From the Soap Shed #3

by Eric- Soapmaker Extraordinaire 

I give you my apologies for my absence from the newsletter lately.  Lots of things have been happening with me, and I haven’t had time to fill you in with our activities in the “shed”.

Bye Bye Ben - Most recently, our son Ben, my able assistant, has left us to rejoin his fiancée, who is studying at university.  This leaves a bit of a gap, currently being filled temporarily by his brother Chris, who in addition to his other duties has recently taken on the responsibility of managing our domestic and international sales.  He is a busy lad indeed!

Hello Chris - Chris is a fiend when it comes to working fast, so I have to be on my toes now!  He is still in a learning mode, but fortunately this is one of the quieter months of the year for us. 

What's New - Leonie and her gang are looking at some new products so I expect we will be experimenting with some new soap formulas in the coming weeks.  What fun!!  You may have already read about our new “Herbalicious” soap and scrub bar.  We were successful in our first attempt and it is already on our shelves (but not for long, the way it is walking out the door with our happy clients).

 
Plots & Plans -We are also investigating moving Leonie’s lotions and skin care manufacturing up to the shed.  We need to do this under “Good Manufacturing Practices” guidelines which require more sophisticated sanitary and air filtration methodologies than required for soap.  Most likely we will be adding a second “clean room” attached to our soaping room.  It is all very exciting and fun. 

Research - Leonie and I spent a week recently in Melbourne attending the Auspak 2007 trade show.  A biennial event put on for the manufacturers of mixing, dispensing and packaging equipment.  We came away with lots of ideas, information, and contacts, some of which we hope to incorporate into the new manufacturing area.  Our longer term goal is to build our own customised manufacturing and corporate headquarters facility on a block of land we own in the same industrial area we are currently located in.  More on this in the future as our plans are worked out.

Until next time stay safe, play nicely and enjoy

Eric