Cover image for RAH/CEL's story about its first markets and online store

From Our First Market to Your Homes: The RAH/CEL Adventure Is Just Getting Started!

Three markets, 20 homes, one brand-new website, and a whole lot of excitement!

 

Well, here we are!

Just a few weeks ago, I was standing behind a table at our very first farmers market, wondering how people were going to respond to something I'd spent months pouring my heart, time, and energy into creating.

Fast-forward three markets, and RAH/CEL products have officially made their way into 20 homes!

TWENTY!

Now, maybe that doesn't sound like a huge number to some people. But when you're the person who researched the ingredients, developed the formulas, blended the scents, filled the jars, designed the labels, and packed every single product yourself?

That's a pretty amazing feeling.

And now, we've officially launched our online store, too!

Honestly, seeing all of this come together has been one heck of an adventure, and we're just getting warmed up.

How This Whole Thing Started

RAH/CEL wasn't born in a boardroom or dreamed up by a marketing team.

It started with me wanting to make better, more intentional choices about what I was eating and using on my body.

My own health journey made me start paying closer attention to ingredients, questioning what was in everyday products, and looking for more naturally inspired alternatives.

Eventually, instead of searching for exactly what I wanted, I started making it myself.

One formula turned into another. Then came the testing, tweaking, researching, and experimenting. Before long, what started as something personal became something I genuinely wanted to share with other people.

And that's how RAH/CEL began taking shape.

I didn't set out to build some giant skincare empire. I wanted to make products I believed in, using thoughtfully selected ingredients, without a bunch of unnecessary extras.

Of course, somewhere along the way, that turned into an entire business, a mountain of supplies, an ever-growing collection of jars and labels, and a to-do list that apparently reproduces overnight.

Funny how that happens. 😂

 

September 27: Taking the Leap!

Our first official market was September 27, 2026, at the Halifax River Farmers Market at Tiki Docks in Port Orange, Florida.

And let me tell you, preparing for your first market is a whole different kind of adventure!

There's so much that happens before anyone ever sees that pretty little display.

Making products, checking inventory, printing labels, packaging everything, getting signs ready, making sure the payment system works, packing tables, loading supplies, and trying desperately not to forget something important.

By the time everything was packed, I'm pretty sure we had enough stuff to open a small department store.

Then came the moment we'd been working toward.

People started walking up to our booth!

They wanted to smell the products, try the testers, ask questions, and learn about ingredients.

Some had never heard of tallow skincare. Others were already interested in more naturally inspired personal care products. And some were just curious about what on earth we were selling.

I loved every minute of those conversations.

By the end of that first market, we'd made five sales, handed out around 20 business cards, and introduced RAH/CEL to a whole bunch of new faces.

Four of those five customers were people who didn't know me personally.

Think about that.

Four strangers chose to take something I'd made home with them.

That was the moment it really started sinking in.

 

Three Markets, New Products, and So Many New Faces

 

Our second weekend brought Ocean & Seafood Fest on October 4, followed by Pumpkin Fest on October 11.

And with each market, we've gotten a little more comfortable, learned a little more, and found ourselves having more fun.

We've introduced our fragrance rollers, complete with names like Mostly Sunny, Slightly Feral, Zen Enough, and Deck Around and Find Out.

Because who says naturally inspired personal care has to be boring?

We've also been busy creating new additions, including our Porch Weather Salt Scrub, with its signature scent inspired by those warm, breezy Old Florida days.

Getting to share these creations in person has been one of my favorite parts of this experience.

There's something special about watching someone pick up a product, smell it, smile, and ask what went into making it.

Those moments remind me why I love what I'm doing.

And trust me, I've already got more ideas floating around in my head than I have hours in the day.

 

Twenty Homes. That's the Part That Gets Me.

 

Here's something I've been thinking about a lot lately.

There are now 20 homes with RAH/CEL products in them.

Somewhere, someone is reaching for a jar of Gentle Tide, using one of our whipped tallow creams, applying their favorite fragrance roller, or working one of our balms into their everyday routine.

Something that started as an idea at my worktable is now part of someone else's day.

 

That's what makes this so fulfilling for me.

 

I've spent so much time learning about ingredients, experimenting with formulas, and making more intentional choices in my own life.

Now I get to share some of those choices with other people who might be looking for something a little different, too.

And every time someone decides to give RAH/CEL a try, it means they trust me enough to bring something I made into their home.

That's not something I take lightly.

