Local soap business, and the slippery issues of being remote

Labrador City is a Northern community in Newfoundland and Labrador. With six hours between Labrador City and the next big town, locals consider it isolated.

Running a business that makes handmade bath products and soaps like Heather’s Soap Kitchen in Labrador can have its challenges.

The owner Heather Rowe who locally runs, and makes all the bath products knows the issues first hand that comes with running a business from the ground up.

“Shipping is the biggest challenge [when] running a small business in a small community. In Labrador West, we are very fortunate because we have amazing community support behind us we work really hard to offer a good quality product and people recognize that,” said Rowe.

Rowe spoke of how hard it is to make sure she has what she needs to make the products and that ordering online is normal because the remoteness of the town makes it hard to find what she needs by just going to another store.

Supporting local is something Rowe is passionate about. She believes supporting other local businesses is important and has even started selling other local products like handmade candles, beard oil and soap holders in her store.

“Shopping local doesn’t mean shopping within your community it means shopping small, shopping local, shopping somewhere that’s not a big corporation and you’re really funding people’s dreams,” she said.

Heather’s soap kitchen has been open for five years and has moved from a home-based business to a local shop this past year. She has expanded her space as well as her product selection and hopes that her business helps people understand the importance of shopping locally and the importance of a locally owned business.

Even though remoteness has its limits Rowe still loves her business and is proud of what it’s become.