Handmade kindness of pandemic
Demand for hand sanitizer saw workforce triple at soap company
The success of the Slane-based Handmade Soap Company continues apace with founder Donagh Quigley preparing to hold workshops which are attracting a lot of interest and attention.
This latest undertaking is just one of a long line of successful innovations introduced by Dowth native, Donagh and his wife, Gemma, who set up the business at their kitchen table in Kells in 2010.
The past year and a half has seen a huge rise in business for Donagh as they decided to branch into producing hand sanitizers at the start of the pandemic which saw them tripling their workforce in the space of a week.
"The demand was unprecedented," he recalls.
"It was early impossible to get hand sanitizer in the country and there were reports of big retailers employing security guards when they go deliveries. We always had alcohol cleanser on the premises as well as small bottles, so we were able to start producing a sanitizer that smelled nice and was kind to the hands."
While the initial huge demand for sanitizer fell off, the continuing pandemic and various lockdown saw a huge growth in their online business.
"Prior to the pandemic, online trade was about 15 per cent of our business. It rose to 80 per cent and is now around 50 per cent," he explains.
Their next innovation for the wellness brand is the workshops, which has been a dream of Donagh's for 10 years.
Donagh insists that that they will observe what has always been the company's mantra ‘kindness comes naturally.'
The workshops began last week and continue tomorrow and Thursday and over the next two weeks. Participants will have the chance to make their own bath bombs and lip balm as well as candles.
Donagh describes soap-making as consisting of three parts: "One part chemistry, one part cooking, and one part alchemy."
He has taken this simple philosophy and used it to develop fragrant, immersive and completely unique workshops, where he will be sharing his knowledge of making products from nature. Participants will create 100 per cent natural, vegan, cruelty-free and sustainable products
Donagh and Gemma began their business with two pots at the kitchen table in their home in Kells.
"I had been a thatcher and loved it. It was rewarding physical work but then the recession came and any construction related work was affected. We also lost two harvests and I had my eyes open to see what I would do next.
"All I knew was that I wanted to make something with my hands and the lightbulb moment came when I discovered lovely hand made soaps and how different they are from mass produced ones. I did a couple of courses. We started at the kitchen table in Newmarket Street, Kells and learned on the job," he recalls.
From the outset, Donagh was determined only to use what is on their doorstep, making self-care products from simple, natural and accessible ingredients.
Even their bottles are made from recycled plastic.
"Our bottles have an amber tint, because the recycled plastic doesn't look as well when it is clear and the tint protects the essential oils," Donagh explains.
The company quickly outgrew the kitchen table and they moved to the Old Mill in Slane seven years ago where they now employ 60 people,
They supply to high end retailers like Avoca and Kilkenny as well as independent shops and to the hospitality sector including Castle Leslie, Mount Juliet and Lough Eske.
Their online sales grew during the pandemic, but not just because of the hand santizers. "I think with people being at home they started to think about self care and their homes and there was a big increase in demand, especially for candles," says Donagh.