As she battled lupus, an inflammatory disease affecting the immune system, Kristen McCaleb also struggled to stay employed.
“I was having a hard time holding down a job because of getting sick a lot, plus I was living with (really) bad eczema,” she recalls, “so I had to do something that would allow me to set my own hours and to help heal my skin.”
The solution was to start her own business – Little Diva Soap Shop. McCaleb established the company in 2015, selling handmade goats’ milk soaps out of her home until steady growth required a larger space. Now located on Shortcut Road in Woolmarket, Little Diva delights customers with specialty soaps, bath bombs and even jewelry.
“I have chosen this location because I’ve been a resident of Woolmarket for more than 20 years, and I absolutely love the location and all of the people here,” says the mother and grandmother of two. “I wanted to give the people of Woolmarket somewhere close to shop and for them to have a great experience doing so.”
McCaleb says she’s always called her daughter, Kolleen, her “little diva,” which inspired her shop’s name. For the soap-making instruction itself, she credits popular YouTuber Katie Carson.
“She inspired me so much that I decided to give it a go with the soaping business,” McCaleb says.
Now having formed its own identity, Little Diva offers several products patrons won’t find at a typical soap shop, such as soap cupcakes, laundry soap and felted soap bars (wrapped in wool, so the soap lasts longer, is easier to hold and has an element of exfoliation). McCaleb can personally vouch for the products, which have calmed eczema flare-ups for her and her daughter.
The store also stocks paintings, wreaths, clothing, embroidery, candles and much more.
For those seeking an experience more than a product, McCaleb says, “We offer ladies’ night out, small or big group (events and) birthday parties for children and teens.”
While the shop is certainly popular with women, the owner says her clientele also includes men and children. Being from the region, along with much of her family, McCaleb says she hopes to keep growing her company and providing something unique in the local market.
“Having my business here on the Gulf Coast means a lot to me because this is where I was born and raised,” she says.
IF YOU GO
12450 Shortcut Road, Suite D, Woolmarket
Tuesday – Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
www.facebook.com/littledivasoapshopllcboutique
(228) 357-1931