Makers Series: Pantry Products
Location: Reno, NV | Specialty: Natural Skin & Body Care
Welcome back to our Makers Series, where we sit down with one of our talented manufacturers and get the deep-dive on their story: from why they started their business, to their passions outside of it, to their future goals. It’s a great resource for people who want to know a little more about the products they consume or for those who might be interested in starting their own business.
For our 3rd episode, we spoke with Michelle from Pantry Products, a natural skin and body care company in Reno, NV that strives to create products that make their customers and the planet happy. Their line of small-batch wellness essentials is 100% natural and the team provides wellness education to health-conscious consumers. And you can count on them for sustainability, too: “we don’t do it because it’s cool. We do it because we care. We aim to use locally sourced, non-GMO, and organic materials whenever possible. We work to reduce, reuse, recycle in every aspect of our production + business operations.”
You can build a gift with Pantry Products items from our shop here. We also feature Pantry Products in our curated boxes, New Mom, Hot Mama, and Relax and Reset. But for now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty with Pantry Products’ owner, Michelle…
Michelle began crafting gifts for friends and family using ingredients pulled from the shelves of her kitchen pantry.
Abby (Willinglee)
What got you interested in creating 100% natural products?
Michelle (Pantry Products)
We are 100% natural, and though we use beeswax and honey in a few of our products, the majority of our ingredients are also plant-based. I decided to go truly 100% natural because I found that there wasn't/isn't a lot of truth in marketing when it comes to cosmetics, skin care, and personal care items. A brand can claim it's organic, natural, and/or plant-based but, since there is no FDA regulation, many products in the marketplace still contain harmful ingredients.
I continued to read about rising rates of cancer, increases in the amount of people with skin conditions such as eczema, people who can't use anything but water to wash because their skin flares up from their body wash, etc. It became apparent that something better needed to be brought to market. And something that wasn't just going to sell people a gimmick or a trend but something that consumers could fully trust to be who they say they are.
Abby
That’s amazing! As someone with loads of skin sensitivities, I can empathize with being astonished at what is allowed in skincare & body products in the US. Thank you for being committed to educating the general public about safe skincare.
What was the process of starting Pantry Products like?
Michelle
People often hear me refer to myself as an “accidental entrepreneur” since I didn’t start out with the intent of creating a business. I was making gifts for family and friends and the response was so great that I thought “hmm, maybe there’s something to this.” That paired with my disgust at all the information I was reading about how toxic the products sitting on my bathroom shelves were fueled my fire to make personal care products that people could trust.
As of February, we’ve been in business for 6 years. When I started, I was pulling ingredients from the shelves of my kitchen pantry. When I decided to turn my hobby into a business, I wanted a name that reflected the familiar and approachable components of the products I was making. Pantry Products was born!
I was making gifts for family and friends and the response was so great that I thought “hmm, maybe there’s something to this.”
Michelle & team at a farmer’s market
Abby
Six years! So cool—congrats on that accomplishment. Your store is extremely well-stocked with much variety. How do you decide what products to create?
Michelle
The products we develop often come from customer requests or from our hands-on workshops. We are always looking to make healthy, natural versions of products people want and need in their everyday lives. So, if we don’t make it and you want it, just ask and we’ll do some R & D (research and development).
Abby
I love that Pantry Products is more than just a wellness line, but a community at its core.
What is something unexpected you’ve encountered during your 6 years in business?
Michelle
People not understanding how hard it is to run a small business and how lean our profit margins (or profits, in general) are. We are so often asked to give away products or give steeper discounts when our products are already priced so much lower than our competition.
Abby
Oy! I feel that. Alex and I are always coming back to discussions on how we can make our offerings affordable for our demographic while still being able to survive! It’s a tricky balance.
What do you think is important for other female entrepreneurs to know when starting a business?
Michelle
Nobody really knows what they are doing and nobody is doing it alone. I struggled (and still do) with comparing myself to other businesses and feeling like they were so much more dialed in than I was. In reality, we all have our strengths and we all have our weaknesses. Look for resources to take some stress out of it. And just keep working at it. It doesn’t happen overnight and it doesn’t happen by chance alone.
© Pantry Products
“Look for resources to take some stress out of it. And just keep working at it. It doesn’t happen overnight and it doesn’t happen by chance alone.”
Abby
You’re tugging at my heartstrings, Michelle! What would you say is the most rewarding part of owning your business?
Michelle
Contributing to the wellness of our customers’ lives. There is nothing like hearing someone say how much better their skin is because of something you’ve made or the amount of relief they have using your products on their children.
Abby
Oh my gosh—I bet! That feedback would make me glow. Without giving any secrets away, any idea about what's next for Pantry Products?
Baby Bum Cream, © Pantry Products
Behind the scenes small-batch production, © Pantry Products
Michelle
We are currently in the process of opening a 3800 sq. ft. production + fulfillment warehouse in Salt Lake City. The hope for this is that we can get more Pantry into more hands faster.
Abby
How exciting! Here’s our last question: we love when small businesses build up other small businesses. Can you share with us 3 small businesses you adore that you believe deserve more press?
Michelle
A Glass Fantasy - a mother and daughter stained glass art company in Reno
The Little Clay Market - handmade clay earring shop (founded by former Pantry Project Manager, Taylor Corzine)
Fabric + Fable - Embroidery Art (founded by former Pantry Shop Assistant, Haley Carroll)
Abby
Talented team you’ve got over there!! Thank you so much for taking the time out of your hectic schedule to chat with us. We’ll be sure to keep up with your newest happenings.
