Two Maine businesses collaborate on fall-inspired beer soap and candle || WGME ARC Maine

"Two women-owned small businesses are teaming up to create a new product just in time for the cozy fall season. It's a special beer soap and candle duo with the perfect seasonal scent. Here to tell us more, Elaine Kinney from White Pine Bath + Brew and Lauren Chunias from Underdog Candles. Good morning, ladies."

"Good morning. Thank you for having us."

"So, first let's just talk about how the idea came about for this collaboration and product and everything."

"So, I approached Lauren. I was at one of her candle making classes over the summer which was so much fun. And I had this spontaneous idea, like, we need to collaborate. We've bumped into each other off and on for the past couple years really. Maine is just so good at supporting other [small businesses].  There's not a sense of competition. There's more of a sense of collaboration. So, we decided like let's do a collaboration. We wanted something new and interesting for fall, for winter, so we decided to just, spur-of-the-moment do it."

"How did you decide on the scent?"

"We looked at almost a hundred different scent combinations. We got together, we smelled everything, we combined a lot of things, and ultimately we ended up with our wood stove combo, which has notes of leather and smoke. And we just thought it would be a really good unique scent, and it would be perfect for the winter."

"Amazing. All right, so I want to talk about each of your products. Let's start with the beer soap. For people who aren't familiar with this, you know, how did this come about and how do you make the the soap?"

"So, anytime you make soap, you need some sort of liquid in it to help dissolve some of the other ingredients, right? So, instead of water, which is typical, I use Maine craft beers. And I do this to help reduce waste. I work with local breweries in the area collecting their short fills and excess, and I turn it into soap."

"Amazing. Lauren, tell us about the candles and what type of wax you use and put your candles together."

"Yeah, they're 100% soy wax candles, so very clean burning. They burn a lot longer than your typical candle. Our scent is perfect because it's the exact same one in our candle and our soap. So, it's skin safe and also candle safe."

"And what have you heard so far? Are these available right now or have you had friends, you know, kind of smell it?"

"Oh, yeah. I actually just had friends over over the weekend...I had the candle burning in the restroom, and it was just so great. They were like, "We need to get some right away." So, I was like, "I got you. I got you."

"So, they're available now on Elaine's website, whitepinebathbrew.com And then you can shop them in person at the Thompson's Point Makers Markets for the next several Sundays. I believe it's November 16th, 30th, and then December 7th and 14th."

"For both you guys, how much have you seen your businesses grow over the years?"

"A lot. Yeah. Every year has been different, but I think this year has been a really good year for unique growth and new customers and new products."

"You kind of mentioned this earlier. You know, it's not really about competition, but more about collaboration. Can you kind of elaborate on the support that you've seen...as a woman owning a business? I mean, what does it look like?"

"Yeah. I mean, there is a lot of support and uplifting and sharing between the local small businesses. Honestly, especially the women-owned small businesses. Hence my sweatshirt that I wore for this...We're sharing each other's audiences...my customers are signing up for Elaine's email list. Her customers are following me on Instagram. So, it's just really nice to kind of work together instead of against each other, you know?"

"We've turned the calendar. We're into November. You have a red sweater on today. So, we're ramping up the holiday season. How are you guys getting ready for Christmas and and everything else and the rest of the holidays?"

"I mean this was a big part of it, honestly, because of when we released it November 1st...trying to come out with our holiday seasonal scents and doing the markets."

"Why would you encourage people to go local and shop small for the holidays?"

"I think it's more important now than ever. I think there are a lot of small businesses that have seen drops in sales this year, and it's been tough with tariffs going up and people having to raise their prices. So, I think it's more important than ever to shop small and local. And I think there are so many great makers in Maine and so many great local products you can get."

"Let's talk about the amount of time being a small business owner that you guys put into your [businesses]. You don't work like a normal 40 hour work week, right? I mean, that's a lot of work you guys put into it."

"Nope. It's all-day every-day. But I think the thing that makes it different is you really love what you do when you're a small business. You get to be your own boss. You get to make it what you want it to be, right? So, even though I'm actually working--and I'm sure you have had the same experience--we're working maybe longer hours or more days of the week than we would have at previous jobs, we're so much more fulfilled because we're doing something that we're actually made to do. You know, we're finding what really speaks to us. And I think that's just another wonderful reason you want to support small businesses is because these are people that are really carving out their own niche in the world."

"Definitely. All right. For people who have not been to this makers market, can you kind of set the scene? I mean, it has really grown and it is so much fun."

"Yeah absolutely, the Thompson's Point Makers Markets incredible. I think they have over a hundred different local vendors for the December markets. They also open up a second building called Halo at the Point. Um, you can get truly any type of gift you can imagine there, and everything is handmade. Most of the vendors there are from Maine. So, I believe they have the bar open, and they have food trucks. It's really kind of an all day family-friendly activity."

"How exciting is it when you go to one of these and you see people loving what you guys made? You guys put so many hours into making this."

"Yeah. It's the best. It's honestly I feel like that's the moment you kind of live for whenever you put all this work into it...you stare at it for so long...You don't know how people are going to receive it, right? And then someone walks up to you and just falls in love with it, and you're like, 'Oh, that's what this was all for.' Like I've just made someone really happy."

"And you must get people all the time kind of like, 'what, beer soap?' Which is so nice to have such a unique product. And what have you heard from breweries about, you know, being part of this, too?"

"Oh, they love it because it helps them be more sustainable and reduces their waste. I mean, a lot of times, they don't know what to do with [the brewery waste], and it kind of gives them something to fall back on. And they are able to pour back into the community and work together and also you're getting that collaboration over competition."

"So, do you have to kind of pinch yourself...like when you first started, I don't know if you're starting in a kitchen sink or something...You're making like candles and soap and everything and people are buying them and you're making money."

"Yeah, absolutely. It's wild, but I wouldn't change a thing."

"Little surreal. I love it. All right. Are you guys just anticipating hopefully a lot of people making orders for this new collaboration?"

"Yeah, we're really excited to see and get those holiday orders in! Give people the good cozy smells. You know, I think wood stoves are one of those things, especially in Maine, where I have a lot of core memories tied to them for the winter season. A lot of family meals gathered around and the wood stove is burning in the background...or we're going up to camp. It's kind of this background essential piece. And I think by picking that, we really wanted it to feel like we could carry that ambiance into other people's homes and help them hunker down for the season."

"I love it. Well, what's a website that people can buy some of your products?"

"So, all of the products are available on my website, whitepinebathbrew.com, and then of course at the makers markets."

"Amazing ladies. Thank you so much."