Today we’d like to introduce you to Keith Bailey.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Keith. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
It all started when we purchased a book on soap making from Gecko Hardware (now Rooster Home and Garden) for Christmas of 2013. This began an experimental learning process with soap recipes followed by soy candles and vegan body care items that eventually launched into what is now White Rock Soap Gallery. After working from home, we eventually secured a retail location that allowed us to get production out of our kitchen.
Our core value from the start has been to craft healthy products using simple and safe ingredients. We decided that anything we made that touched the body had to be 100% vegan and all natural. We never use artificial fragrances, preservatives, colors, or synthetic chemicals in any of our handcrafted body care products.
After a couple of years doing local markets, our products were eventually picked up by our first retailer Gecko Hardware and eventually other retailers such as The T Shop in Lakewood, Royal Blue Grocery in Highland Park, and Nicholson-Hardie also in Highland Park. What began as a small home-based hobby had now become a thriving local business.
We used the term gallery in our name because we envisioned a place where we could introduce our customers to other local Texas makers in addition to our own products. We currently also sell products from 30 local artisans from cities all over Texas.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road has been a little bumpy! The challenge has been to learn every step of the manufacturing, production, ecommerce, and distribution process. We have done very little marketing and didn’t even have a sign for the first 11 months the store was open. People would call us from the parking lot every day asking where we were located. People are still stumbling upon us or hearing about us from their friends or after they receive a candle as a gift.
We still create all our products in small batches by hand and print and apply each and every label.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about White Rock Soap Gallery – what should we know?
We are known for quite a few of our natural products and we make a damn good soy candle! Our deodorant is one of our top selling products because it works so well. People also love our Ultimate Body Salve which is the number one selling product that we make. This all natural salve works wonders on dry, irritated skin and we get lots of testimonials from customers that suffer from eczema and psoriasis that say it’s helped them.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Our staff is amazing! We have a team of workers that help produce the products day in and day out as well as a great front-end staff that help support customers.
Andrea Ridout from Gecko Hardware was one of our first supporters and has always been there with great advice. Lori Trent from The T Shop is my unofficial business mentor and together we have come up with ideas such as our newest Urban Candle Collection which highlights some of our favorite local neighborhoods and areas in Dallas.
Contact Info:
- Address: 10233 E Northwest Hwy, Suite 401
Dallas, Texas 75238 - Website: www.whiterocksoapgallery.com
- Phone: 469-215-5125
- Email: info@whiterocksoapgallery.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/whiterocksoapgallery
- Facebook: facebook.com/whiterocksoapgallery
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