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Visionary Soap Bulletin - October 3, 2011
Apologies for the long gap between newsletters! The summer has absolutely flown by and we have been very busy indeed. We have had many exciting opportunities come our way, encountered lots of challenges and have had some very interesting developments take place. We do hope to now catch you up on all that has been going on!
Supermarket Update
Our soaps have been available in select Waitrose locations around the UK and online since May. Sales figures continue to show a steady increase, which is very positive. We have been asked to provide other product samples from our range for consideration as well. We have submitted a proposal to Sainsburys with a possible launch with them early next year, quite possibly in time for Fairtrade Fortnight 2012.
East Sussex Women In Business Awards
We attended the East Sussex Women in Business Awards on September 23 and walked away with the title of 'Green Business of the Year.' Our founder & MD, Monica Norley, accepted the award on our behalf and even had to glam up for the occasion, a rare look for her from the usual factory garb! It was a fun evening and we are pleased to have been selected as the female-owned and led company with the greenest credentials in East Sussex!
 
Oxfam Christmas 2011
It came down to the wire but we managed to get our largest order of the year out to Oxfam. It required a gargantuan effort by the team but we did it! Seven pallets in total destined for shops around the country. Look for our newly packaged Bath Melts and various gift set combinations on shelves now! Oxfam has supported us from the very beginning and we thank them greatly for their continued support!
Britain's Next Top Model
A few months ago, you may recall we were contacted by the producers of the popular television programme, Britain's Next Top Model, to donate soaps for use by the contestants in the house. BNTM is watched by millions of viewers and we received this lovely letter from one this year's finalists.
'Hello! I'm a finalist in this year's Britain and Ireland's Next Top Model competition and I just wanted to write to you and thank you for supplying us with your wonderful organic soaps in the Top Model house this year. I especially loved the Cinnamon Orange Clove soap as well as the Lavender and the Geranium Rose. I wasn't aware you did more than soap too (definitely going to get involved in the lip balms and body oils!) and I'm definitely going to keep using your products. Thank you again and best wishes!' - Jessica-Louise Abidde
Events
We were at the Ben & Jerry's Sundae Festival in London on July 23 & 24 and had a fantastic time selling our products in the Fairtrade marquee and eating way too much ice cream.
We will be at the Fairtrade Foundation Commercial Conference this Wednesday, October 5. This is an annual event that we always attend and a great way to hear all developments in Fairtrade over the past year as well as recharge our batteries!
It's That Time Again - Welcoming New Pestalozzi Apprentices
We are beginning our 5th year of working with students from Pestalozzi International Village. Pestalozzi provides a fully funded two year scholarship to teenagers from Africa and Asia, based on their level of commitment to and leadership within their home communities, low family income and disadvantaged background yet a high academic ability and aptitude. We usually host around 12 apprentices and they are always one of the main highlights of the year!
Donations/Collaborations
We have made several donations to worthy causes over summer. We would firstly like to highlight Oxfam's Trailwalker 2011. In July, 520 teams set off to tackle the UK's most inspiring team challenge this year : 100km in 30 hours along the South Downs with the Gurkhas. An awards evening is planned for October 14th where the winning teams will be recognised across various categories and Visionary Soap Company has donated gift sets for all the winners.
Mayamiko Trust is a UK-based organisation working to help people lift themselves out of poverty and end injustice, primarily in Malawi. Through skills training, education, nutrition, sanitation and fairer trade practices, Mayamiko works to support creative talents and turn them into sustainable activities, especially by working to support the most vulnerable - women and children. We have donated soaps for their upcoming charity fashion event called Inspired, which is taking place on October 15 at The Kensington Roof Gardens in London.
Saying Goodbye To Our Company Mascot
A bit off topic, but very important to all of us at here! We were very saddened to lose our beloved canine mascot, Mattie, at the end of July. She had a fantastic 14 years of life and endured Monica's initial soap making days, attending farmer's markets and long work days by her side. Her constant presence, either following everyone around the factory, begging and drooling when we all had lunch, or serving as comfort in times of stress, is hugely missed! We held a lovely celebration of her life on Brighton beach and are strong believers that animals can play an amazing role in the work place!
Wholesale Special Offer
We understand that most of our stockists are looking forward to the Christmas shopping season, with hopes that this will give all of us a bit of a much needed boost, especially during these difficult financial times. We are offering a great promo throughout the month of October - place a minimum order of £250 (exclusive of VAT & delivery) and we will throw in 5 free Bath Melt Gift Boxes. Spend a minimum of £500 (again, exclusive of VAT) and get a combination of 10 Bath Melt Gift Boxes, Lip Balm Trio Gift Sets and Mini Soap Gift Boxes for FRE, This is a great offer and a chance to make some nice retail margins with these sets. No promo code is necessary as we will automatically add these to every qualifying order.
Join Us On Facebook and Twitter
We are reaching more and more people around the globe through Facebook and Twitter. If you want to keep tabs on us on a more frequent basis, including weekly specials & promotions, do consider joining us via these mediums. We are currently running a giveaway competition on Facebook, in fact. Help us reach 1000 followers and be in the running to win 1 of 5 Soap of the Month Memberships, which entitles you to receive our soap once a month for the next 12 months! You can use the following links to learn more...
Until Next Time...TheVisionary Soap Team
Sport Relief 2012
We are excited to announce that Visionary Soap Company has been confirmed as a Fair Trade Supporting Partner of Sport Relief 2012! Sport Relief has grown into one of the UK’s biggest and most successful fundraising events and receives incredible support from the great British public. Last time round, in 2010, nearly half a million people took part in the action – including hundreds of thousands of men, women and children who completed the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile at hundreds of events up and down the country. Plus 9.4m people tuned in to watch the big night of Sport Relief TV and witnessed the hilarious Smithy take on the Sports Personality of the Year Awards! All in all, the nation came together to raise a record-breaking £44m and helped to change lives at home in the UK and across the world’s poorest countries. Paving the way, and inspiring everyone to support Sport Relief, has been a host of dedicated high-profile celebrities who’ve well and truly gone the distance over the years. Over the past decade, a staggering £124m has been raised through Sport Relief and a lot of lives have been transformed as a result. We have donated products for such celebrity personalities taking part over the years and we are very pleased to have been invited to be a Supporting Partner of the campaign for 2012. So it looks like we will be producing even more soap and donating a percentage for every bar sold to the campaign! That bodes very well for our Fairtrade producers groups as well as our manufacturing collaboration with Hastings Trust!
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