tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18835278766148137322011-10-28T10:10:41.410-07:00Notes and dispatches from Seattle Rainwater Soap Co.Seattle Rainwater Soap Co.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17703814972592794317noreply@blogger.comBlogger161100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1883527876614813732.post-66037397459600452822011-08-03T09:42:00.000-07:002011-08-03T09:42:37.990-07:00

I am pleased to announce that Seattle Rainwater Soap Co. soaps are now made with 100% Certified Organic Sustainable Palm Oil. I've had several customers, concerned about deforestation in the palm oil industry, request that I make the switch. As you know, I am committed to using the highest quality natural ingredients possible; none of my products contain detergents, lathering agents, parabens, or

Seattle Rainwater Soap Co.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17703814972592794317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1883527876614813732.post-19949919552298745522011-01-25T09:49:00.000-08:002011-01-25T09:49:09.416-08:00

If you've visited Pike Place Market, you may have noticed the large sign saying "Meet the Producer" at the main entrance. The Market boasts a long-standing tradition of offering goods for sale direct to the public from the source. I'm proud to be part of that tradition, selling my handcrafted products in the daystalls in the North Arcade weekly. However, many of my customers don't live in the

Seattle Rainwater Soap Co.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17703814972592794317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1883527876614813732.post-39752957269770200842010-11-24T10:55:00.000-08:002010-11-24T10:55:36.697-08:00

One of our favorite traditions this time of year is visiting the Holiday Giving Tree at Pike Place Market. Each year The Giving Tree is decorated with wishes from low-income Market residents and members, clients, and students of the Market's human service agencies. In the past, we have purchased clothing, household goods, toys, books, and many other items for these needy members of our community.

Seattle Rainwater Soap Co.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17703814972592794317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1883527876614813732.post-32705519122437659242010-11-08T09:51:00.000-08:002010-11-29T07:24:51.910-08:00

Once in a while someone browsing my table of goods at Pike Place Market will ask if soap is an appropriate gift. It's funny, because we don't typically give deodorant or toothpaste as gifts, yet soaps (especially fancy ones) are well-received.  I think soap and other body products (like lip balm and lotion bars, ahem) are good gifts for a few reasons: everyone has a use for them, they are very

Seattle Rainwater Soap Co.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17703814972592794317noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1883527876614813732.post-68933140539931524642010-10-15T10:51:00.000-07:002010-10-19T14:29:34.659-07:00

This week marks the five year anniversary of opening Seattle Rainwater Soap Co. for business at Pike Place Market.  I won't lie; it hasn't always been easy.  We've endured our share of mishaps, cold days on the line, and other difficulties, but it has been worth it. We've gained a great following of loyal customers both at the market and via mail order who are our bread and butter.  Without you,

Seattle Rainwater Soap Co.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17703814972592794317noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1883527876614813732.post-84201935204670145892010-09-30T08:32:00.000-07:002010-09-30T13:21:43.399-07:00

Ginger Zest meets Cascade Trails I sometimes hear from customers that they don't know what to do with the last sliver of soap.  You don't want to throw it away, but it gets hard to hold on to and use at a certain point.  I'm happy to report that my R&D department has developed a very simple technique for fusing that last tiny piece to a fresh bar.  (Okay, I admit — I am the R&D department.)

Seattle Rainwater Soap Co.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17703814972592794317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1883527876614813732.post-26020311392354533652010-09-23T11:51:00.000-07:002010-09-23T11:51:33.354-07:00

Besides the soap, which is my signature product, I also make a line of shea butter Skin Smoothie lotion bars and Lip Smoothie balms.  These are the perfect complement to the soaps in rounding out a basic skin-care regimen. The Lip Smoothie is a balm made with shea butter, olive oil, beeswax, vitamin E, and coconut oil, formulated to protect the delicate lip tissue from moisture loss.  It is

Seattle Rainwater Soap Co.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17703814972592794317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1883527876614813732.post-21080223536216203612010-09-16T10:14:00.000-07:002010-09-16T10:14:01.990-07:00

I hate to be a "soap Nazi" but I have to admit, I die a little inside when someone tells me they want to use my soaps for air freshener in their powder room.  "They're so pretty, I hate to use them!  I just set them beside the sink and they smell so good!" Why do I care?  You see, each bar of soap that I sell is made by hand, from scratch, with your skin in mind.  I don't start with a pre-made

