Imagine what it would be like if your best friend became obsessed with creating high-quality, natural, handmade skin care products, and her products were so wonderful, the business just took off. That’s pretty much what happened when Katy Miller of Le Claire, Iowa, started experimenting with skin care recipes. Inspired by a conversation with her mother in law, Katy bought some supplies using $100 she received for Christmas, and Lillie and Pine Handmade Skin Care was born. Her products look and feel like something custom-made by hand, just for you, by a good friend.
Healthier Natural Skin Care
Katy’s lotion and body butter get a lot of love for their silky, luxurious texture. “We worked a long time writing that recipe until we found the holy grail of all lotions,” she explains. “Our sugar scrub is also in high demand for its 3-in-1 performance as a cleanser, exfoliant and moisturizer.”
Lillie and Pine’s market has been women of all ages, since their products are formulated to be sensitive to all skin types and their price point is designed to be inclusive of all markets. Shaving products and grooming gear will be added next year for the guys.
Lillie and Pine products have been primarily available in a few retail locations near the La Claire area, but the new e-commerce site launches next month, so customers all over the U.S. will be able to order.
Creating the Complete Package
“A mighty amount of research, perseverance and love goes into writing our recipes to meet our values: be good to people, places, and budgets. The result is a product that makes me smile every time I get to package an order for a customer.
“I think of them receiving their box, opening the teal tissue, and delighting in their handmade products …. I love it when a brand is able to send a bit of themselves in the box. Nashville Wraps has helped us do just that. Our customers send us a lot of happy mail and even handwritten cards acknowledging this.”
Katy’s husband was the one to discover Nashville Wraps. He researched the price and quality of shopping bags from many different companies, and Nashville Wraps was his top recommendation. Since then, Lillie and Pine has also added our tissue, ribbon, cello bags, gift boxes, and natural wood excelsior to their presentations.
The Nashville Wraps Experience
Here’s how Katy describes her experience as a Nashville Wraps customer: “I love the variety of colors and sizes available, with a commitment to eco-friendly packaging. That’s a lot of content to manage in an online store and Nashville Wraps does a wonderful job of making the website easy to navigate. The shipping is fast with a free option. Nashville Wraps has helped us to grow Lillie & Pine, and I look forward to growing our relationship with them. It’s the inventory supply I have the most fun ordering, and the shipment I most look forward to receiving.”
Organic Growth and How to Get It
Katy continues, “We have found that when our customers send Lillie & Pine as a gift, they are promoting for us. So we put a lot into making those gifts look spectacular. Much of our wholesale and direct order volume has come in organically through our wonderful customers.”
In addition to making your packaging special, there are many other ways you can help your business grow. Katy has a few tips for other gift or gourmet businesses:
- Identify simple and specific values to help you move forward. Lillie and Pine aims to be of service to everyone involved.
- Have a simple mantra that helps you remember why you got started.
- Ask yourself, “What do customers get from doing business with us?” You may sell products, but the real goal is good feelings and a positive experience for all.
- Every success story is really just a story of people who wouldn’t give up, including Lillie and Pine.
- Find a mentor, and be a mentor.
Get Your Own Gorgeous Packaging
Contact us today to find out how to create your own unique packaging, customized for your business!
