Introducing...
Colette Tupy @ Serenade Natural Products
Tell us a little about yourself...
I grew up in the city
of St Paul, but somehow ended up living where the pavement ends and the corn
begins in a small town called Elko New Market.
It's really just minutes south of Burnsville and a little west of Lakeville. We live on 14 acres. My husband of 16 years and I have 5 kids, our
youngest just started kindergarten and our oldest just started driving.
We have 2 dogs (a sweet dobbie named Opal
& a playful one named Lacy), a handful of ducks, and about 20 or
chickens. We garden and can like crazy,
we have farm fresh eggs, and do our best
to eat fresh, natural foods.
Another fun
fact about our family is that we own a hot air balloon called
"Kaleidoscope". We fly from
our yard sometimes just for fun. 3 of
our 5 kids have been up in the balloon so far.
We offer private rides and participate in some ballooning events around
the metro. So look to the skies and you
just may see us!
How did you get into soaping?
I began making all
natural soap for my family. As you can imagine we go through a lot of it. I was
looking for a creative outlet, something to call my own..... and so the soaping
began. Soon after, as I started selling
at local craft fairs and markets, I began making natural lip balms, lotions,
body butters, bath salts and soy candles.
I found that many of these products could be made without all the nasty
chemicals, petroleum products and cheap fillers the large manufactures
use. Quickly I realized that I could
make a far superior product that many people would love to use. I grew up in a family with 5 sisters, so I'm
all about the girly girl fragrances and simple pampering luxuries.
I hope my products provide just a little joy
for those who use them. Some three
almost four years later, I'm here perfecting my recipes and creating new ones,
learning new ways to expand my business and gaining repeat customers.
What is something most people might not know about you?
Well I feel a little bit famous... In 2014 my sister, Connie Stephany, published
her first book. She is currently in the
information technology field, but dreams of becoming a full time writer. Her book "Second Chances" is a
flirty, fun, fiction about a girl named Abby
who "A year after being dumped on her wedding day.....was still wondering
what had gone wrong." "She unexpectedly runs into an old crush and
now must decide...which man deserves a second chance?" Connie has always been one of Serenade's best
customers. We always joke that she is my
Northern sales rep for Serenade. Whenever
she has a chance, she shares how she loves my soaps and soy candles. Well...in her book, and I quote " She
used her favorite soap, which smelled like freshly picked lilacs. She had found it at the Minneapolis Farmers
Market, and continued to buy it online from the seller's website www.serenadeproducts.com.
" "Serenade Products was the best, with hand-made, all natural
merchandise." In her e-book there is even a live link to my website. A complete surprise to me for which I am very
grateful! Connie lives in Zimmerman,
Minnesota with her loving husband and 3 kids. Connie's book, "Second Chances" can be purchased through her FB page (link below).
Where can people find Serenade Natural Products?
www.facebook.com/SerenadeNaturals
www.etsy.com/shop/SerenadeNaturals
{3:17} Vintage Furniture & Home Décor (Afton, MN)
www.facebook.com/317vintage
Carver Junk Company (Carver, MN)
www.facebook.com/CarverJunkCompany
Eclectic 887 (West St. Paul, MN)
www.facebook.com/Eclectic887
Grace & Co. (Mpls, MN)
www.facebook.com/pages/Grace-and-Company
Scout (Mpls, MN)
www.facebook.com/SCOUTvintageCollective
doodlebird Design & Gifts (Mpls, MN)
www.facebook.com/doodlebirddesign
The Hair Mate Salon (Prior Lake, MN)
www.facebook.com/pages/The-Hair-Mate
Spark Wellness Center (Mpls, MN)
www.facebook.com/sparkwellness
Paeonia Floral (Robbinsdale, MN)
www.paeoniafloral.com
"Second Chances" A Novel By Connie Stephany
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-New-Beginnings-Series-by-Connie-Stephany