Bhavika Shah (22), a student of mass communication at MOP Vaishnav College is also a self-made entrepreneur. Her academic commitments didn’t stop her from venturing into business. Founded in 2018, The Soap Shop is Bhavika Shah’s offspring handcrafted by her.
The Soap Shop offers skin-friendly products from different kinds of soap bases such as glycerin, aloe vera, rose, lavender, saffron, chocolate, and charcoal. Bhavika has got a different section for fruit bases that involve apple, orange, strawberry, papaya, banana, lemon, etc. Currently, the shop offers around 15 different soaps to choose from.
Kesar Soap| Pic: The Soap Shop
Quality conversations with loved ones can prove to be helpful in career growth and there is no better example than Bhavika herself. A casual talk with her aunt on how products we use are chemically rich, instituted this idea into her. “My aunt also told me about how her friends and relatives have homemade businesses. This inspired me to have one. Then I went on with required research and attended respective classes under soap making,” says Bhavika, when asked about how it all started.
Bhavika gives credit to the pursuing media degree that, taught her how to use social media and its influence over the public. Hence, she aptly promotes her product. It is quite evident from the number of customers her start-up's official Instagram handle attracts. "I get more customers online than the ones who come and buy from the shop," she adds.
When asked why she chose to make only soaps over any other organic product, she explains that soap making fascinates her. Apart from that, it is also one such business that demands minimal money investment and has less risk of facing a loss as we use soaps every day.
Sandal Soap| Pic: The Soap Shop
Bhavika's home-based soap making shop has received good reviews and several trustworthy customers since its inception. “I’ve got a good number of orders from friends and relatives, bulk orders from Delhi and several orders via social media handles. This way The Soap Shop has grown gradually over the last two years," she comments on the growth of her start-up.
When asked about the USP of her products, she says “I realised organic products are expensive in the market. I decided to make and sell products of the same quality under affordable prices”. The Soap Shop offers pocket-friendly products starting from Rs 75 (varies depending on the flavour).
One can buy their preferences from the Instagram page called 'the_soap.shop'. Reach out to Bhavika at bhavikashah180@gmail.com.
