Are you wondering what happens to my Brick House Branding alumni post-graduation? What they do with the momentum + new-found knowledge? Curious about where they take their businesses in the year following all that hard work?

 

I’m back with another round of “Where Are They Now?” case studies and I’m doing-cartwheels-excited to show you the serious waves my BHB graduates are making!

 

 

Say hello to Bonnie Skaggs of Prairie Dust

This week, I’m excited to introduce you to Bonnie Skaggs of Prairie Dust, whose bath and body line is based on honest, simple ingredients – “No fluff, just good stuff.” Bonnie recently rebranded Prairie Dust after graduating from Brick House Branding, and she’s here to pull back the curtain and share a behind the scenes view of her process. Welcome, Bonnie… We’re so honored to have you!

 

LBC: Why and when did you originally launch your company?

Bonnie: I was frustrated with complicated ingredients in traditional bath and body products that were on the market so I set out to create something honest and simple. Prairie Dust opened its doors in the fall of 2015 as a small brick and mortar shop in a historic district in Oklahoma City. I had been making soap for only about 18 months before that so it was a huge leap of faith. But I knew if I didn’t try….I would regret it later down the road.

 

LBC: At what point did you know it was time for a rebrand?

Bonnie: After being in business for about a year, I realized there was a line between hobby and business that I had yet to jump over. I needed to ditch the whole “handmade” aesthetic. In order to be competitive in the bath and body market, my products needed to look professional and clean.

 

 

LBC: Please share a significant realization about the brand development process that you discovered while in Brick House Branding.

Bonnie: My biggest “a-ha!” moment was in week one, when I was asked to identify what we were really selling. Understanding that consumers are loyal to brands not only for what they sell, but because of what the brand stands for is so important.

 

LBC: What professionals did you tag in to help with the process, and what pieces of the branding puzzle did you DIY?

Bonnie: Being technologically challenged, I had to tag in a professional for logo and web design help. I was able to DIY most of my product photography and all of my written content.

 

 

LBC: What was the biggest obstacle you encountered during the rebranding process?

Bonnie: Finding a way to fund my branding projects! I graduated BHB with a very long list of pricey projects that I knew I had to tackle to take my business to the next level. Investing in yourself is a bit scary when you are just starting out.

 

LBC: How has your own perception of your brand evolved since graduating from BHB?

Bonnie: I started out just selling soap. Now I create products that inspire people to get their hands dirty and live life to the fullest. I have a new sense of clarity and purpose to what Prairie Dust stands for.

 

LBC: Are your products being received differently by others since the rebrand? How has their reaction evolved?

Bonnie: In the beginning, it was painfully obvious that we were a small local soap store. After the rebrand, people are often surprised that we are not a franchise and that our products are made locally.

 

LBC: Can you share a recent win that you’ve realized because of the rebrand?

Bonnie: Since rebranding, I don’t spend money where I don’t need to anymore. Everything is laser-focused on my customer and my specific products.

 

LBC: How did the BHB experience help shape your branding process?

Bonnie: BHB provided an essential step by step guide to a rebrand. Without this course I would not have known where to begin and what to prioritize.

 

LBC: What do you wish you had known at the beginning of the brand development process? What advice would you give to someone who’s getting ready to start the brand development process?

Bonnie: I didn’t realize how deep (emotionally and mentally) the branding process would go. My advice to anyone entering BHB is to keep an open mind and an open heart. Authenticity is essential to knowing what direction you want your brand to go. Also understand that you won’t have your brand completed at the end of the course. You will always be tweaking and trimming…I still refer to my BHB binder after completing the course over a year ago!

 

 

Thanks for catching up with us, Bonnie! We can’ t wait to see what comes next for you + Prairie Dust… We’re cheering you on!

 

If you’d like to build a stronger, smart brand in 2018, then I also hope that you’ll consider joining me in the spring semester of Brick House Branding. This 9-week brand development mentorship dissects awesome brands and then helps you build your own, brick by brick, with me working right alongside you to cheer you on and ensure that you’re on the right track. Enrollment opens on April 21!