RAD Factory Punk has Re-Purpose

The decision to expand our business to include retail came at the end of 2012.  We knew our concept had to be true to our company name.  It would have to be uniquely RAD, representative of who we are and what we stand for as a company and most importantly, it had to be fun.

Since the inception of the company, we have spent a great deal of time thinking about a retail concept that would carry the theme of our brand while staying away from the traditional same old same old boring approach.  For the company who makes hot process soaps using Chaga mushroom, hemp, coffee, beer and wine, our desire to find something new and edgy is what kept the wheels turning.  It would have to incorporate the most important aspects of the RAD Soap philosophy, factory process, and most importantly our fun loving and loyal customers we call RADSTERS.  With this idea in mind, we turned down some tempting offers from a few major retailers.  We were committed to waiting for the perfect retail partners to introduce our concept, RAD FACTORY PUNK, to the world. ( See Display here)

RAD Factory Punk

On December 03, 2012 our patience was rewarded with an opportunity that many small businesses dream about.  It came in the form of a phone call from one of Whole Foods body care buyers & team leaders, members of the Whole Body team from Ridgewood, NJ.  After hanging up the phone, Greg, Zak and I excitedly turned our focus to retrace our many visits to New York City where we had searched for the perfect partner to turn factory punk into a reality.  New York is undoubtedly home to some of the most creative talent in the world.  The best of the best move to New York to pursue their dreams – right?  Well, take a look at the attached photographs and we think you’ll agree that is not always the case.

One January afternoon, we decided to take a break from making soap and took a drive to visit Albany’s warehouse district where we met Fred and Jaime from Silver Fox Salvage.  We not only found our vintage picture frames but connected with a rare gem of an artist named Jaime Walton.  Jaime appears to be a true Southern gentleman and after spending time with him, he most definitely is.  Lucky for us, he chose not to stay in the South.  He moved to Albany a couple of years ago from out west.  We hope Jaime decides to make Albany his permanent home.

The mission of Silver Fox Salvage is to rescue old Victorian and Arts & Crafts style homes, churches, schools, barns and all salvageable structures really.  What comes next is their journey to preserve the pieces, find out about and tell as much of the story behind them as possible.  Silver Fox is so passionate about what they do that it started a separate company to oversee the entire demolition and deconstruction process.  These salvaged materials serve as the inspiration and building blocks to create one of a kind works of art including antique & vintage lighting, stained glass, doors, mantles and hand crafted furniture pieces.  Silver Fox is open to create just about anything for your home or business – just stop in and say hello.

True to the spirit of the creative process, Jaime searched the warehouse looking for materials to inspire the actual construction of the display.  In addition to his raw talent and passion for woodworking, Jaime says you have to respect the material and be open to where it may take you.  The display you see here is Jaime’s over the top brilliant execution of what we call and will forever be known as RAD FACTORY PUNK.

With the exception of a couple of shelving brackets, the materials used in the display are salvaged pieces from upstate New York:

• The wood shelves are from Miller Dairy Farm – Troy, NY.  Jaime personally deconstructed every piece of this barn.
• The metal piping is from the Rotterdam, NY US Army Depot circa 1940’s taken from a fire sprinkler system.
• The structural backing is the original tin used in the construction of the Russell Green Barn built in 1943.  Russell is a small rural upstate NY town with a population of less than 2,000 people.
• The lower cabinet is made from materials salvaged from Wagar Brothers, a working family farm from 1890 to 1956 – Brunswick, NY.
• The ornate trim on each side of the lower cabinet is well over 100 years old.  It was rescued from a late 1800’s Victorian era stove.

We knew we had accomplished our goal of new and edgy but we also suspected the probability for success was going to take some twists and turns.   So when Whole Foods requested a peek at the design, I attached it to an e-mail summarizing the evolution of RAD FACTORY PUNK, closed my eyes and hit the send button.

Thankfully, Whole Foods loved the display as much as we did.  After making some minor adjustments, it was ready for prime time.  We are so proud to make our debut at Whole Foods Market in Ridgewood, NJ.  We invite you to stop in and experience the original RAD FACTORY PUNK display and be sure to say hello to the Whole Body Team.  We promise the experience will be unforgettably RAD!

We at RAD Soap Co are very grateful to Whole Foods Market for their uncompromising support of small local businesses throughout the United States of America and for empowering its team members at the individual store level to do the same.

 

RADsters Get the Whole Picture!

RAD Soap moving into Whole Foods. We are very excited about the news that we will be selling RAD Soap in Whole Foods Ridgewood New Jersey next month.

They found us at the Troy Farmers Market on December 1^st 2012 when a Whole Foods Team Member was visiting her brother and they decided to do some shopping at Upstate New York’s most famous farmers market.

We are excited and want to Thank all of those people who were talking up RAD Soap not knowing they were talking to a Whole Foods decision maker at the soap table that cold day on December 1^st.  As well the Troy Waterfront Farmers Market is truly a incubator of economic growth for farms and small businesses in upstate New York.  RAD will always be in the Troy Market no matter what…PROMISE!

We were contacted on December 3^rd which is my birthday to start the application process and a day I will always remember. Also you know we could not do something hohum so Whole Foods has allowed us to create our own retail display. It will be our own design called RAD Factory Punk. We will have a complete story on it and will be the new look for RAD. So onward we go and THANKS RADsters for your support you are the best customers in the world and our success is your success.