Seattle Rainwater Soap Co.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17703814972592794317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1883527876614813732.post-36765033011950393392010-08-01T07:29:00.000-07:002010-09-16T11:44:50.715-07:00

Yesterday at the market I handed a card to a shopper and suggested she check out my blog for the "inside story" on my products and my business. She said, "Oh great! I love reading blogs!" So do I, and I'd like to introduce you to a few blogs by friends of mine that you may find interesting: From photographer Chuck Pefley, a photo a day of life in the Pacific Northwest: One a Day - Mostly Seattle

Seattle Rainwater Soap Co.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17703814972592794317noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1883527876614813732.post-51656994556289380552010-06-22T10:21:00.000-07:002010-09-16T11:45:05.832-07:00

Clockwise from top left: Ginger Zest, Puget Spa, Chai Spiced Tea, Lavender Fields, Mosaic. Are you a little odd?  Do you subscribe to the maxim "Waste not, want not"? Are you always looking for a deal?  If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you might want to check out my Soap Odds and Ends next time you need to stock up!  These are the same soaps we use at home, but even two very clean

Seattle Rainwater Soap Co.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17703814972592794317noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1883527876614813732.post-24564438386102695312010-06-11T09:49:00.000-07:002010-09-16T11:45:33.282-07:00

Even though I love what I do, it gets tedious at times.  Cutting soap, wrapping soap, printing labels, packing boxes... even making the products themselves has become routine.  Still, at nearly five years in business, this is the longest relationship I've had with any job, and to keep us from going through the "seven year itch" that tests so many couples, I try to keep things fresh. One of the

Seattle Rainwater Soap Co.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17703814972592794317noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1883527876614813732.post-29221634625222104742010-05-25T09:56:00.000-07:002010-05-25T10:07:15.119-07:00

Yesterday at the market a group of kids who I would estimate to be around 10 years old approached my table tentatively with clipboards. It isn't every day that you see tweens carrying clipboards, so I asked if they were doing a scavenger hunt, which is not uncommon in the market. "No, we are from Bellevue Christian School and we're doing an economics project. We're going to create a market so we

Seattle Rainwater Soap Co.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17703814972592794317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1883527876614813732.post-58006742818016146572010-05-20T09:23:00.000-07:002010-05-20T15:00:01.941-07:00

When thinking about questions I get a lot from customers at Pike Place Market, at the top of the list is certainly a variation of "I was here the other day looking for you.  Where were you?" There are a few possible answers: 1) I was not here; I was at home making product, shipping mail orders, doing bookkeeping, updating my website, blogging, packaging product, ordering supplies, or any number

Seattle Rainwater Soap Co.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17703814972592794317noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1883527876614813732.post-71448054604498491742010-05-05T10:13:00.000-07:002010-05-05T18:43:44.968-07:00

With Pike Place Market’s ten million visitors a year, the vendors on its crafts line have jobs that are simultaneously some of the most rewarding and difficult out there.  I recognize that the market is not a traditional retail environment and some of our shoppers may not be familiar with a few simple points of etiquette that can help make everybody’s day more enjoyable.  It all boils down to one

Seattle Rainwater Soap Co.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17703814972592794317noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1883527876614813732.post-77023245626689933442010-04-21T11:31:00.000-07:002010-10-08T16:12:58.461-07:00

It's another dreary, wet day in Seattle.  As I sit here wondering whether the rain will let up long enough to allow a quick walk to the grocery store, a question I am asked very frequently (you might even say it is one of my most Frequently Asked Questions!) comes to mind: "Is your soap really made out of rainwater?"  In a word, yes!  It is free and plentiful (in Seattle, anyway), and makes

Seattle Rainwater Soap Co.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17703814972592794317noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1883527876614813732.post-3803311888175332232010-03-26T16:44:00.000-07:002010-04-21T10:55:23.257-07:00

Welcome to the first entry in my new FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) series, where  I will take  burning questions from our customers and answer them. You've used our products, you've seen the website, you might have even purchased from us directly at Pike Place Market, but you may not really know us! One of the questions our customers want to know the answer to is who is behind Seattle

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