We pause for a commercial

Thursday July 31, 2014

As Alison and I have waded deeper and deeper into this fun venture, we have met many lovely people.  Some of them we knew BSL (before Soap Lily), but others have come into our sphere as a direct result of Soap Lily.  

We didn't make soap today because we delivered soap to one of our local customers. Please indulge us in a brief commercial.

When we first began learning about soap-making (at the time still thinking that we were just trying to make some homemade Christmas presents), we ventured out locally looking for essential oils, and other ingredients.  One of the places we looked was Roots N Remedies, a "natural health & lifestyle alternative" shop on the square in Clarkesville. The staff at Roots 'N Remedies, specifically Krupa (who is also the owner) gave us great input as to what was ahead of us.  

During the Mountain Laurel Festival our booth was almost directly in front of R 'N R, and as the day passed, Krupa, her staff, and her children all came by the booth.  Before the day was out Krupa had purchased some soap, and we had promised to come to the shop to discuss her selling our soap!  

We were thrilled, flattered, and apprehensive at the same time. We had many many  "what ifs," but at this point, we were "out there", and having a booth at the Mountain Laurel Festival put us there. Actually, during the show we met several people who planted the seeds of some good ideas, including one for selling our soap in an online shop on Etsy. 

Krupa liked our Mountain Laurel soaps; she liked them enough to buy two bars each of several different scents. Needless to say Alison and I were ecstatic!  We delivered the soap and heard several days later that they had sold out of "Grandpa."  Several weeks passed and Krupa called to tell us that they needed more soap. 

WOW! 

Fast forward to today. We went into Roots 'N Remedies to visit Krupa carrying a large flat basket filled with over 15  new scents. In addition we had some of the first soaps that she had originally ordered.  

What can we tell you? We left the store with an almost empty basket and had to go back to get extra bars of several of the scents!

Krupa's enthusiasm for our product almost makes us blush.  She loves our soap, she loves the variety of scents and colors, and she likes that we don't use harsh chemicals or preservatives in our soap. Her effort to supply the NE Georgia area with products that are both healthy and good for you coincides with our mantra of "make it good for your skin".

You can find Roots N Remedies at 1436 Washington Street (On the Square) in Clarkesville, GA.  The phone number is 706-754-6898, and the web address is  www.rootsnremedies.com  or www.garoots.com.


*******

During the latter part of June we participated in the annual yard sale held at The Homestead House.  During the course of the day HH owner Leigh Johnston came by our booth and purchased several bars of soap.  As we discussed our soaps and the fragrances, Leigh asked us if we could create soap with a more old fashioned or rustic look, one that might be more in line with the Homestead House motif. Heck yeah! And so our second business relationship was born.

Leigh and her friendly staff (Polly and Mary) have probably the most authentic looking Early American gift shop in all of North Georgia (including Atlanta).  The front half of the shop is located in an honest to goodness circa 1700 log cabin that was moved and rebuilt on site. They added a more modern addition to the rear, but it is finished in exactly the same style as the log cabin, and it's hard to tell which is the new part.  I almost expect to see Uncle Ned walk up and tie Daisy the mule to the handicapped railing!! 

The store is stocked with all things primitive and Early American. Not only do they carry period upholstery, but they also have candles, pewter, lighting, rugs, genuine antiques, baskets, linens, seasonal items, and so much more.  The selection is varied, yet the Americana theme runs true through the store.   

Leigh wanted our soap to blend into the primitive look of the shop, so the four scents she ordered are wrapped in homespun fabric, have the Homestead House label and are tied in twine.  Our name is not on the soap, just Homestead House and a list of ingredients.  This is our first venture into private labeling, or, soap specifically made to order that does not have the SL label.

You can find The Homestead House at 511 Grant St., Clarkesville, GA.  The phone number is 706-754-0789, and the web address is www.homesteadhouseprimitives.com.

We are thrilled to have our soaps carried in two local shops. We know we are far from big time, but just knowing that something we created is sitting on a shelf in a shop where someone besides one of us says how great it is, well, we think that's pretty neat.