Inspiring Conversations with Vicki Hostetler of Trinity Soap

Today we’d like to introduce you to Vicki Hostetler.

Hi Vicki, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Trinity Soap was born out of faith and I truly believe it was ordained by God. We hand-craft small batches of soaps, bath fizzies, and lotions with love and prayer being the main ingredients.

Three things converged that resulted in Trinity Soap. I had started looking for new ways to use essential oils when I stumbled on soap. Pretty soon, I was more about soapmaking than essential oils, it became an important creative outlet. About the same time, I was being convicted to step up growth in my faith and spread the Gospel. I have the most precious gift there is in Jesus Christ, why hold it to myself!? Finally, a book. Truthfully, a single sentence in Strangers by Peter Heck became a lightning rod: “Find what you love to do – and then use it to serve God.”

BOOM! What I loved to do was to make soap, so I set about finding out how to use that to serve God. SOAP of all things! First was the name. I waffled for nearly a week between “Word” and “Trinity” for a brand name. That very Sunday, the pastor’s sermon was on the Trinity and the matter was settled. It’s just amazing how God works!

Our packaging is a conduit for God’s word. Package verses are selected prayerfully, sometimes related to the fragrance or ingredients. Other times I am led to convey a particular verse. We trust that the verses will be what someone who will hold that product needs to hear.

Several times during the process, from creation through sales, we pray for the hands a product will pass through. We thank God for our customers and pray He will bless those hands and that the Word will bear fruit.

Trinity Soap also provides ministry support. A portion of product sales are tithed or donated to ministry organizations such a Cadence International, which supports the military community.

Finally, local markets and online communities have yielded another opportunity to be a witness for Christ. I’m still learning how to vocalize my faith, and this is where He makes me work on those skills. We have met so many wonderful people from all walks of life and been blessed with the opportunity to pray for them and proclaim God. We strive to live up to the scripture “they will know we are Christians by our love”.

That is how we came to be and how we serve the Lord. Trinity’s mission verse is “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God”. It is my prayer God will leverage Trinity Soap and me personally for His glory, for as long as He wills it.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been a fairly smooth road although there are challenges. When I struggle, grace comes and sets me back to rights.

When one becomes a small business owner, you don’t realize how many other things you’ll need to learn besides “that thing you do”. Social media, email marketing, Canva, inventory, website, packaging and labels, shipping…whew! Fortunately, I love to learn.

There are times when sales are slow, and I wonder if I’m wasting my time with it all. Then I remember I’m serving God and that I may only ever reach one person. If so, that’s the one lamb the Lord sent me after. Sometimes I wonder if that lamb is ME because Trinity Soap has definitely changed me and enhanced my own walk with God. To not live my brand would be disingenuous to my customers, myself, and God. I couldn’t do it. Thus, I work hard every day to please my heavenly Father and live up to the brand.

I also still work a full-time corporate job. There are times that working two jobs is too much. I’m just tired or have a creative block. I’ve learned not to beat myself up and to allow my mind and body the rest it needs. The work will be there tomorrow.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Trinity Soap is Christian soap company that has been in business for four years. My endeavor is for Trinity Soap to be a ministry first, business second.

On the soap side of things, we focus on high-quality, small-batch soaps that are kind to your skin, in a variety of fragrance profiles. There is a little something for everyone from essential oil to artisan fragrance bars, and from vegan to good old-fashioned lard soaps.

Aside being loaded with skin-loving butters and oils, one of our hallmarks is the array of additives employed to increase functional qualities. We make soaps with avocado, activated charcoal, honey, colloidal oatmeal, pine tar, aloe juice, coffee, beer, cucumber, silk, sand, and milks such as goat milk, buttermilk, and rice milk. Each additive elevates the soap in terms of conditioning, gentleness, cleansing, exfoliation, or lather. Soapmaking is chemistry and I’m a born chemist!

Our best-selling bars are lavender oatmeal, lavender eucalyptus, creamy avocado, and an exceptional quadruple butter bar featuring cocoa, kokum, shea, and mango butters.

Bath fizzies are another product we’ve matured into. Trinity Soap’s bath fizzies contain buttermilk powder, colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, and avocado oil. They are far kinder to the skin than commercial offerings. Our unusual donut-shaped Truffle Bombs with an emulsified cocoa butter/shea butter drizzle and unique decorations are very popular. We also feature a gorgeous detoxing pink Himalayan salt bomb in the shape of a mini bundt cake and fragranced in white tea. It’s a true spa treat!

How do you think about luck?
I don’t believe in luck.

The Bible says “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

I work hard and pray hard and believe that all things take place under the watchful eye of God either through His active or passive will. I do believe that God’s grace and mercy have played a HUGE part in my life and my business.

Pricing:

• Soaps $7-8
• Bath Bombs $5-$7
• Lotions $6-$10

Contact Info:

• Email: trinitysoapaz@gmail.com
• Website: www.trinitysoapAZ.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/trinitysoapaz
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/trinitysoapaz

Image Credits
Vicki Hostetler, Devon Hostetler