Giving It Away Instead of Throwing It Away: A Story of Letting Go and Paying It Forward

After watching Buy Now on Netflix, I couldn’t stop reflecting on my obsession with fixing, repurposing, and giving things away instead of sending them to the landfill. That movie sparked something deep within me—if you haven’t seen it yet, I highly recommend it. I even wrote an entire blog post about how it impacted me.

In that same spirit of reducing waste and making room for new beginnings, I recently made a big decision. I gave away my soap business. Not sold. Gave.

Here’s the story.

The End of an Era

For 12 years, I poured my heart and soul into my soap business. It brought me so much joy—working with my hands, creating products that people loved, and connecting with my customers. But like so many small businesses, the pandemic hit hard, and recovery felt impossible.

Supplies skyrocketed in price. Oils I relied on went up over 200%. A bar of artisanal soap that once sold for $7 would now have to sell for $15 just to cover costs. And let’s be honest, no matter how magical that soap is, $15 is a tough sell for a single bar.

But it wasn’t just the rising costs. Somewhere along the way, I realized I was losing the spark—the passion that once drove me. I tried to push through, selling off inventory while debating whether to call it quits.

Then came the moment of clarity.

A loyal wholesale account reached out, requesting 200 bars of soap. Normally, I’d jump at the opportunity. But this time, my gut had an answer ready: No.

I wrote back, politely explaining, “Thank you for your interest, but we are no longer in business. I recommend reaching out to these other wonderful soapmakers...”

The weight lifted instantly.

The Art of Letting Go

With the business officially closed, I faced a new challenge: what to do with the leftover supplies sitting in my studio. I could have sold them, but I was done waiting around for buyers. I needed it all gone. So, how much was I trying to keep out of the landfill?  Well, here is a picture of it.  It doesn’t look like much, but it’s enough to get a small business off the ground- 100’s of pounds of oils, 20 soap molds, heaters, mixers, fragrance oils and the key ingredient to make cold processed soap, bags and bags of sodium hydroxide.

So, I posted everything on Craigslist. Within two hours, a lovely couple came to pick it all up—every last supply, tool, and ingredient.

A Full-Circle Moment

Soapmakers are a special breed. We’re not competitors; we’re kindred spirits, always eager to swap recipes and share techniques.

The couple who came to pick up my supplies had been making soap for over 25 years. They donated their creations to local retirement homes and shelters, though the rising costs had slowed them down in recent years. My supplies would give them the means to keep going—and if she ever wanted to restart a business, she now had everything she needed.

I gave her a gift to support her soapmaking journey, but in return, she gave me something even more precious: the comfort of knowing my soap story wasn’t over.

Why This Matters

Letting go isn’t always easy. But sometimes, giving something away is the most beautiful way to move forward. My soap business brought me 12 incredible years, but now it’s time to make space for new dreams—and trust that the story will continue in someone else’s capable hands.

To the couple who took my supplies, and to everyone who supported my soap journey: thank you.

The gift of giving? It keeps on giving.