These Handmade Soaps Will Fulfill Your Cottagecore Fantasy

With the world in its current state, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us have been under a lot of stress. This has led many people to focus on self-care, and to try to and find escape from reality in little ways. A recently popular mode of escapism is the cottagecore aesthetic: a movement hearkening back to agricultural life, skills, and crafts. If this sounds like you – Fox & Fern is right up your alley. Kaitlin, owner of Fox & Fern, makes gorgeous luxury artisanal soaps, using goat's milk from her own herd of Pygmy and Oberhasli goats in South Mountain, Ontario. She puts her heart and soul into every batch and loves seeing people's reactions to her products.

We can’t all live on a farm with a herd of adorable goats, but we can indulge in the fantasy through Kaitlin’ handmade farm-to-shower goat milk soap. After all, what could be more cottagecore than shopping local, shopping small, and shopping natural? Kaitlin has been able to turn her dream into an exceptional beauty product, and share it with her customers online with the help of the free eCommerce tools offered by Digital Main Street’s ShopHERE powered by Google program. 

Fox & Fern began 3 years ago as a vivid dream of Kaitlins where she knew that making her own goat's milk soap was in her future. It’s not all sunshine and daisies for Kaitlin though. She tells us that raising a goat herd is not always easy, as “they depend on you regardless of weather conditions, and they don’t really care if you need a sick day.” Many small business owners don’t have the time to work on what seems like a grueling task of building and designing an eCommerce website. Kaitlin works hard for her herd, for her customers and the Digital Main Street team worked hard for her. The ShopHERE program worked with Kaitlin to get her site up and running, making it easier for her to focus her time and heart into each handcrafted soap batch she creates.

Kaitlin’s experience with her eCommerce Coordinator Tharaniya was, as she describes it, ‘easy peasy’. With today’s uncertainty in mind, having your products available to customers online and being able to reach your customers ASAP, is extremely important. Tharaniya was able to answer all of Kaitlin’s questions, addressed her concerns, and brought her vision to life, all in a very short period of time. 

“ShopHERE coordinators take the daunting task of creating a website and turn it into reality”

Kaitlin, like many business owners, recognized that the effects of the pandemic called for some change – and fast. ShopHERE’s eCommerce Coordinator worked one-on-one with Kaitlin to bring her website dreams to fruition, and made sure she had the knowledge to manage her website as her business continues to grow.

“They make you feel confident running your site, and it really makes for a wonderful safety net for anyone who is scared to make the leap to sell online.  I loved the program.”

Kaitlin was able to use her ShopHERE-built website to leverage her existing customer base and social media following to jumpstart her online sales. Since launching her eCommerce website she has gained increased exposure and sales, and has had to increase her production and stock accordingly. While this means more work for Kaitlin and her milking goat, Gwynevere, it also means more success. Knowing first hand the advantage that selling online has given her during the pandemic, Kaitlin recommends that other small business owners do the same. 

“Take advantage of the internet in every way possible!  ShopHERE is a great start!”

Fox & Fern’s soaps are lovingly handmade with wholesome, local ingredients. If you’re looking for the perfect product to fit the back-to-nature cottagecore ideal, or are just looking to add a bar to your soap collection, Fox & Fern has got you covered. 

  For Kaitlin, spring is the best season for her farm and her business, as it brings new life to the farm, often in the form of adorable baby goats (which we just can’t get enough of). If you’re looking to bring new life to your business, get eCommerce enabled, and start reaching your customers online, check out Digital Main Street’s ShopHERE program and see how they can help.