Mossy Creek Natural: Handmade soaps and unique gifts in Perry

Are you looking for a unique gift, or a locally made product? Then look no further than 915 Carroll St. in Downtown Perry for Mossy Creek Natural. Customers will find when they walk in vibrant colors, different textures, and a wonderful aromatherapy of different scents.

Owner Michelle Rhoades opened the store in October of 2015 offering bohemian styled gifts, essential oils, and bath and beauty products from her first business, Mossy Creek Soap. Rhoades said it has been an amazing journey taking stepping-stone after stepping-stone to get to where she is now.

“I got started in the bath and beauty business in 2006 with home division of The Body Shop International,” said Rhoades. “It was the most interesting experience because I didn’t know much about selling. Prior to starting in this field, I did various things including working for Delta Airlines as a flight attendant. I worked in retail before when I was a teenager, but never really understood the whole selling and telling a story about business.”

Rhoades described the process of direct sales at her home with the company. She said you would introduce yourself, share what you offer, and the five core values the company believed in. From there Rhoades took those tools with her and applied them during her journey to her own brand that she has now.

“Sadly, the home division of that company did not last long,” said Rhoades. “I was with them for three years before they closed. Bath and beauty had become my passion, and I had a list of customers I had built relationships with that I didn’t want to lose. So another opportunity came about where I met a lady who was selling goat milk soaps. Again, sadly, her company did not last long either, and I still didn’t want to give up.”

Rhoades was considering buying the lady’s business until her husband asked, “How hard is it to make soap?” The story goes on to where Rhoades learned how to make soap, and in 2009 started her first business, Mossy Creek Soap. She started out at home then eventually built a website and had her first location in Warner Robins in 2010. Three years later she moved to Perry where she began offering classes. But with all Rhoades had created, none of her business was local.

“After I started teaching, the handcrafted soap makers guild offered a certified teachers program. So I decided to join,” said Rhoades. “When I became certified I was able to pull people from all over. I had students from Nigeria, New Mexico, Michigan, South Florida, you name it, I probably had a student from there. Before I moved to Perry I had a private lesson from a lady who owned a private airline in Miami. She said to me one time I see you in a cute little house with a soap-making shed, and that always stuck with me. So my Perry location was perfect. It’s a blue house with a yard. It’s been great, it took off, but I still wasn’t able to secure local business.”

In January of 2015 Rhoades joined the Perry Downtown Merchants Association. She expressed to the association that if a spot became available in the downtown square to let her know. Rhoades said her location was off the beaten path so she thought getting into the heart of the city would help bring the locals to her. Not long after, in June, Trish Cossart, president of the PDMA and owner of Cossart Designs, contacted Rhoades to let her know she was moving across the street and that her place would be available. The process of opening Mossy Creek Natural began.

“I was so excited when Trish called me, and then we began working to open the store which took three months,” said Rhoades. “Going back to when I first thought about opening a second location, I ran into the issue would Perry be able to support a bath and beauty retail only. That’s when I decided I would build a brand, so after getting that call from Trish I began building my brand.”

Rhoades found the Natural Life line out of Jacksonville that is bohemian chic offering positive sayings on apparel to décor. Mossy Creek Natural also carries Soap Commander (men’s soap line), Tampa Soys (a candle company), jewelry from local artists, essential oils, and products from Mossy Creek Soap.

“My brand flows together,” said Rhoades. “To me it is important to stick with your brand because having all kinds of products can be overwhelming for the customer. It’s also important to offer something unique that you can’t get at every store. But having said that, we will always have new products coming to the store that fit the brand. To me, that’s another fun thing, to only offer something until it’s sold. That’s what makes it unique, and then you get to look for the next product no one else has.”

One product that has just hit the shelves of Mossy Creek Natural is the new mineral makeup Vintage Gypsy Cosmetics from Mossy Creek. Rhoades said the makeup line features eye shadows and foundations. To see the new line and all what Mossy Creek Natural has to offer, you can visit them Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. You can also visit their website at www.mossycreeknatural.com.

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