I want people to love what they're using. I want them to feel good about their choices. And I want to keep learning, improving, and making products I'm genuinely proud to put my name on.

Because there's an actual person behind every one of these jars.

And she's probably working on another formula right now. 😂

 

The Best Part? The People!

 

Something I didn't fully anticipate when we started attending markets was how much I would enjoy the community.

Don't get me wrong, I love making the products.

But meeting people, hearing their stories, answering questions, laughing with customers, and getting to know the other vendors has added a whole new dimension to this business.

We've met some genuinely wonderful people over these first few weeks.

And there's something pretty inspiring about being surrounded by other small-business owners who are out there doing their thing.

The early mornings, the setup, the long days, the packing and unpacking. Everyone's working hard, everyone has a story, and everyone is building something of their own.

It's a reminder that when you shop small, you're doing more than purchasing a product.

You're supporting someone's hard work, creativity, determination, and willingness to take a chance on themselves.

We've also had so much encouragement from friends, family, neighbors, and people following along online.

Some have come out to the markets. Others have shared our posts, passed along our name, or simply sent a message to say they're cheering us on.

Every bit of it has meant more than you know.

And honestly? We're having a blast getting to know everyone.

 

And Then We Opened a Website!

 

As if starting a business and jumping into farmers markets weren't enough excitement, we decided it was time to take another big step.

 

RAH/CEL officially has an online store!

 

That might sound like a normal part of running a business, but for me, it was a pretty major milestone.

There have been countless hours behind the scenes getting everything ready.

Product descriptions, photography, inventory, shipping, payments, website design, and making sure everything works the way it's supposed to.

Let's just say I've learned more about running an online store than I ever expected to know.

But we did it!

And the most exciting part is that RAH/CEL can now reach people beyond our local farmers market.

Maybe you live too far away to visit our booth. Maybe your Sunday's are packed. Or maybe you stumbled across our website while searching for naturally inspired personal care products.

 

However you found us, welcome!

 

I'm genuinely excited that you're here.

You can browse our growing collection, learn more about our products, and have your favorites shipped right to your door.

And just like the products you see at our market booth, what you'll find here is handcrafted with the same care and attention.

Our online shelves are officially open, and I can't wait to see where our next order is headed!

 

We're Building More Than a Product Line

 

The exciting thing about RAH/CEL is that we're not standing still.

We're constantly learning, testing, creating, and figuring out what comes next.

Some ideas work beautifully. Others need a little more experimenting. And sometimes an idea sends me right back to the drawing board.

That's part of the fun.

We want RAH/CEL to grow into a brand that offers practical, thoughtfully made products people actually enjoy using in everyday life.

And we want to have some fun doing it.

We're not trying to be another perfectly polished, overly serious personal care company.

We're a Florida-made, family-run business with a whole lot of determination, plenty of personality, and a genuine appreciation for the people helping us grow.

And I love that the community gets to be part of this journey from the very beginning.

 

Come Along for the Ride!

 

If you're reading this, you're already part of our story in some way.

Maybe you've purchased something at the market. Maybe you've just placed your first online order. Maybe you've been following us on social media, or maybe this is your first introduction to RAH/CEL.

However you got here, I'm glad you did.

I'd love for you to follow along with us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

That's where you'll find our market adventures, new product introductions, behind-the-scenes experiments, a little ingredient education, and probably a healthy dose of sarcasm.

You'll see the pretty finished products, sure. But you'll also get to see some of what goes into making them.

And if you're local, come see us at the Halifax River Farmers Market at Tiki Docks in Port Orange!

We're there on our scheduled market Sundays, meeting people, talking products, and enjoying everything this wonderful local community has to offer.

Bring your questions, bring your curiosity, and come say hello.

Here's to What Comes Next!

Three markets.

Twenty homes.

One officially launched online store.

And a whole lot of reasons to be excited about what's ahead.

I couldn't be more grateful for the people who have supported RAH/CEL, encouraged me, purchased our products, shared our name, or simply taken the time to learn what we're about.

It means the world to me that something which started with my own desire to make different choices has grown into something I now get to share with others.

And I hope this is only the beginning of a very long adventure.

Here's to more markets, more familiar faces, more new friendships, more products, and hopefully a whole lot more homes with a little RAH/CEL in them!

Thank you for being here from the beginning.

— Rebecca

Founder & Maker, RAH/CEL

Rooted In Nature • Living Essentially

Handcrafted in Florida

Come hang out with us!

We'd love to see you at the market or in our little corner of the internet!

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