Website Closers® presents Australia’s oldest family-owned soap manufacturer that quickly became influential in the vertical and continues to garner immense respect from consumers, the wholesale gift industry, and the manufacturing industry at large.
Originally started in 1983, this company is chiefly a manufacturing and eCommerce operation but also imports an accessories gift line. Historically, sales were predominantly B2B, typically generated through regular trade fair attendance and in-house sales. However, throughout the pandemic, management adeptly established multiple new revenue streams through directly managed eCommerce websites, including a wildly successful eco-friendly range of solid haircare and body care products that aim to eradicate the need for wasteful plastics in the bathroom and beyond. That brand focuses primarily on direct retail, giving it access to higher profit margins. It has witnessed enormous growth since its launch in 2018 and has been featured in major publications such as Sydney Morning Herald, Better Homes and Gardens, Channel 10, and New Idea.
The original brand has a broad customer base, including gift shops, department stores, and pharmacies. However, it is focused on the thriving eco and health food audience. The diverse range of wholesale customers, spanning over 3,700, supports the business year-round, and the company is associated with several highly respected distributors.
Across 1,900 SKUs, the business enjoys average order values of $65, $650, and $10,000 from retail sales, wholesale, and distributors, respectively. Furthermore, it boasts a repeat customer rate of 75% and an extensive email database of 63,000 subscribers.
The manufacturing capabilities are impressive and encompass an abundance of products.
An example of the speed and efficiency of manufacturing and innovative management is how the company pivoted during the outbreak of the pandemic. It was able to manufacture sanitizers with a turnaround time of less than two weeks to meet the enormous demand from government departments, doctors, pharmacies, and other wholesale buyers. The team also established, in one week, a direct retail website for the product, which has subsequently opened up new opportunities with government tenders.
Most raw materials are sourced from Australia, allowing quick turnaround times on contract orders and in-house stock. The company also holds a chemical import license and directly imports some of its components. All products are manufactured on-site at the company’s facility, from where 150 to 200 orders are dispatched daily.
Digital marketing is straightforward yet effective. Social media advertising on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok drives traffic and new prospects to the website, in addition to influencer partnerships.
The business achieves strong sales throughout the year. However, the original brand enjoys a peak from September through February when wholesale customers stock for Christmas and re-stock in January. The second brand and other direct retail avenues are generally evergreen throughout the year.
The owner focuses primarily on major customer liaison and quotations. Thirteen employees work in the following capacities:
- 2 Machine Operators
- 6 Dispatch and Warehouse Staff
- HR
- Office Manager
- Data Entry and Customer Liaison
- General Data Entry
- Digital Marketing Manager
The company’s reputation and long-term relationships with customers and suppliers are invaluable. Everyone in the industry knows and trusts the name. The owner has maintained that trust through excellent supply, customer service, and high-quality products that clients respect and return to. It is prominent within the following sectors:
- Health Stores
- Pharmacies
- Retail and General Gift Stores
- Eco-Friendly Stores
- Grocery
- Independent Retailers
- Body-Care Contract Manufacturing and Private Label
This business’s reputation speaks for itself, and customers are receptive to any new products offered. The two brands provide an excellent investment opportunity for a buyer excited to take on a well-respected company with tremendous domestic and international potential. This is an established company, and the expense and hard work of expansion and marketing have already been completed over four decades to reach this stage. An actual realization of its return on investment is yet to come. It is a rare turn-key opportunity with multiple immediate avenues for profit expansion readily available.
