What happens when you outgrow your kitchen… but you’re not quite ready for a warehouse?

In this episode of The Dirty Heifers Podcast, we sit down with Joe from Kingston Oak Soap Company to talk about the real side of scaling a handmade business — the stuff nobody warns you about.

We get into:

• Master batching oils (beer brewers, oil drums, and redneck engineering included) • When to ditch products that won’t scale • The pricing anxiety that keeps makers stuck • Hiring help before you feel “ready” • Wholesale vs. retail vs. full-time job escape plans • Social media burnout and algorithm frustration • Why your real competition isn’t other makers

If you’ve ever asked yourself: “Am I underpricing?” “Can I actually afford to grow?” “Do I even want this to get bigger?”

This episode is for you.

Drop your answer to our Question of the Day in the comments: 👉 What are YOU afraid to scale in your business… and why?

Because growth isn’t just about bigger molds — it’s about bigger decisions.

What happens when the pillar of your industry vanishes overnight? In this heavy-hitting episode, Margaret, Jesse, and Shauna dive into the shocking cancellation of the HSCG 2026 conference and what it signals for the future of the handcrafted soap and cosmetic industry. We discuss why in-person connection is the "secret sauce" for makers and how grassroots meetups and events like SoapCon are stepping in to fill the void.

But the chaos doesn’t stop there. Margaret shares a terrifying first-hand account of being hacked on Shopify, revealing the exact tactics thieves use to drain bank accounts and redirect payouts—and why getting human help from big platforms is nearly impossible.

Whether you're struggling with the current "slow" economy or just need to know you're not alone in your business "bad decisions," this episode is a must-watch for every small business owner.

Plus: Stick around for our "Word of the Week" (Obsequious) and a Redneck Word of the Week that will have you feeling a little "T90"

In Episode 58 of The Dirty Heifers Podcast, a “nothing day” turns into a whole lot of everything. The Heifers dive into real-life maker chaos — from TikTok shop changes and platform burnout to snowstorms, supplier struggles, website headaches, and the weird mental spirals that come with running a handmade business.

This episode is part business, part therapy session, and part comedy hour. We talk about: • Platform fatigue & where creators are shifting next • TikTok Shop changes and ad burnout • Snowstorms, hospital call shifts & life interruptions • Supplier wins & website frustrations • Soapy superpowers, scent graveyards & market madness • The random thoughts that live rent-free in every maker’s brain

If you’re a soap maker, creative business owner, or just someone trying to survive entrepreneurship with humor intact — this one’s for you.

💬 Tell us in the comments: What’s your soapy superpower?

Follow The Dirty Heifers Podcast for honest, funny, unfiltered conversations about maker life, small business, and building something from nothing.