Meet Ryan Bos of Semper Fi Soap in Mesa

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Bos.

Ryan, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I got out of the Marine Corps in 2017 without an idea of what I wanted to pursue at that time. I took a job at a local insulation company and realized the benefits of owning your own company and doing something you are passionate about. Fast forward a few months, and my wife noticed my skin was drying out after showers and we quickly attributed it to the brand of soap I was using. I switched over to a smaller brand name, with a more natural focus in their ingredients, but found their products too expensive. I wondered how hard it would be to make my soap, and according to YouTube: it’s not that hard. I looked into buying supplies and made an in-store visit to “Arizona Soap Supply” who suggested I take one of their classes to watch and learn firsthand. I immediately signed myself and my wife up knowing she’d enjoy the experience, and as a reassurance that they weren’t using any techniques to hide harmful chemicals. They weren’t. At this time, we were sent home with the ingredients to make our batch of soap and set to work. We learned that you’re supposed to let the soap cure for 6-plus weeks. In the meantime, I became impatient and researched new recipes and color schemes, giving them each Marine Corps related titles such as “Dress Blues” and “Iwo Jima”. Pretty soon I was making a few batches a week, buying in bulk to lower the cost and creating my website “semperfisoap.com”. I played with a few box designs, settling on something simple but unique. My next step is to attend the local farmers’ market and craft fairs to share my product with the locals.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
For the most part, it’s been a smooth road. Like I said, making soap isn’t all that hard. It’s getting your name out there and figuring out how to run a legitimate business that is the tricky part. I had help along the way from co-workers who knew the business side, and from Arizona Soap Supply who gave me lots of pointers, had all the supplies I needed and even featured a few bars of my soap in their store to help drum up attention. Soap making is ultimately chemistry, and you can end up with a bad batch or two depending on temperature and the types of oils you use. For me, making bulk batches wasn’t always the answer. I found I like to make a few small batches at a time to make sure that if something does go awry, I don’t waste too much of my supply. When a batch isn’t up to standards or aesthetics, I won’t sell it to a customer, and most likely I end up using it for my personal use.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
My business is called “Semper Fi Soap” because, as a Marine, I wanted a company that would resonate with fellow veterans. I specialize in military themed soap “for any dirty mission”. Currently, I have 7 varieties of soap such as “The Sand Box”, made with oatmeal for exfoliation, “Thin Blue Line” as a nod to our brothers in blue, and “Frozen Chosin” which features cooling spearmint and eucalyptus oils to commemorate the Korean battle at the Chosin Reservoir. In addition to our standard size bars, all of the bars are also available in sample sizes with three combinations per box. As a company, I am most proud of the audience I have been able to reach so far. With my limited advertising budget, and the help of family and friends I have found success as an entrepreneur. The great thing about a bar of soap is that the product never goes bad but only gets better with time. What sets me apart is my military theme. There are plenty of soap companies out there, big and small. And we all have our niche, some have fancy designs and swirls, others use seasonal scents to commemorate the holidays. There are some very skillful “soapers” out there, but I’ve found that sticking with my seven scents allows for consistency. I’m not constantly trying to come up with new recipes and scent combinations, which allows me to focus on making the best product I know how.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I’d say I’ve had mostly good luck. In life, I was lucky enough to be able to join the Marines even though I grew up in Canada. I was fortunate to be stationed on the Marine Corps base in Yuma, AZ which led me to meet my wife, Danielle. My wife supports all of my eclectic ideas, business or otherwise. From a business standpoint, I was fortunate enough to work with a co-worker who was savvy about getting a new business up and running. The fact that soaping is relatively easy, having a store close by with well priced products, and very helpful staff was instrumental in taking it from “cool, I made some soap in my garage” to “I want to grow this opportunity and share it with other people.” I am also grateful for my friends and family who have supported me in my business endeavors.

Pricing:

• Soap: $8-$8.50
• Samples: $9.50
• Shipping: Free over $21

Contact Info:

• Website: www.semperfisoap.com
• Email: semperfisoap@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/semperfisoap/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/semperfisoap/

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