Rib Lake business born from owner’s skin sensitivity struggles

Rich Palzewic

Staff

July 6, 2026

RIB LAKE – Struggling with severe skin sensitivity to conventional, store-bought products, Nicole Hoffman said she set out on a personal mission to find a gentler, more effective solution.

However, what started as a personal remedy, she said, soon became a passion.

“That’s when I recognized the difference between what goat milk soap – and other natural products – could do for me compared to store-bought ones,” she said. “My husband, Jason, encouraged me to share these natural products with others – bringing my handcrafted soaps to our local farmer’s market.”

With her natural products gaining traction, Hoffman said she opened a storefront for Udderly Faithful in Rib Lake this spring, a tiny village of 935 people in Taylor County.

Located at 821 McComb Ave., she said the store carries everything from soap, toilet and laundry cleaners to toothpaste and dish-cleaning products.

“I think what separates me from others is the bigger span of products I have available,” she said. “Most stores will just do soap, lotion, lip balm, etc. I do much more.”

Making all of her products from scratch, Hoffman said the nearest comparable store is about an hour away in Park Falls.

“I hand-mix everything or blend it all together, so it’s made from some kind of animal base, like goat milk, lard or tallow,” she said. “The exception is my laundry cleaners.”

In the four months Udderly Faithful has been open, Hoffman said things are going well.

She said half of the store is used for production, while the other half is used to sell and showcase products. 

In addition to goat soaps – available in scented and unscented varieties – Hoffman said Udderly’s product line includes all-natural shampoos, lip balms, lotions, toilet cleaner, toothpaste and laundry soap, as well as beard balm, deodorant, pet shampoo, stain remover and dishwasher powder, all available through its website, udderlyfaithful.shop. 

“My husband also has a part in the business,” she said. “We will buy bamboo soap dishes, and my husband will laser engrave them [with different artwork]. Designed with three drainage slots for maximum airflow, it keeps your soap dry and helps it last longer. Each soap dish is carefully laser-engraved and sealed. He also laser engraves our lotion tins.”

Additionally, Hoffman said she travels to the St. Germain Flea Market weekly to showcase her products.

She said people often struggle to find shampoo bars and conditioners that work for them as well. 

“A lot of people come to me and say ‘I’ve been looking for this,’ so I have those available as well,” she said.

From pasture to bath time

Hoffman, who moved from Kenosha to the Rib Lake area about six years ago, said she began crafting her own soap years ago while dealing with eczema – a condition that causes skin to become inflamed, itchy, dry and sometimes cracked or rashy.

“When we moved up north, I basically stopped selling to the public because it was in the middle of COVID-19,” she said. “I restarted making my soaps and other natural products last year and quit my job. Since I have gotten back into this full-time, I haven’t had an eczema outbreak in a year.”

Going back further, Hoffman said when her children were in 4-H, they showed dairy goats raised on the family’s property.

Because each goat – depending on the breed – can produce up to a gallon of milk per day, she said they ran into what she called a “useful” problem.

“We couldn’t find useful ways to utilize all of the milk,” she laughed, noting they have more than a dozen goats. “We drank some of the milk, but it was still way more than what we could consume. That’s when I started researching what I could do with the milk, and that led me to soap – and because I have my own skin issues, it was a win-win situation.”

Refining her process

Over the years, Hoffman said she has refined her goat milk soap process, adapting to changing trends and consumer demand.

She said there are quite a few different methods for crafting soap, but after doing her research, she settled on a “hot process.”

“I make all of my soaps in crock pots,” she said. “I feel like my process and ingredients are dialed in, but I’m currently going through some changes to make them more what customers are looking for.”

Hoffman said she is moving away from seed oils – which are made from canola, soybean, sunflower, safflower, cottonseed, grapeseed and sesame seeds – in favor of coconut, avocado, olive and castor oils.

Though versatile and fine if used in moderation, she said when used in excess, seed oils can lead to inflammation and metabolic issues over time.

“Going forward, I will be transitioning to using no seed oils in my products,” she said. “Because of where I’m located [in Wisconsin], there is a big push away from seed oils. I haven’t really experienced this ‘issue’ before this year, but I’m glad to explore other avenues – that’s what people want.”

Hoffman said summer hours for Udderly Faithful’s summer hours are from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday and Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

The shop, she said, is closed Wednesdays and Sundays and she’s at the St. Germain Flea Market on Mondays.