Managing high school, track, church, and all of the things that go along with being a high school student is a full-time job! For most of us, that would be our entire plate, but not for FCHS junior Shelby Lambrecht. Shelby not only manages all aspects of high school life, but also runs her own small business.
Shelby’s business is a decorative goat milk soap-making business. She began the business in 7th grade after her aunt gifted her a soap-making kit. Shelby comes from a creative family and immediately enjoyed the process of making soaps. After learning the soap-making process and becoming comfortable with it, Shelby decided to take it a step further. She began expanding her mold options — including designs like cats and flowers — and quickly realized she was on to something. With her mom's help, Shelby started signing up for craft fairs, and by 8th grade, she had established a presence on the craft fair circuit. There, she learned which molds sold well and which ones didn’t. With her parents' continued support, Shelby began intentionally building her business.
A year before Shelby ever received the soap-making kit, her 6th-grade teacher, Mrs. Shelley Christiansen, had already seen something special in her. Mrs. Christiansen remembers Shelby as a hard-working and inquisitive student who, even when quiet during class discussions, would often stop to ask thoughtful questions or make meaningful connections to lessons. At a time when many students feel pressure to conform to their peers, Shelby was deeply inspired by Renaissance ideals of individualism and the concept of being a Renaissance person — one who develops expertise in multiple fields while pursuing personal excellence. Through history, Shelby gained confidence in her unique interests and abilities. Those lessons helped prepare her for her 7th-grade business launch, 8th-grade business development, and the growth of her business into what it is today.
Mrs. Emily Naftzger was one of Shelby’s 8th-grade teachers and was there as Shelby’s decorative soap business began to take off. Emily remembers not being shocked when she learned Shelby was running a business. When selecting Shelby as her 8th Grade Student of the Year, Mrs. Naftzger wrote, “Basically, I will be wholeheartedly backing the Shelby for Ruler of the World campaign in a few years.” She adds that while many people identify a problem and complain about it, Shelby sees problems as challenges — something to investigate and solve. “She is both creative and analytical — a powerful combination. Best of all, she is, to her core, a good human.” Shelby consistently demonstrates that when students dream big, chase those dreams, and have a strong support system, amazing things happen.
As Shelby continued to grow her business, so did her mold options and her business plan. She soon found herself receiving more and more orders. This shift worked well for Shelby. Instead of trying to guess what would sell at a craft fair and returning home with extra product, she could focus her time and energy on items that had already been sold. Becoming primarily order-driven required Shelby to analyze her business and adjust her approach.
Shelby expanded her mold options even further and turned her attention to developing a website. She quickly discovered how powerful networking can be — and just how talented students at Franklin Central High School are. A friend, Jacob Shelnutt, and his business partner, Nate Davis, had started their own website development business, www.jndigital.org, and offered to build Shelby’s website. Another friend from the FCTV production team created a commercial for her business. Before long, Shelby and her soap business gained widespread recognition in the community, and orders began arriving from beyond Indiana. She filled large orders, including a Christmas order for a youth pastor who had become a missionary and wanted decorative soaps sent to his supporters. Orders came in from California to Virginia, and Shelby soon found herself shipping decorative soap across the country.
With increased demand came the need for careful planning. As a full-time student heavily involved in track and church, Shelby had to establish her ordering system, manage supplies, and create a timeline to fulfill orders efficiently. Once again, the analytical mindset her teachers recognized in the classroom emerged. Shelby refined her website so that customers could choose from various mold designs and scents, and submit their order details online. Shelby then follows up by email to confirm each order before making it. She also purchases soap base in bulk — 25-pound blocks — which she cuts, melts, colors, scents, and pours into decorative molds.
Even with an efficient system, balance was essential. Shelby and her parents set clear boundaries: during the school week, Shelby focuses solely on academics. But once Friday night arrives, she’s back to work. Friday nights, Saturdays, and Sundays around church activities are spent making, packaging, and shipping soaps.
Behind the scenes, Shelby’s biggest supporters have always been her mom and dad. They have been her loudest cheerleaders since that first soap-making kit in 7th grade. They helped her develop the business, dedicated a space in their basement for her workspace, and attended craft fairs alongside her. They have watched Shelby grow from simply wanting to understand how a business works to becoming a spreadsheet business master. When large orders came in, everyone in the household — Mom, Dad, and brother Cooper — pitched in to help package the products. Her parents also encouraged creative problem-solving, including learning how to make custom molds, even repurposing items like a toy alligator into new designs.
Faith is also an essential part of Shelby’s life and business. She views her soap-making not only as a way to brighten people’s lives with unique designs, but also as an opportunity to share her faith. Each soap package includes a Bible verse. Shelby says she has received meaningful feedback from customers who shared that the verse included was precisely what they needed at that moment. Shelby believes that a successful business should not only meet a need but also be used to help others.
Shelby hopes her story inspires other students to dream big and chase those dreams. Her advice to students with a business idea is simple: don’t be afraid to run with it. Find a support system — Shelby found hers in her family — lean on that support, create a plan, and then go for it.
Mrs. Naftzger shared, “She is fierce in both her faith and positivity. She genuinely seems to care about learning and growing, and running a business seems like a perfectly normal challenge for her to give herself.” Mrs. Christiansen added, “She has always been a hard worker, and I am not at all surprised that she has pursued entrepreneurship. In fact, her handmade soaps are on my counter as I write this.”
While Shelby no longer attends many craft fairs, her decorative soaps can be ordered at www.YellowBowSoaps.com and are also available locally at Rustic Root in Beech Grove.
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