Simply Soothing Blog

2018 was a big year for us at Bug Soother. And as the end of the year quickly approaches, we’d like to take a moment to reflect on this past year, and let you know what’s in store for 2019.

Perhaps one of our biggest milestones this year is that our all-natural bug repellent, Bug Soother, turned 10 years old! I originally created Bug Soother in 2008 for my five-month old grandson, (pictured below, now 10 years old, promoting Bug Soother at the John Deere Classic), and 2008 just happened to be the year that a huge flood hit our little town of Columbus Junction. But despite all the devastation that came with the flood, when I look back, I can see some good that came out of it. We were able to repurpose three flooded buildings, which now house our store, warehouse, and production facilities. And in honor of the tenth anniversary of the flood, we donated tens of thousands of bottles of Bug Soother to flooding victims across the country.

This year, we also expanded our online presence and jumped head first into the world of Amazon. With help from our friends at 50 Pound Boson, Bug Soother had huge growth on Amazon Prime. If you walked into our warehouse on any given summer day, you would have seen people frantically filling orders and working to send Bug Soother to Amazon. In addition to Amazon, we also made big improvements to our website, in an effort to better serve our customers. Big Imprint got us on the web early on in our endeavor, and they worked with us again to revamp our website and make it even better! So while you’re here, look around our new website! Leave us a review, check out new products, or read about all the cool things we’ve been doing here at Bug Soother. Plus, if you just can’t talk enough about Bug Soother, apply to join our Bug Squad https://simplysoothing.net/pages/be-an-ambassador for a chance to receive free product and help spread Bug Soother around the US and beyond.

From the very beginning, golf courses have been a big part of the success of Bug Soother. This year was no different, as we were selected as the Official Bug Repellent of the John Deere Classic. This golf tournament takes place so close to home, and we were so excited to take part in even a small way. We also provided Bug Soother for the players and caddies of the Sanford International tournament in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, The Principal Charity Classic in Des Moines, The 3M Championship  in Minnesota, and so many more through our friends at The Iowa Golf Association. We’re VERY thankful to be a part of these tournaments, but we’re also thankful to all of the golf courses and pro shops, big and small, who trust us to keep their players bug-free on the course! Thank you Golf Community!!!

Finally, we would be amiss if we did not say thank you to our customers. It has been a great year, but we could not be successful without all of YOU! From our long-time customers, to first-time buyers, it has been a pleasure to serve you, and we hope to continue to work with you for years to come!

So with 2018 nearly behind us, it’s time to begin looking forward to 2019. And boy, do we have big things planned. Justin, John, and Tessa have been hard at work in streamlining the process for making and bottling Bug Soother. After much research (and even a trip to the Pack Expo in Chicago) they are automating the production lines, with an automatic bottle capper installed and an automatic filling machine and more on the way.

2019 also looks promising as we are teaming up with partners across the country to bring Bug Soother/Medella Naturals to stores near you.  Medella Naturals, our private label partner, has seen much growth in Kroger stores across the country, much expansion to other stores in the Kroger family planned for 2019.  Medella Naturals was the #1 selling natural bug repellent by bottles for Kroger. (Look for the green bottle!).  Bug Soother will be in many more Walgreens and  working with other large retailers nationwide! We’re also partnering with Bug Shield out of Georgia, as we broaden our reach and keep those pesky bugs away, along the east coast and especially in southern states.

Persistent Willie Petrie of Bug Soother UK is still heading up our European manufacturing and sales, has seen great growth in many Scandinavian countries, working on an account with Holland and Barrett, a chain of health food shops with over 1,300 stores in 16 countries, including a substantial presence in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium, China, Hong Kong, India and UAE for 2019.  We are also working with others to expand Bug Soother to Costa Rica, Mexico and Taiwan, and are currently seeing growth in Columbia, Panama, and Grand Cayman under the Medella brand.

 

2019 also promises to bring a BIG announcement. But, it’s not 2019 yet, so stay tuned for some exciting news, coming SOON! 😉 (We Promise!)

 

 

From our family to yours, We wish you a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a Happy New Year!

 

Freda Sojka

Bug Soother Owner and CEO

Here at Simply Soothing, we’ve been using essential oils in our Bug Soother since the very beginning. But recently, we decided to expand our product line to include essential oils. In today’s world, you’ve probably heard the term “essential oils” floating around, but you may not know what they are all about. While we could go into great detail, we’ll spare you, and simply share with you some of the basics of essential oils.

Essential oils are natural compounds which have been used for thousands of years and are known for both their medicinal and therapeutic benefits. Essential oils are extracted from the roots, bark, leaves, flowers, fruits, and stems of plants in a highly concentrated form. The strong aroma that is highly characteristic of essential oils is a result of this high concentration.

Aromatherapy is one of the most common uses of essential oils. Typically, aromatherapy fits into two basic categories: diffusing and topical essential oils. Diffusion involves distributing the particles of the oil throughout the air to fill the room. When you inhale the scent, the benefits begin to kick in, whether it lifts your mood, reduces anxiety, or any of the many other benefits of essential oils. Because essential oils are highly concentrated, this method provides a great way to reap the benefits of essential oils in a safe and effective manner. The second basic category of aromatherapy is topical application, wherein the essential oils are applied directly to the skin. When applying essential oils topically, it is important not to apply them directly to the skin. Rather, essential oils must be diluted with a carrier oil such as almond or avocado oil, to avoid skin irritation.

