Two months ago, Alexis Gada was looking for a new activity to do with her nine-year-old son, Carter, when she came across soap making.
She posted their final product on Facebook just to show what they’d been up to and was surprised when she started getting requests from people wanting to buy the soap.
After consulting with Carter, their small "micro" business C & Me Soap was born.
“It’s been an excellent distraction for the both of us,” Gada said.
Gada was the co-owner of Lobo Iberico Restaurant in Newmarket, which unfortunately closed permanently last August.
She has since gone back to university full time and uses soap making as an enjoyable creative outlet.
However, for Carter, who is on the autism spectrum, she said his interest is a little more limited.
“He likes mixing the colours and the scents into the soap and anything after that, he doesn’t care,” Gada joked, adding that he is always asking when he can mix more.
She said she is especially happy that C & Me has taught Carter about small business and also served as a bonding activity for the pair.
“It was good to have something that we can work together on and see results, that’s been really cool,” she said.
The products themselves are made with a triple-butter formula for extra hydration and pair has been trying out fun shapes like Star Wars figures and emojis.
“I try and think about what’s popular and what people would like,” Gada said.
She added that throughout COVID-19 it has been important to instill proper hand washing techniques in young children and the fun designs can help with that.
She has also heard from customers that “it’s a refreshing change from all of these pump hand soaps.”
The mother-son duo will be selling their designs at the upcoming Christmas in July market in support of Abuse Hurts on Saturday, July 24.
It will be their first ever market appearance but Gada said Carter has already expressed an interest in doing some in the fall and around the holidays, too.
Alongside the soaps, the pair also sells beard oil, bath salts and sisal soap saver bags, which are an alternative to a loofah.
Customers can place orders through the C & Me Facebook page by sending them a message.
