Growing pains – not just for kids anymore

Growing pains aren’t just for kids anymore. They happen to businesses too — and while they’re technically “happy pains,” they still hurt.

Take one small Sugar Scrub company, for instance. Back in 2020, it was a cozy kitchen operation. The founder made scrubs between dinner prep and bedtime, sneaking in a few orders here and there. She might’ve been working another job at the same time, dreaming up new labels while her husband unknowingly ate mashed potatoes that tasted faintly of coconut peach.

But progress came. A little commercial space was rented to get the sugar out of the kitchen. There was more room, a few more orders, a little more comfort. It was the good kind of growth — steady and sweet.

Then, one day, the phone rang. A big retailer said yes. Then another. And suddenly, those “happy pains” kicked in with full force. Where would the inventory come from? Who would make it all? Who would pay for it? Ten large orders landed at once, and with them came the emotional trifecta: excitement, exhaustion, and just a touch of panic.

This is the achy stage — when your brain throbs from constant thinking, your joints ache from lifting boxes, and your spirit stretches just a little too far. You cry, you stomp, maybe you throw a mini tantrum or two. You question your sanity while stirring shea butter at midnight.

But here’s the thing: these growing pains mean you’re doing something right. They mean the world is noticing. They mean your dream — the one that started in a kitchen with a hand mixer and a sugar bag — is becoming real.

So how do you ease the pain? Lists. Lots of them. “What do I need?” “Who can help?” “Where can I get more jars?” “Is there enough coffee in the world to keep me going?” Slowly, painfully, solutions appear. More space. More hands. More courage.

Because every ache, every long night, every “uh-oh” moment — that’s the sound of growth. It’s uncomfortable, messy, and sometimes sticky (especially when sugar is involved). But it’s also beautiful.
Stay tuned — this story isn’t finished yet.

Wendy Kushel is the owner of Wendala’s LowCountry Sugar Scrub, LLC based in Bluffton, SC. Drawn to the Beauty & Personal Care Industry Wendy founded her company in 2020. Her background includes stand-up comedy, film, TV and a lot of sales and marketing. For more information about Wendala’s® LowCountry Sugar Scrub visit www.lowcountrysugarscrub.com or call/text 843-949-8933.