Made in the Ozarks: Sweet Girl Bath and Body

SBJ photo by Wes Hamilton

NATURALLY SWEET: Carrie and Devin Didier's Sweet Girl Bath and Body products have expanded into local stores.

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Owners: Devin and Carrie Didier
Founded: 2012
Phone: (417) 414-0727
Web: SweetGirlBathAndBody.com
Email: sweetgirlbathandbody@gmail.com
2018 Revenue: $45,000
Product price range: $4-$30
Employees: 2

When Devin and Carrie Didier’s son was a baby, his face started to break out and itch. He was diagnosed with eczema, and on the journey of finding products that would soothe his skin, artificial fragrances and milk-based products were doing more harm than good.

They needed something natural, so they made it themselves.

The Didiers now produce a line of lotions, lip balms, deodorant, soap and salt scrubs branded Sweet Girl Bath and Body. Although their oldest son inspired the journey, and he’s a nice kid, Carrie Didier said sweet boy just didn’t have the same ring.

SBJ: How is your business structured and what are the core products?
Carrie Didier: We are a family-run business located in Springfield. We make all-natural, handcrafted bath and body products in small batches. Our focus has always been safe, high-quality products the whole family can enjoy. We have also branched out from our original business into a line of tattoo and piercing aftercare and a men’s line of grooming products.

SBJ: What are the challenges and opportunities to manufacturing your products in the Ozarks?
Didier: Any business is going to require a lot of time and energy at the beginning. We have really been blessed with amazing customers and opportunities. The hardest part has truly been balancing the time it takes to run a business and a family, while scaling our small business. Springfield particularly is very small-business friendly. 1 Million Cups has been a great benefit to us. People from all over the Ozarks have driven to Farmers Market of the Ozarks each week and visited our booth there. If you want to start something, Springfield is a great place.

SBJ: What’s your driving factor to continue this business?
Didier: We have people tell us regularly how we can never stop making our products because there is nothing else comparable for them. We know how hard it is to find products that are truly natural and have no hidden artificial ingredients.

SBJ: Have you been inspired by local businesses or entrepreneurs?
Didier: We started Sweet Girl, in part, due to friends who wanted to buy what we were making. We have expanded and grown due to other entrepreneurs helping to guide us and motivate us to pursue new opportunities. That is how we have been able to expand to have products in local stores like MaMa Jean’s, Hy-Vee and Price Cutter.

SBJ: What does the future hold for Sweet Girl?
Didier: We are focused on staying in local stores and expanding our online sales. With a growing family, we have teenagers ready to help run and grow the business. We are also expanding the men’s line, Simple Man, and Tattube.