Specialty soapmaker Robyn Green doesn’t face hurdles in her business ventures

Tall, poised and quietly confident, Melbournian Robyn Green, who has recently established www.robynsoaphouse.com, doesn’t face ‘hurdles’ in her business ventures – she does the research and works hard to make sure she is always well prepared.

Robyn has a strong interest in computers and web design and teaches classes through TAFE and local community houses, but recently she has become interested in handmade soap.

She read extensively, imported some specialty soap from England and realised most commercial soap production drains off ‘moisturising’ glycerine. Intrigued, Robyn thought she would make her own soap which she says is as ‘easy as cooking dinner’. She was very impressed with the results and is now selling online, as well as locally.

HOW DID ROBYN ESTABLISH HER ONLINE BUSINESS?
1)the idea and research came out of family health needs;
2)she gave her TAFE web design students a brief as a class exercise;
3)she trades on www.ebay.com.au and so was familiar with online shopping;
4)she uses www.paypal.com.au for her online sales. Pay Pal lets you send money to anyone with email.It’s free for consumers and fits in with your existing credit card and bank account.

THE SOAP & THE RANGE
Robyn uses quality Olive Oil, Coconut Oil and Palm Oil to ensure a natural soap that minimises the risk of skin irritations,rashes or allergic reactions.
The only soap with animal products is the Emu Oil soap where the ingredients are Olive Oil,Coconut Oil, Beef Tallow and Emu Oil. For very sensitive skin the unfragranced Olive Oil, Coconut and Palm Oil soap, the “Emu Oil” soap, or the 100% Olive Oil soap are the most suitable.

Robyn has invested in many moulds, including a Flying Pig(!) The soaps are visually very attractive and nicely presented – great for gifts. I can testify that the Flying Pig has a beautiful ‘apple jack’ fragrance! The range includes:

COFFEE SOAP – exfoliating and ideal for washing hands after gardening; also deodorising, good for washing hands after cutting onion and garlic.

ORANGE PEEL POWDER SOAP – exfoliating and ideal after leg waxing, has a very nice smell.

UNSCENTED OR SCENTED THREE OIL SOAP – a high glycerine content that feels wonderful in the shower or bath, a very mild soap suitable for sensitive skins.

LAVENDER SOAP – one of the most popular soaps.

CHOCOLATE SOAP – for the chocoholics out there who not only love eating it but want to bathe in it too.

PET SOAP – has Neem oil which helps keep fleas away.

BACKGROUND
Robyn has two adult sons, born ten years apart. For thirteen years while they were young she ran a successful home-based secretarial service and then, as you do, she wrote the book – “How to Run a Successful Secretarial Service from Home”. Robyn and husband Penry have always supported each other and so has elder son Michael, who at age twelve knew he needed to move to a school with computer classes. It was Michael who advised Robyn in the early eighties to invest in a computer to keep her business moving forward.

THE FUTURE?
Robyn would like to establish an international market for her handmade soap but she and Penry are also considering turning their leafy eastern suburbs home on the fringe of Melbourne into a Bed and Breakfast. Their property has several walking trails which they believe would give visitors a taste of the bush while staying ‘in the city’. Research has taken the pair on an intensive study of B’n’Bs in Tassie and is continuing!

FOR MORE INFO VISIT www.robynsoaphouse.com or email Robyn robyn@robynsoaphouse.com.