LET THE TRAVIS FAMILY GET YOUR GOAT – YOU’LL LOVE IT
SOAPS, LOTIONS, AND MORE

North Scituate, RI – “Do what you love and the money will follow” is the sage advice given to many business startups and even executives in career transition. What began as a grammar school student’s thoughtful holiday gift to her teachers very quickly became a bona fide business. Rachyl Travis was a 9 year–old student at Clayville Elementary School in Scituate, living on a 3 acre farm, when she decided to make goat’s milk soap from her favorite pets. The family’s adventure launched quickly, was beset by tragedy early on, and almost immediately thereafter uplifted by celebrity, hard work, and good fortune.

Soon after that initial holiday season, Rachyl’s teachers were so pleased with the rich, luxurious feel of the special soap, they began asking to buy it. Under the guidance of mom, Lillian, she began researching the benefits of goat’s milk, from its gentle, hydrating benefits, to the inherent value they already understood – its ingredients are 100% natural. In the summer of 2012, Rachyl began selling kitchen-to-farm stand goat’s milk soap – at their local farmer’s market in Scituate. Initially, that was the only product, and it was wrapped in recycled feed bags or brown shopping bags. The following year, the circuit expanded to all of the state-run farmer’s markets, including East Providence, Goddard Park, Jamestown, and Pawtucket. And this year they’ve added Blackbird Farmer’s Market in Smithfield. It’s a hectic routine from Thursday through Monday.

Two years into this venture an enormous fire engulfed the barn, devastating the family as well as the small business. Unnamed, yet very supportive, friends reached out to share the story. Good news followed bad as Rachel was a featured guest on Steve Harvey’s show when she was only 12. Producers contacted them about the story that someone drafted. Initially planned as a brief snippet, one conversation with Rachyl convinced the production team they just had to fly her to Chicago for an appearance on the set of Extraordinary Children in 2014.

Luckily, the family had already established a website robust enough to handle an onslaught of orders that flooded in during the week following her appearance. For many businesses, 900 new orders in one day could not only crash a website’s e-commerce platform, it could also undermine their production capabilities. Both the website and the production line survived.

Lillian noted that volunteers created and maintained their website for years, commending the caliber of their work, especially when horsepower really mattered, the day fame hit Travis Farm following that life-changing interview. Currently, the Travis family manages the new e-commerce website they created this year.

The origin of the business is not surprising. Children living on a farm love animals. All of the Travis children, once 7, now a total of nine, including an adopted and a foster child, were allowed to have their favorite animals as pets. Mom and dad welcomed and rescued turtles, rabbits, alpacas, llamas, and for Rachyl, then 7, goats. The children belonged to their local 4H organization, where they learned about agriculture and farm animals, from husbandry to showing prize-winners, buying, selling and breeding animals owned by other 4H families. Ribbons go to the best of the species, and the Travis family invested in high quality, registered, yet costly, Nubian dairy goats, which come in a variety of colors, according to daughter Jaklyn, who first suggested this now-famous birthday gift for Rachyl.

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The Travis Farm started as goat farm in 1994, but soap-making was an aside. According to Lillian, the two years of farm stand success surprised them. “We thought this would be just a hobby. I couldn’t do the business with her. There were too many kids, and half were home-schooled. Jaklyn was the animal lover, but she was in college.” When Rachyl declared, “I want to do it, she took over the fledgling business.” She packed up the products, sold on Saturdays, and mom made sure there was an adult with her.

They’ve come a long way since “Goat Girl,” as she is affectionately called by family and fans, began making a crock pot full, 40 bars per week for their first summer. At 500 bars per week, ramped up to two batches, they sell 80% of the production every week. And, instead of using brown paper bags for wrapping, they are now packaging their soap in eco-friendly cotton bags or recycled boxes – using recycled tissue paper and bags, made in the U.S., is a source of pride

The trio of Rachyl, mom, and Jacklyn – the eldest daughter – formed the nucleus of the business. Early on, Jaklyn was the college aged animal-lover. Currently, she buys and sells the animals, and manages the daily operations of farm as well as its social media. Rachyl handles soap making, weekly selling at the farmers markets and public relations, all while juggling her college classes in business marketing at CCRI. This is to be her business, Lillian explains, while the others assist. The men of the family, dad and five brothers, also lend their hands, especial when it comes to construction such as building a new barn, driving in the fence posts, and other construction projects. Beyond the physical chores, they also contribute ideas as well as IT, information technology. It is a family affair.

Experience combined with business education, have positioned Rachyl and her family to growing this business and increasing its profits. Mom admits, “We’re not making a tremendous profit. But, we’re OK. Oil prices rise, so does the cost of electricity and feed for the animals. Business is growing.” Loyal customers shared the products, the story, and their personal testimonials of the health benefits since the beginning; now, technology extends the reach of those stories, and has expanded the marketplace.

In addition to the online store, there’s a farm store on the property that’s open 7 days a week, operating on what might be considered an outdated ideal: a self-serve honor system. There’s a counter with a slot, where customers pay by placing cash or check through the slot. “Yes, it’s been fine, there’s been no missing merchandise” Lillian commented in a flash, even before the logical question was asked. “If some steals a bar of soap, it’s because they really need it.” A caring response coupled with down-on-the-farm sensibility.

Farm tours and field trips carry forward the spirit and the hands-on educational approach of the 4H clubs. Groups of kids, including pre-schoolers, learn to milk goats, scheduled by appointment when time allows. New construction is underway, an encouraging sign of expansion.

From a kitchen-based operation, to an ever-widening scope of related products from the original bars of all natural goat’s milk soap to lip butter, body butter and a line of baby products, the Travis Family Farm has set its course, naturally.