. For our services, we wrap and deliver custom skincare baskets and even make completely CUSTOM soap batches for customers.
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?
We see the entire family getting more involved and taking official positions in the company. We plan to grow our warehouses, production facilities and even opening our very first physical store here in Statesboro, GA.
Pricing:
- 6oz Goat Milk Soap Bar – $7.99 – $9.99
- 8oz Goat Milk Lotion – $10.99
- Gift Baskets – $24.99 – $49.99
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ddbarenecessities.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dbarenecessities/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ddbarenecessities
Image Credits
Felisha Brown
