Meet Katie Spruell | Business Owner, Homesteader, & Bee Charmer.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Katie Spruell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Katie, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I think taking many risks is essential to not only a gaining a great career, but a great life in general. Without it, I think we become very stagnant, and don’t grow much as a person. I think we have to learn to sit with discomfort every now and then in order to get to that next level we want to be on. I have taken many, many risks in my life. I moved across my home state of Pennsylvania 9 years ago with my now husband. Since moving away from my small hometown, I’ve lived outside of Philly for a couple years. Some of my best memories come from our time spent out there. Then it was time for another risk. Neither me or my husband fully loved our jobs, and we were itching for a new adventure. So, my husband applied to a bunch of jobs all over the country, and soon enough we found ourselves living in Maryland, just south of Washington DC. We spent 5 years living there. At that time, I had a job I absolutely hated. Anyone who has ever worked a job they didn’t love or even like knows just how draining it can be. After a particularly bad day, I quit on a whim and decided that I wanted to work for myself. That’s when I really was able to give my business all my energy. It was a big risk, but anything had to be better than the job I was at. I still remember walking out to my car after quitting- I was shaking. I was scared, but I felt so incredibly light and free. That’s how I knew I took the right risk. After living in Maryland for 5 years, the urge to take a risk hit once again. I felt like I was hitting a wall in Maryland, and didn’t see much potential for what I wanted to do. We wanted somewhere with lower cost of living, better weather, and more career opportunity for us both. So, we took action and decided to move once again. This time, we landed here in middle Georgia, and it’s been even better than expected. My business has grown even bigger so much faster, and I am making my dream come true. None of this would have happened if I had just decided that I was okay with less happiness, if it meant not taking a risk.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
Getting to where I am today was far from easy. When I very first started out, I had no clue what I was doing. I was selling my products for dirt cheap, and barely making anything. Soap making is not cheap, so I can only imagine how much money I was losing at the beginning. Not setting proper boundaries in place was another issue-I would say yes to anything a customer requested, even if I truly didn’t want to do it. I’d let people haggle with me over my prices, I’d agree to meet customers in town for orders and only accommodate their schedule, when that’s not typically something I do. It was a learning experience to say the least, and now I have no problem saying no to something that I don’t have energy or time for, and my prices match my quality. I had only been doing a few markets here and there before quitting my toxic job, but prior to quitting, I didn’t have the time or energy to really dedicate to my business. Once I quit that job though, things started to take a turn for the better. I became a regular vendor at a local farmers market, and then I started selling online too. It was going great, but I quickly outgrew the spare bedroom I was basically running my business out of. Before too long, products and all the ingredients and equipment were taking over my sunroom, kitchen, etc. It was chaos, especially for someone like me who panics when things aren’t kept organized and free of clutter. But I made it work the best I could, anyway. I’ve had many flops with different products, ruined batches of soap, and I still struggle with keeping up with supply, so it gets stressful- but I still love it so much! I love knowing that so much care and effort goes into my products. I make all my soaps with goat milk that I get from my local goat farmer. I grow the majority of my organic herbs that go into products. I raise honeybees and use their wax and honey in my products, too. I keep everything as ecofriendly as possible, and put a lot of thought into my packaging. Not a single order goes out my door without my own special touch on it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If I had a friend visit me for a week, I’d try to pack so many fun things Georgia has to offer into that week! A trip to Savannah would be a must. We would shop at Paris Market, stop for macarons at Marche de Macaron, and eat lunch at Treylor Park. We would definitely make a stop over at Tybee, as well. Of course a ghost tour would have to be thrown in there, too. I’d take them to Atlanta for the aquarium, a place I never get tired of, and rooftop drinks at the Hotel Clermont. We would definitely go to Macon and do some shopping at 7th Street Salvage, where myself and many other talented local vendors have their handmade creations for sale. Then go get a beer flight and a burger at Ocmulgee Brewpub or Fall Line Brewing. We would have to go to Society Garden to listen to live music while having a wine slushy or some kind of unique craft beer. In Warner Robins, I’d have to take them to Kin D for some of the best sushi ever, or to the Taco Shed for some really unique tacos. In the mornings to prepare for all these adventures, we would need coffee, so we would have to go to Between Friends for a latte and some of the best cinnamon rolls you’ve ever had. Definitely make a stop at Mini Dixie Donuts for the cutest little donuts and friendliest service you’ve ever had, too! There’s a lot of great restaurants in Warner Robins and Macon, but since I live in Hawkinsville, we would have to make it a point to stop at “The Grill” which has what’s been voted the best burger in all of Georgia recently. I’ve tried it, and I can attest- it’s amazing.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My biggest supporter and fan has always been my husband, Jim. He has always been my best friend. No matter what crazy ideas I’ve had, he has always supported them and believed in me one thousand percent. He has helped out with every farmers market and art and craft festival I’ve done, and he never once complained about giving up time on the weekends to help me with them. He loves sitting with me at markets, chatting, and talking up my business to customers. When I make a new product, he gets so excited to try it out and be my “guinea pig.” He brags about me so much to anyone willing to listen, it’s almost embarrassing (almost!) He knew I wanted my own website, so he created it. He knew I needed soap molds, so he built them. He knew I needed more storage for my products, he found what I needed online and ordered it. He helps with all things around the homestead, and shares the same passion for it that I do. He hypes me up unlike any other person I’ve ever known, and I am forever grateful that I have such a beautiful soul in my corner.

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