Episode
350 Lessons from a Handmade Goat Soap Business - Interview with Hooves and Feathers
- Podcast
- My Digital Farmer Podcast
- Published
- Feb 25, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 4307
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Summary
A few months ago, I opened my mailbox to find a beautifully packaged starter box of goat milk soap from Allan Laird of Hooves and Feathers. Allan is a Farm Marketing School student… and he was proudly showing me his homework. 😊 Inside the box were thoughtfully chosen products, a clear "try-this-first" experience, and a sense that this wasn't just soap — it was a brand with intention. I remember thinking, This is what happens when someone applies simple marketing frameworks with consistency. So I called Allan and said, "You need to come on the podcast and walk us through what you're building." In today's episode, Allan shares the story of how a retired law enforcement officer turned a small goat milk soap experiment into a growing direct-to-consumer product line — and the lessons he's learning along the way about customers, offers, pricing, and repeat sales. This is a real, grounded look at what it actually takes to move from "I make a thing" to "I'm building a business around a thing." In this episode, we explore: The power of starting with one simple "Plain Jane" product How customer feedback shaped new scents, bars, and product types Where most of his customers come from right now What he's doing to collect emails and stay in touch with buyers Lessons from selling at bazaars, markets, and in-person events What's become clearer in his business since joining Farm Marketing School If you sell handmade products, farm goods, or any physical product direct-to-consumer, this episode will give you a realistic picture of what growth looks like. Meet Our Guest: Allan Laird Allan Laird returned to his farm roots after retiring from a 46-year career in public safety. Together with his wife, Sue, they now tend to about 15 acres of land. They raise Highland cattle, hogs, and poult…