Meet Eileen Backman | Soap Dealer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Eileen Backman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Eileen, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
The thought process behind starting Woke Soap was to ensure a quality product for everyone to use, young to old, any skin tone and skin type.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Woke Soap was created in 2017. After many years of jumping from job to job in the restaurant and bakery world, plus escaping domestic violence, becoming a single mother was difficult to make ends meet. My youngest son has very sensitive skin, and I was reading and researching one natural alternatives for him to combat eczema. That’s when soap came into play. My first batch was very small. It only yielded 4-5 bars. But I wanted to incorporate our heritage of indigenous medicines within our soap because that is so important to me. So the smudge bar came about. My first bar was and still is infused with sage, Sweetgrass and cedar. I only made it for I and my children, but soon after gifting family and friends, they wanted to buy it!
The difficult part was starting over so many times. Having to pick up each time from nothing. But we’ve made it happen! All the way from South Dakota to Texas!
Our movement is plastic free, earth friendly products that help self heal our customers, and wake our community up to the harsh toxins within commercial soaps and products.
Our soap business has turned into soap, candles, bath salts, incense, beard oils, hair oils, crystal healing, and other natural healing products. Even my youngest have their own business that is branches of Woke Soap. My 9 yr old daughter Lyric is owner of LVL.ipz she creates lipglosses, and her 10 yr old brother Osiris is owner of KydKrystal where he sells crystals & jewelry!
I am also a huge support for Indigenous knowledge and issues within our indigenous communities. Such as #MMIW which is the rise of missing and murdered Indigenous women within the United States and Canada. I speak on domestic violence as well ways to help and heal others with my story.
I am proud to say Woke Soap is growing here in Texas!
We overcame homelessness, abuse, and generational curses! ✊🏾❤️

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Of course the Stockyards in Fort Worth. That is history right there. Also of course JFK assassination.
I’m a huge history buff. Then Trinity river for a picnic with some downtown eatery like the Cheesecake Factory or a unique latte from Black Coffee off Vaughn.
Good soul food from Taste of Tasby off Meadowbrook and Handley in Fort Worth some of the best I’ve had since I’ve been in Texas!
Also I love Dallas Bishop Arts District!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d love to give a shout-out to my children. They push me to go harder every day. Also my customers. It’s to the point they won’t allow me to get up! Everyone encourages my growth and supports my movement!

Website: www.BuySoapNotDope.com

Instagram: @woke__soap

Facebook: Woke Soap