While it is important to understand what essential oils are, and how they can be used, it is also important to look at some of the benefits of essential oils. One of the most popular oils is lavender, which helps to reduce anxiety, improve sleep, and alleviate headaches, among other things. Rosemary is another popular oil, and it has been known to improve mental clarity, aid in concentration, and act as an anti-inflammatory. Peppermint is often used to boost energy and clear congestion. In addition to these, there are many other essential oils, all with unique benefits. For a list of the essential oils we offer and their known benefits, click here. And remember, if you have any questions, be sure to consult your doctor before using them, especially if being used during pregnancy. Additionally, commit some time to researching essential oils, because there is so much to learn!

We are so excited to celebrate American Business Women’s Day this week. As a majority women-owned & operated business we know how important it is to support women in business!

My daughter Nikki and I started Simply Soothing in 2003, the desire of which was partly born of working with my mother in her supper club in the 70s. I really enjoyed working with her, but also liked the challenge of growing a successful business.

I wanted to have that same experience again after having worked at a chemical company for 23 years. My daughter Nikki and I, along with my mother, worked in our business in the beginning.  My mom only lived a couple of years afterwards, and I was so grateful that we had the experience of 3 generations of women working together.  We really enjoyed working together, many times laughing at some of the mistakes made along the way.

Nikki has been a big part of our company, but hasn’t always reaped the benefits.  I had to lay her off February of 2004, and later that same day her house caught fire and she lost her beloved dog Scooby. She worked part time while going to school for the next few years until the company started to take off with our natural bug repellent, Bug Soother. I could finally afford to bring Nikki back full time.

Today Nikki is the COO of Simply Soothing, juggling a very demanding job with raising a 14 year old daughter, Emilee.  Emilee has helped out during the summers, learning how to work, and again we are able to experience 3 generations of women working together to build a legacy!

Stacie, our youngest daughter, who had worked for Six Flags for several years, started her own marketing consulting firm a few years back called LadyOne Productions.  Stacie is a big part of our team, working hard to help grow our business.  She also juggles her career while raising our 6 year old grandson.

Our son Justin also works in the family business, concentrating on sales and production. He’s an important part of the team, too, but since we are celebrating American Business Women’s Day, we’ll have to talk more about him another time! 😉

Balancing running a business with everyday life is not always easy.  The hours can be very long, some days the demands can be very stressful.  In an ever changing retail world, it has become even trickier.  We have learned to be flexible, to adjust our plans quickly.  I believe as women with families, we are geared to be able to handle many challenges at once.  We have learned the benefits of hard work.  We are tough, able to bend in adversity, but also persistent enough to hang on and push through the tough times.  And in business, there is always going to be tough times.

I will end with one of my favorite quotes:

“We can’t direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails. For maximum happiness, peace, and contentment, may we choose a positive attitude.”
― Thomas S. Monson

We appreciate you taking the time to read this. We are so thankful for all of our customers, friends, and families… We couldn’t do any of this without you. Happy American Business Women’s Day this Saturday. We are proud to be American Business Women! Thank you to all of the incredible business women out there. Keep up the great work!

 

Freda Sojka
CEO of Simply Soothing, Inc & the creator of Bug Soother

World CleanUp Day is September 15. At Bug Soother, we’re a big supporter of people and organizations who are working to make our world a cleaner place. So in honor of World CleanUp Day, we’ve decided to highlight one of our favorite organizations, Iowa Project AWARE. Each year, we provide participants with Bug Soother for the week as they canoe down the river. We have been supporting Iowa Project AWARE for many years because we love what they do.

The “AWARE” in Iowa Project AWARE is an acronym, which stands for “A Watershed Awareness River Expedition.” Each year since 2003, hundreds of volunteers gather together for a week in July to clean up Iowa rivers. Brian Soenen, Iowa Project AWARE coordinator who has been with the program since its inception, explains what the event entails, “[Volunteers] paddle canoes searching for unsightly trash by day, camp in local campgrounds and communities by night, and attend educational programs scheduled throughout the event.” Every year, Project AWARE moves to a different watershed around Iowa. In 2018, the 397 volunteers cleaned up the Maquoketa River. The participants are diverse; this year’s volunteers ranged in age from 3-76 years old. Engineers, farmers, garbage men, students, healthcare providers, and more all come out to help clean up Iowa’s rivers. On average, they muscle over 30 tons of trash from Iowa rivers each year, about 70% of which is recycled.

Soenen comments that while cleaning up trash is important, there are ultimately bigger issues that need to be addressed. Sediment, bacteria, hydrological changes, and habitat loss impact native flora and fauna and our quality of life. These things often can’t be seen or removed with brute force. But he sees how Iowa Project AWARE is helping to make these issues known, “By engaging in something as simple as picking up trash, these volunteers experience these issues first-hand, and as they begin to understand how they impact the river, they become more active in working together as a community to help develop solutions to these complex problems.”

When Brian Soenen talks about Iowa Project AWARE, he says the volunteers are the most uplifting and refreshing group he knows. “They are a diverse group of individuals, coming together to focus on something we can all agree on- there is trash in the river, it shouldn’t be there, and if we work together, we can do something about it.” So, if you are looking for a way to clean up the environment, consider Iowa Project AWARE. It’s real work, and there are real results. The volunteers are fantastic. Brian Soenen has a challenge for you, “Just Do It! If you’re not sure, give it a try for a day. I dare you.”