Soap Chemistry, Mother-Daughter Partnership Expands To 60 Stock Keeping Units In Two Years

When COVID-19 pandemic hit the world, everything came to halt, every business was at loss and many of them went out of operation. While every industry was struggling during the period, the healthcare system in India came to its knees.

But there was a sudden boost in the sanitation industry as everyone was afraid of contracting pathogens (virus) and was concerned about cleanliness around them. Meanwhile, the sanitiser became a home essential and masks turned from necessary products into style status resulting in giving birth to many small businesses in the country which are growing day by day giving profit to owners and satisfaction to the consumers in the market.

Pratiksha Sangoi, a 50-year-old Mumbai-based woman who belongs to a Gujarati family with a business background, decided to start a small business of her own while her family has a steel business.

During COVID-19 induced lockdown in 2020, Pratiksha started working on her long-lost passion of soap making in her free time with her daughter.

She said that she had made soap for her neighbour who complained about acne issues for whom the soap worked wonders and the positive response motivated her to pursue her dream of becoming an entrepreneur.

She started ‘Soap Chemistry’ with her 22-year-old daughter Vama, at her home in Mumbai’s Dadar in 2020. The duo makes organic skincare products including soaps, body wash, face wash etc.

They say that their products are cruelty-free, Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS)-free, freshly made in small batches, sourcing the best quality ingredients from all over the country.

Pratiksha says that entrepreneurship did not come to her by chance. For years, she yearned to start something of her own. Coming from a typical Gujarati family she has strong business knowledge, but didn’t think getting started was her cup of tea.

Before starting this soap business, she started a small handmade chocolate business but that did not prove to be a success as Pratiksha’s in-laws thought that the daughter-in-law should be responsible for the household chores and taking care of the family.

But during the pandemic, she came up with a good idea and started a business saying that she was doing it for her daughter who has pursued her Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA).

She said that her daughter Vama did not want to take up a nine-to-five job but she wanted to pursue entrepreneurship. At this stage, Pratiksha was sure that this was the right time and they both could do something great together.

They both started their business from their house with an investment of worth INR 2 lakh to source raw material locally. Both have chosen their respective work as Pratiksha makes soaps while her daughter handles marketing.

According to Pratiksha, in over two years, Soap Chemistry has expanded to nearly 60 Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) while laboratory tests are being outsourced in the city itself, in various categories including Moisturizers, Whipped Soaps, Body Salts, Scrubs, Hair Removals, Powders, Lip Balms etc.

The duo sells their products through exhibitions and through Instagram and META (formerly Facebook) orders.

She said that it gives her happiness that she is using her talents and skills in the best way possible even at the age of 50.

Pratiksha who had never travelled for work, is now a part of over 20 exhibitions so far including an exhibition in Goa. Brand-building activities have made her an out goer, and she is ready to harmonize it in her journey.

Speaking about the revenue, Soap Chemistry has earned INR 25 lakh revenue and has built a customer base across India and the US as well.

She said that there is immense potential in the market and people come with different skin problems and a lot can be done. Positive feedback from customers drives her forward and she feels there is no looking back now.

Future plan

The duo plans to expand their product range as well as their presence in both India and abroad by this year. Vama says that their Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) website is under construction and will soon be listed on the e-commerce portal as well.

She gave a strong message for all the mothers and housewives who are struggling to take a stand for themselves and said that every mother should take the time to listen to their inner calling.

She said that there is no way to live a good life other than to be happy.

Soap Market

Soaps represent the cleaning that is used for bathing, washing, and rinsing. They are manufactured using chemical salts, natural plant oils, fatty carboxylic acids, etc., and mixed with water to create suds for cleaning. Some of the commonly available soaps include hand-washes, face washes, bathing bars, surface cleaners.

According to International Market Analysis Research and Consulting (IMARC) Group’s latest report, titled “India Soap Market: Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2022-2027,” the soap market in India, is expected to exhibit a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4 per cent during 2022-2027.

The organic segment is predicted to hold a considerable market share in the Indian soap industry, attributed to the increased preference for organic products among the consumers.

In addition, the benefits associated with organic soaps, such as the use of natural elements and little to no use of chemicals is also a significant factor contributing to the market growth.

Meanwhile, the increased demand for SLS-free soaps with skin-friendly and antibacterial properties is further aiding the market growth.

In 2019, the global market size of soap was USD 34.09 billion and now is projected to reach USD 55.29 billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 5.0 per cent during the forecast period.

Social Media Marketing Tips

Over 3 billion customers are on social media making it one of the handiest channels for businesses to establish presence in the market as well as on the websites. It also helps in gathering visitors and earning a good amount of income.

Social media marketing could prove to be a powerhouse that helps in branding, generating nice leads and driving sales but it also can be a big disappointment.

The key lies in understanding the way to create, carry out, and analyse the overall plan strategically.

It’s wise to start with a purpose set before jumping to planning. So, you need to follow the Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound (SMART) aim-placing approach to create the framework for a strong social media advertising and marketing campaign.

One should be open to attempt a paid advertising channel. You can also use paid advertisements on META (formerly Facebook), LinkedIn, Twitter, and other platforms.

Paid commercials have their strengths and flaws but, don't be frightened of purchasing better social media attain or clicks. Authenticity is the key to every healthy business, be authentic. Authenticity is on the verge of turning into another buzzword within the social world.