Today we’d like to introduce you to Geoffrey Schmidt.
Geoffrey, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Florida Salt Scrubs started 6 years ago out of the kitchen. Inspiration came while on a trip to Key West where I was first introduced to Salt Scrub in the restroom of a restaurant we were dining at. It was what you would call an instant connection. From that point forward, I started making Salt Scrub in my kitchen and selling it at the green markets with my significant other. Just about everyone who experienced out product fell in love. Why would they not? Our salt scrub is made with pure Atlantic sea salt collected from sea shore mangrove areas, and all the scents our salt scrub is offered in are inspired by native Florida plant life. Example, being out Key Lime salt scrub is made with REAL Key Lime essential oil – not to be confused with regular Persian lime.
It was then and there that I knew I had a recipe and formula like no other. It’s with that knowledge I went to serious work. The days of this being a green market side, time hobby had ended. Now it was time to get serious, looking to put the product on the shelves of stores and find a contract filler to take my recipe and reproduce it in large quantities. 16 hours days / 7 days a week became common. With Lauries wind filling my sails, and the fact that people simply loved Florida Salt Scrubs, we were fortunate to be able to grow and expand. We started with salt scrub and have since expanded into several other wonderful Florida lines that include: Sunscreen, spray lotion, soap, lip balm and bath fizzies.
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?
Considering I started the business with $50 and have since grown it into what it is today, there have been many trials and tribulations. When I got into this I knew absolutely nothing about product development and manufacturing, not to mention cosmetics in general. Growth and survival required that I become a quick study and even quicker on applying my new knowledge. To this day there isn’t a week that goes by where I do not learn something new!
Please tell us about Florida Salt Scrubs.
Florida Salt Scrubs is well known for our world famous “Florida Salt Scrub”. Made in South Florida with love and all premium Florida inspired ingredients. It quite literally might be the finest salt scrub around considering we use pulverized Atlantic sea salt that reminds many people of powdered sugar. This lends to a gentler and finer scrub suitable for more skin types. You can find Florida Salt Scrub offered all across the country in retail environments ranging from specialty shops to gift shop to spa’s and restaurants. Since the introduction of our Salt Scrub we have since developed and launched several other Florida lines that include: Florida Glow, Moisturizing Spray Lotion, Florida Soap, Florida Kiss, SPF 15 Lip Balm, Florida Fizzle Bath Balms and Florida Sunscreen.
I am proud of the fact that this company which started in a kitchen has grown organically year after year without outside investment or assistance of any kind. Florida Salt Scrubs represents what can happen when love, passion, focus, hard work and commitment, along with a wonderful team come together to create wonderful products.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My first job, I was 12 years old in the Danvers mall with my mother when I noticed the t-shirt of a popular band for sale. I asked my mom to purchase it for me and she replied back, “get a job so you can purchase it yourself”. I remember the next day going down to the local seafood restaurant named Dills and landing my first job, washing dishes for something like 2 bucks an hour. Needless to, with a couple weeks, I had enough saved up to go purchase that t-shirt.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.FloridaSaltScrubs.com
- Phone: (754) 214-9379
- Email: floridasaltscrubs@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/floridasaltscrubs
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/FloridaHandSalts
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