Love for DIY leads to soap business
It started as her pastime when she was on maternity leave four years ago.
Kirsten Moreen Cavada began researching about soap making, its benefits and where to source its raw materials.
With P8,000 in initial investment, she set up an online business named Apron Strings Handmade Soap, which is now growing in terms of sales and a possible expansion in China, through distributorship.
“I am fond of the do-it-yourself concept. And of all the things I can make from scratch, it is soap making that got me fascinated the most,” said Cavada, who works as a food and beverage consultant in various establishments here.
Safety
She said the growing awareness on cosmetic products that contain a variety of chemical additives motivated her to make a product that is safer and healthier to use in the household.
“I wanted to get rid of toxins at home. I started with bath soaps because it is a product we use every day,” said Cavada, noting that some commercial soaps sold in the market contain chem- icals that are harmful to the body, with some being linked to birth defects.
Cavada’s degree in hotel and restaurant management made it easier for her to make handmade soaps.
She said making one is just like preparing a healthy meal. The challenge she encountered, though, at the start of the business was the sourcing of natural raw materials.
However, research led her to the right suppliers. She first gave away her first handmade soap produce of about 100 bars to friends and relatives for feedback. There she learned there was a market for it.
“Buyers found delight in additive-free handmade soaps, and it is a sought after product as gift items,” she said.
Cavada set up a Facebook page where people could buy her soap. Production, she said, is based on orders. Some buyers who regular- ly use her products buy in bulk.
A regular bar of soap (85 grams) costs around P100. Her biggest order so far is a 500-piece handmade soap worth P40,000 given as giveaways.
Going to China
To gain market exposure, Cavada also joins bazaars.
Recently, she met a Chinese investor who showed interest in bringing her handmade soaps to China. The investor is coming to Cebu next month to finalize the deal.
“Initially I gave the investor some soap samples. The last time we talked is that he will be renting a shop where he could sell my soaps,” said Cavada, adding that her Facebook page was already translated in the Chinese language by the investor.
“He said there is a growing ‘green market’ in China whose consumers opt for natural, organic products. Even the younger ones are considered prime markets for this premium specialty product,” she said.
Cavada’s venture into soap making wasn’t just an accident. She said her grandfather used to make soaps in their province in Aklan.
And while many would venture into this hobby or business, as soap making processes are readily accessible on the internet, Cavada remains confident her soaps will continue to have a good following.
“The value proposition here is that I am selling something healthy,” she said.