Dreamers Into Doers -- marthastewart.com

Doer of the Week: Tammy Brodbeck

What were you doing (careerwise) when you decided to create your own business?
When I started Milk and Cookeez in September of 2008, I was a mom to three children -- my youngest was 5 months old.

When did you know that you could really make a go of this?
I knew the day I applied for a business license. Two days after I received my license, I was in a meeting with a high-profile company in my hometown.

How did you turn your idea into a business plan?
I can’t say that I have a true business plan, at least not in the traditional sense. I knew when I started making sweet bath and body products that there was a market for healthier yet cute body products.

What inspired you to do this?
Originally, I was inspired by nature. The first products I made were my Lavender Bath Cookeez, made with my homegrown lavender. Once I started paying attention to ingredients in the bath and body products my daughter was using, I decided to focus mainly on young girls and women.

What was your start-up cost? How did you get the money, and what did you use it for?
My start-up cost was about $28.00. This bought me a bag of sea salt and lavender essential oil. Everything else I had in my pantry. When I went into retail, my start-up was $300.00.

What was the biggest obstacle?
My biggest obstacle was (and still is) managing my time. I have such passion for what I do that I can lose myself in work, which can definitely be an obstacle with children, a husband, and a home to manage.

Did your friends and family support your dream?
Yes, they support me 100 percent. My husband does it monetarily, when I want to try new things, and my daughter loves helping whenever she can.

What did it take to get everything off the ground?
Manufacturing takes time. There is research, both with the products and on what products would work best. Even now, I have notebooks full of formulas and ideas -- I think that this will be an ongoing theme for me. There has also been a lot of trial and error.

How long did it take for your business to become profitable?
The financial research that I did allowed me to bring in a profit quickly; however, I also reinvested almost all of my profits to new ideas and products. Within the past year, I have started taking in a profit that I have been fortunate enough to keep.

What's the most fun part of what you do?
The most fun part of my work is making the products. I love that I can be creative and at the same time know that I am making healthy products that make people happy.

Where do you work from?
I have a studio in my basement; I call it the Cotton Candy Workshop, as it is painted in a soft aqua with lots of pink. It’s truly a happy and inspiring space.

Do you have employees?
I have three people who work for me: one lovely woman who helps with the soap production and two young women who help with the packaging and computer work.

How have you been using social media to grow your business?
The day I started my website in 2008, I started a blog. I try to write on it regularly, but usually end up updating my Facebook page and Twitter account instead.

Do you have entrepreneurial role models? What’s so inspiring about them?
Debbie Chialtas is a great role model. She owns her own soap making company, SoapyLove, and is such a wealth of information to me. She is top in the field of melt-and-pour soap making and is always giving me good advice and encouragement.

How did you learn and acquire the skills you use to make your business successful? How do you continue to grow and learn?
I have joined the Indie Business Network, which helps independent business owners learn from experts in many different areas. I have also learned much from my husband, Bill, who has worked hand in hand with the FDA -- he is wealth of knowledge. He makes sure my products are in line with federal guidelines.

What's the best piece of business advice you ever received?
Keep my lines streamlined and focus on creating the best product possible.

If you had it to do over again, what, if anything, would you do differently?
I would have saved money and profited a lot earlier.

What is your favorite Milk & Cookeez product?
I love the Lip Scrub. It sloughs dead skin cells away, moisturizes with natural butters and skin-nourishing oils, and on top of all that it tastes great too!

What advice would you give to Dreamers who haven’t become Doers yet? Believe that your dreams can come true, and get to it! If you asked me four years ago what I would be doing, I would have never imagined that I would be doing this -- but here I am.

Keep Up with Tammy and Milk and Cookeez
MilkandCookeez.com
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Comment by Pamela Daw on April 5, 2011 at 5:16pm: WOW Congratulations on your Products and CA$H turnaround cannot wait to see more I LOVE them ALL !!!

Comment by Monica Salcedo on April 5, 2011 at 1:44pm: Congratulations! All of your products are so cute and they look yummy.

Comment by Tammy Brodbeck, Milk and Cookeez on April 3, 2011 at 10:36am: Thank you all so very much. I am so humbled by all of your well wishes and encouragement. Being accepted as a Doer was an Honor in itself when I joined last year, but now being A Doer of the Week has been such an emotional (In a great way!) journey. The love, encouragement, and motivation has been so inspiring. Thank you all, and expecially to Caitlin-thank you for chosing me :)

Comment by Karin - Creative Chaos on April 3, 2011 at 1:53am: Hi Tammy! I love your products....I know we were involved in a common group together....I think it was Lollishops? I just remember loving your bath products! Congratulations!! Karin

Comment by Amy Locurto on March 31, 2011 at 4:17pm: Congratulations! I love your soaps. They are so adorable. I want them all!

Comment by Selma Avdicevic on March 31, 2011 at 4:15pm: Congratulations! The soaps are so beautiful, I would rather eat them than bathe with them :)

Comment by Donna Maria Coles Johnson on March 31, 2011 at 12:58pm: Hi Tammy!

Congratulations! You are doing such a wonderful job, and this recognition is more than well-deserved! My daughter is nearly done with her Honor Roll prizes of your Soap Popz and Soap Candy -- did I tell you she opened the candy and actually licked it? Ooops, I forgot to clarify for her, but she was just so excited! I am having fun with my Pink Pomplamoose Bubbly Body Sorbet. You go girl!

dM

Comment by Meg Safford on March 31, 2011 at 12:56pm: very clever!

Comment by Tammy Brodbeck, Milk and Cookeez on March 31, 2011 at 12:11pm: Oh Gosh, thank you all so very much!

It is a wonderful honor to be a Doer, and even more of an honor to be in such amazingly creative company.

Thank you!!

Comment by My Sweet Craft Cakes on March 31, 2011 at 2:20am: Congratulation!!! Smiles~ Noelle & Kerry

Comment by Lisa~The SweetTalk Shop on March 30, 2011 at 7:39pm: Love your story!! Congrats!!

Comment by Kristin Kennedy on March 30, 2011 at 6:38pm: Congrats, Tammy! I LOVE your products and you're such a sweet person! What an awesome Doer!

Comment by Lisa@HR Creative Design Studio on March 30, 2011 at 6:03pm: Congratulations!! Everything looks so great!! I have to head on over and order some lip scrub you mentioned.

Comment by Karen Keller-Eyer on March 30, 2011 at 5:27pm: Your soap are BEAUTIFUL!! You have me convinced to try the lip scrub soon!

Congratulations on being Doer of the WEEK.

Comment by Liz Sager on March 30, 2011 at 5:25pm: Congrats Tammy!

Comment by Regina @ Margarita Bloom on March 30, 2011 at 5:22pm: Yay, Congrats Tammy!!!!! :) You are awesome!

Comment by Cupcakes and Lemonade on March 30, 2011 at 3:39pm: Congratulations Tammy! What a deserved honor! Love all your things. My girls are still raving about the soaps I ordered them for Christmas!

Comment by Jennifer@Passion-for-Parties.com on March 30, 2011 at 2:16pm: Oh, Tammy!!! I am beyond excited for you! What an awesome surprise to open my inbox and see your smiling face on the front of the DID newsletter! You know I adore you and couldn't be more proud of you! Congratulations, friend! xoxo

Comment by Linda Ruth Jones on March 30, 2011 at 1:51pm: Congrats Tammy, Your soaps make me smile : ) love them

Comment by Katie~Kayden Ashley, Printables on March 30, 2011 at 1:13pm: Congrats on being the doer of the week! Your products are fabulous! I especially love the rock candy!