Expert Details
Cold Process Soapmaking: Developing Countries, Workshop Design to Product Formulation
ID: 723959
France
Expert has advised many cold process soap manufacturers in the UK and Africa on European Cosmetic labelling requirements and she runs regular courses on this in London and in France. Having run a handmade soap manufacturing company that was audited by several UK supermarket chains it has been her business to keep abreast of and to implement all current EU labelling requirements for soap.
Over a thirty year career Expert has successfully developed and marketed new products that range from jumpers with squeakers in them for a national UK newspaper, to soap and bath product ranges for Safeway, Asda, Harrods, Atelier du Savon in Paris, The Natural Collection, The Handmade Soap Company,
African Bio Products in Tanzania and Township Trades (in South Africa)...and Nelly Furtado... This is what she does best. If you have an idea or just an ingredient or an empty box, go to her with it and she will turn it into an original, highly saleable product for you.
Expert is used to working with tight budget restraints, limitations due to difficult third world manufacturing environments, limited equipment and untrained personnel. She has implemented simple paper QC processes and business management systems that work given the above scenarios. Expert understands how to develop kitchen sink businesses into national enterprises. She took her own soap products from her kitchen in a wooden house in rural Wales to the supermarkets shelves in two years. This was achieved through tight project management, delegation, risk assessment and constant monitoring of sales and manufacturing procedures and potential markets.
Assisted several UK start-up soapmaking companies with EU legislation, product formulation, sourcing supplies and equipment, third party manufacture, distribution and sales.
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 1996 | Degree: 10 years experience | Subject: Soapmaking | Institution: self taught |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2004 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Consultant | Department: Soap making |
Responsibilities:working as a consultant within the soapmaking industry and running courses |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2004 to 2004 | Employer: Tim Woodley, Red Star Natural Liquid Soaps | Title: Consultant | Department: |
Responsibilities:Assisted in the start-up of this company helping with the business plan and introducing us to manufacturers and distributors for our products. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2003 to 2004 | Employer: Dr Peter Degroot | Title: Consultant | Department: ICUC University of Southampton |
Responsibilities:Assisted in set up of soap factory in Tanzania. Product Design and Formulation;Equipment Design and Manufacture, Quality Control for EU Cosmetic Regs, Staff Training, Marketing. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2002 to 2004 | Employer: Helen Burch - Safeway | Title: Supplier - Consultant | Department: Soap and Toiletries |
Responsibilities:Formulated and manufactured over 60 varieties of natural bar soaps which were sold through Safeway Megastores in the UK prior to their takeover by Morrisons |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1999 to 2004 | Employer: The Handmade Soap Company | Title: Managing Director | Department: Ceredigion, Wales |
Responsibilities:Set up a soap manufacturing company in West Wales and within two years was supplying all the major supermarket chains in the UK. Sold company in 2004. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1990 to 1998 | Employer: Various | Title: Consultant | Department: PR |
Responsibilities:Worked as a consultant PR for Wendy Wools, Yarnworks, William Briggs (Coats Crafts UK), New Stitches Magazine, Classic Stitches Magazine. |
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International Experience
| Years | Country / Region | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Years: 2003 to 2004 | Country / Region: Tanzania | Summary: Set up soapmaking workshop in rural Tanzania, design and formulation of equipment and product, implementation of EU cosmetic legislation, staff training and marketing. |
| Years: 2007 to 2007 | Country / Region: South Africa | Summary: Currently consulting on fair trade project, setting up a series of workshops in Khayelitsha Township in South Africa to be run by orphans. The first enterprise is a soapmaking unit that will be manned by adult orphans. Brief includes all tasks from workshop design, through personnel appointment, formulation to marketing. |
| Years: 2007 to Present | Country / Region: Ghana | Summary: Origination and implementation of a fair trade project creating a shea butter refinery, soapmaking workshop and clothing range, in Ghana sponsored by a UK children's charity. |
Career Accomplishments
| Professional Appointments |
|---|
| In 2000, Expert received permission from HM Queen Elizabeth to to stage a major event to honor Britain's Needlecraft Industry with the Christmas Tree at Buckingham Palace. She also organised three receptions at Buckingham Palace, (which all the royal family attended) and exhibitions at the V&A and Selfridges in London. |
| Awards / Recognition |
|---|
| Best Manufacturer Ceredigion 2004 |
| Publications and Patents Summary |
|---|
| Author of 26 craft related, hard backed books with worldwide distribution (over 2 million copies in print) including 2 on soapmaking. Written over 1,000 articles for women's magazines in the UK and Australia. |
Additional Experience
| Training / Seminars |
|---|
| She runs regular residential soapmaking and soapmaking business courses from her home in La Dordogne in South West France. She was a Keynote Speaker at the Soapmaker's Guild of America Annual Conference 2002. She was a speaker at the IFA annual conferences in London and Singapore October 06 and April 07 |
| Vendor Selection |
|---|
| She has extensive experience in product origination and in sourcing supplies for her company and for her clients' companies in the UK and in North America. She also has access to manufacturers of specialist soapmaking equipment. |
| Marketing Experience |
|---|
| She assisted a newly set up workshop in Tanzania with a £25,000 contract order from a major health product distributor. Marketed her own products into all major UK supermarkets and prestige stores and hotels. She has previous experience in PR in the UK. |
| Other Relevant Experience |
|---|
| Currently, she is assisting with the set up of a soapmaking unit in a township in South Africa. She covers everything from workshop layout, equipment design, product formulation and marketing. She is also working on project to set up a Shea Butter refinery in Ghana. |
Fields of Expertise
consumer product design, European labeling requirement, cold process soapmaking, new product development, project management, commercialization, liquid soap, marketing brand management, natural product, new consumer product development, soap dye, dye selection, cosmetic product development, soap processing, soap manufacturing, transparent soap, translucent soap, quality evaluation, consumer product marketing, color formulation, bar soap, quality standard, new product design, personal care product, product design, cosmetic product, marketing, common soap, color additive, soap compound, soap environmental effect, skin care product, quality control, glycerol, fatty acid