I'm so happy and excited to inform you that we've found a buyer for Soapourri. It took a long time, but I wanted to leave my wonderful customers in good hands. Below is a message from the new owner, Lisa Loucks Christenson.
From the new owners:
We are a Christian family-owned company in SE Minnesota, who began making soaps in 2003 for our own health needs, selling them in our store and giving them as gifts. Who would have thought my meandering paths as an outdoor photographer and author, (www.LisaLC.com), would lead our family to the untried, unbeaten path to our soapmaking?
Day after day, no matter what trail I wandered off from, I always came home with sunburned or windburned skin. After years of trying to find a solution to my skin sensitivity to commercial soaps, my husband took up studying aromatherapy and the art of making soaps for me. We called our small soap line, The Socialite Soap Company, and I started laying out a book series based on characters of a fictional Minnesota small town, set in the 1800's, known for its soap making. Each character of the town has a soap named for them, and there are novelty items planned, but for now it's soaps and books. Behind the fictional soap town, is Lisa Loucks Christenson, her husband David, and daughter Emme, a thirteen year old artist who will create her own soap line based on her anime character line, Syche the Dragon and friends. It will encourage her to sell her soaps and include novelty drawings, or inserts in the soaps to collect.
Please call us if you have any questions at (507) 405-2069; soon there will be a toll free number as well on the site.
I expect we'll have the first revision of the website completed by the end of March 2013.
We realize that Cindy, as founder of Soapourri, will forever be the spark for our success, and we want to carry on the great name she has built.
After 13 wonderful years, it is time for me to take a break from soapmaking and move on to the next phase in my life. As you know, my original career was in accounting, and I've decided to go back to that field.
I would love to see Soapourri live on, so if you know of anyone that would like to be a soapmaker and buy an existing business, please have them give me a call or send me an email.
This was a difficult decision and I will certainly miss all of my great customers. I will be continuing to fill orders through the transition and will let you know about the next step.
Not sure who wrote this - it is all over the internet! Cindy
As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor.
This year will be different. This year Americans should give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift-giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yes there is!
It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?
Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon, or barber? > Gym or yoga club membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.
Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American-owned detail shops, and car washes, would love to sell you a gift certificate, or a book of gift certificates.
Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plunking down the Benjamins on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.
There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half-dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.
How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?
Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day. Or even a local masseuse!
My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.
OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes. Many are available, reasonably, at your nearest State Park.
Plan your holiday outings at local, owner-operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play, or ballet, at your hometown theater?
Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.
Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand foreign-made lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy, or delivery person, and babysitter a nice BIG tip.
You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets and seeing our hard-earned wages go outside the country. Christmas is now about caring about US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities ...and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine. Remember a local charity!
THIS is the new American Christmas tradition. Enjoy family get-togethers, church services, caroling, as in past Christmases ....but put more emphasis on the REASON FOR THE SEASON .....and less on material gifts.
Forward this to everyone on your mailing list -- post it to discussion groups -- throw up a post on Craigslist in the Rants and Raves section in your city -- send it to the editor of your local paper, and radio stations, and TV news departments.
This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn't that what Christmas is about, plus remember Jesus.
For the past couple of years we've planted zinnias on the terraced part of our back yard. They grow so tall that we see them quite well from the house. This year we added something new - Grandpa Ott's Morning Glories. We weren't at all prepared for the climbing that these lovely plants wanted to do. They reached out and grabbed anything around them, winding around several times, pulling things down, etc. When we got our newest Midwest Living, we found a picture of them climbing up the side of a barn! That is really what they are meant to do. Here's the link-
This article is about the Seed Savers Exchange in Decorah, IA, where we'd gotten our seeds. It was my pleasure, therefore, last weekend to meet Diane Ott Wheatly, the co-founder, see her new book and read about the Morning Glory seeds that were brought from Bavaria by her great-grandfather.
Here's a couple of pictures of these beautiful plants.
One of our zinnias.
Grandpa Ott's Morning Glory
The zinnias being smothered by the morning glories!
Hope you're having a great summer and staying cool!
Summer Vacation!
We'll be closed August 1 - 12; during that time you can still place orders, and they will be filled when we return.
Rubber Ducky Sale!
Did you know that Soapourri has over 70 different kinds of rubber duckies swimming in soap? They are all on sale right now at only $5 for small duckies and $7 for large!
Loaf Soap-of-the-Month
Our newest loaf soap-of-the-month is Yuzu. Yuzu is a citrus that grows in Japan. Its flavor is similar to the regular grapefruit but has definite overtones of Mandarin orange. It is very fresh and tangy-tasting and is considered one of the most fragrant of Japanese fruits. In orange with a block of yellow inside. Only $4 while it lasts.
Skeeter Beater
Don't forget the Skeeter Beater! A natural mosquito repellent in an aloe vera gel base. Very cooling! Safe, effective, natural. We blend three essential oils with the aloe vera gel to get this pleasantly lemon-smelling mosquito repellent. $9.50 for 4 ounces.
Soapourri will be at the Downtown Des Moines Farmers Market this Saturday, June 11 and also on Saturday, July 16. These are the only 2 days we will be there, so please come see us and hope for good weather! We will be on 4th Street, south of Court, on the east side.
Soapourri, PO BOX 25056, West Des Moines, IA 50265-9401 5152220144
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