Jennifer Witmyer
Archwood Soapery and Filthy Vegan operate as a unified, ingredient-transparent personal care house focused on high-performance formulas and eco-conscious formulation. Both brands prioritize solid formats, minimal packaging, and responsible sourcing to reduce environmental impact while delivering immediate, visible results. Built on rigorous ingredient scrutiny and small-batch craftsmanship, the brands blend modern cosmetic chemistry with a bold apothecary aesthetic. Formulation and product development are led by the founder’s background as a cosmetic chemist and dermatology, ensuring performance-driven design rooted in science.
Filthy Vegan serves as the formulation and manufacturing arm, producing science-driven skincare, using evidence-based actives at effective concentrations, supported by Broken Cell Technology. Archwood Soapery focuses on artisan cold-process soaps and salon-tested solid shampoo and conditioner bars, engineered for luxurious lather, scalp health, and plastic-free living. All ingredients are vetted through certificates of analysis, ensuring transparency, safety, and quality down to the part-per-million. Together, the brands offer a cohesive ecosystem of clean, effective personal-care essentials rooted in transparency, sustainability, and uncompromising quality.
• Woman-owned small business certification (in progress)
• College in Southern California (incomplete - did not complete medical school path to become dermatologist)
• Featured on Women in Power TV show (airing later in 2025/2026)
• Featured in Voyage Magazine Pennsylvania
• Greater Reading Business Excellence Award
• Greater Reading Community
• Woman-owned small business certification (in progress)
• Provides products to people with cancer
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my genuine love for people, my curiosity, and my ability to build trust and connections with those around me. I like to fix issues, things and processes. Since I was 4 years old, I have enjoyed finding the best possible solution or the most efficient way of doing something while maintaining 100% accuracy. My attention to detail and common sense has made me great at manufacturing and the lessons in life I've learned have made me develop strong a moral character. I've never had the energy to be anyone other than the person I am. I will always choose to do the right thing, not the easiest or most profitable thing because I have high moral standards.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received is to focus on how I can help others, not just on my own accomplishments—being a helper and serving people is what truly builds trust and success.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering the industry is to be authentic and trustworthy—know your stuff, back up your words with actions, and always follow through on what you say.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
My biggest challenges are for scaling: finding land and industrial sized equipment. I have one employee, and I trust her more than myself - she was my boss when I worked in corporate America. This year, I'm planning on electing as an S-Corp, which means I will no longer be viewed as a single member LLC/sole proprietor. That means I will be getting a paycheck, and I will be able to give my employee a steady paycheck. I would like to find land and build a new, custom building that is just made for me, where I don't need to alter things because that takes a lot of time and is usually more expensive in the long run.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I value people who have had a hard life and have made mistakes. Growth comes from making mistakes, failing and going through hard times coupled with learning the right lessons. Hard life lesson people tend to appreciate everything more, take less for granted, and they're smart in different ways than if you've had an easy life. Hard life lesson people are my favorite people.