We were invited to a Christmas party, and had to buy two small gifts, under $10. We wanted to buy something
handmade and local,,,but it was mid-week and there were no craft fairs on. So, we went shopping! Firstly, not
much under $10…..how about five beautiful plastic coat-hangers made in China. Nothing against China, but it’s
too far away….
What else? Nice little box of chocolate-coated cherries,,,but no, not even Canadian. I was looking for maybe
a nice jar of homemade jam, or how about a little beeswax candle? Not at the Mall…not on Main street. I
couldn’t really give anyone soap, could I? But the idea seemed better and better all the time…
Recently, someone asked me, “how do you make any money doing this?” I was a little taken aback….and
reluctantly asked, “why?”
“Well,” she said…”your soap lasts FOREVER!” She said she logged her last bar, the Seaweed, in at around four
months. “No fillers,” I answered. “Just Pure Soap!”
A local tradesman came into our Salt Spring Island shop….bought a lovely big gift basket of soaps and lotions for
his Mom….said…”What do you give someone who has everything…more trinkets or doilies?” He said
he comes in every Christmas and soaps are the perfect gift for her….”something she can actually use!”
he said.
This year…more than others….as we all pinch pennies and spend less on Christmas (news polls)….our soaps
seem to have escaped the discounting trend…….a lovely gift, handmade with natural ingredients, by local
artisans, with cheerful recyclable or no packaging….for $5, $6 or $7…..What more could you ask for??
“Ah,” I thought…..The Gift that Keeps on Giving!”