 

Face it Chaga-Berry is the Bomb!

I Need Chaga-Berry Day Cream Man!

The Chaga-Berry formula is the pinnacle in skincare, we believe this is the finest day cream in the industry and guess what? We want everyone to have it! We have made it affordable unlike the trend in the industry that charges hundreds of dollars per ounce. We firmly believe it is the finest quality moisturizer on the market. When you buy our Chaga-Berry Day Cream, you’re spending your hard earned money on two years of development and its miraculous ability to absorb into your skin is unmatched! You WILL see great changes in your skin.

Chaga-Berry

Chaga-Berry contains the highest level of antioxidants that protect skin against environmental damage and provides continuous  support with the skin’s natural defense system and improves repair capabilities. This  lightweight marvel is hand crafted to smooth the complexion while reducing the appearance of wrinkles and discoloration. This is THE essential for your skin’s maintenance while delivering soft, healthy, glowing results.

Why it is so SPECIAL?

Our Red Raspberry Seed Oil is cold pressed virgin oil and contains a high 83% of Essential Fatty Acids or EFA’s, the most abundant of which are linoleic, alpha linolenic, and oleic acids. The composition of these omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids has been shown to reduce the effects of oxidative stress in skin. Red raspberry seed oil is an excellent free radical scavenger and antioxidant, and a rich source of alpha and gamma tocopherol as well as y-tocopherol, along with carotenoides (Vitamin A). According to the Oomah study, with a protection factor equal to titanium dioxide and a potential SPF between 28 – 50.

If that wasn’t good enough, along comes the Chaga Mushroom and as we are being constantly exposed to free radicals from pollution and environmental toxins, antioxidants are of vital importance in our world. Antioxidants help reduce the workload of the immune system as well as the aging process.Chaga works to prevent cellular damage before it happens. Chaga delivers one of the highest levels of antioxidants that increases nutrients while repelling environmental aggressors and free radicals that negatively impact the skin.

The Chaga Mushroom on a White Birch

Then we double down with Unroasted argan oil, which has been traditionally used as a treatment for skin diseases and is advocated as moisturizing oil, against flaking of the skin as well as moisturizing. This oil also has medicinal uses against rheumatism and the healing of burns as well as in the treatment of wrinkled or scaly dry skin.

Last but not least is our old friend Virgin Hemp Seed Oil. Hemp seed oil replenishes our Essential Fatty Acids, which helps our skin hold moisture, making it an all natural humectants. The effectiveness of our epidermis function is what determines the moisture level of our skin, thus the health, softness and smoothness. Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’S) specifically Omega 6, Omega 3 and Omega 9 preserve this barrier.  Hemp seed oil prevents moisture loss on a physiological level; it does just not merely “coat” the skin as do other oils. It contains the ideal ratio of Omega 6 to Omega 3 based on our cells needs. Hemp so closely matches our own skins lipids it is able to penetrate inside our cells and lubricate the surface between them, thus bringing the EFA’s within our body. For this reason, EFA’s have been proven to play a preventative role in skin aging and a healthy moisture balance.

When using Chaga-Berry, apply in the morning before applying makeup,  smooth a small amount of cream over clean, toned face and throat, using gentle, upward strokes.  A little bit goes a long way!

For best results, just apply three dots on the forehead, two on each check, two on the chin and four on the neck.

Chaga-Berry is in the tradition of the RAD Soap way, creating a product that is affordable for everyone and delivering the results our great customers expect.

 

A RAD Love Story!!!

We can’t resist a Great Love Story!  So when one of our beloved RADster’s sent over her love letter, it so deserved a world wide RAD Post. So here it is and Thanks So Much April we have Mad RAD Love for you and your family!

 

 

I recently discovered “Rad Soap ” at a local craft fair in Troy. I was sooooooooooooooooo excited to have finally found a homemade soap that I LOVE. Did I say LOVE, Yes, I LOVE it.

I am a little bit ashamed to say that I hide my Rad soap from the rest of my family. I do not want anyone else using it so I hoard it for myself ! My children know it is in the bathroom somewhere because they can smell it but they can not find it,lol This is the one thing in my life I have not and will not share with my children or husband….

I am also now addicted to the Harmony cream. It smells AMAZING ! I get complimented where ever I go.

 

Thank you Rad Soap for making such a WONDERFUL product. I will never use another soap.

 

April

-Albany NY

 

Another RAD Love Story

We love it when we make a difference in a customer’s life and health.  So a few weeks back we had a customer show up at the Troy Farmers Market who was introduced to our products at a craft fair at Hudson Valley.  Here is what she had to say:

Greatest find ever!!!

I just recently discovered RAD soap at a craft fair at HVCC, and immediately became obsessed. It started with the bug spray, and a bar of the Dirty Dog soap for my dogs. Then I got a bar of Harmony soap for myself, and the Evening Calm body cream. When I got home I really regretted not purchasing the Chaga Wonderland soap and body cream, so within a week I ended up ordering them off the website, along with RAD Remedies.

We Love Our Customers!

I can’t even tell you how happy I am with every single product. The soaps are amazing… they lather like crazy and my skin is incredibly soft afterward… and ohhhh the smell!!! The body creams leave my skin feeling like silk. And THEN there’s the Evening Calm! By far my favorite RAD product, and that is saying a lot. My quality of sleep has improved so much, it is unbelievable. It has the most relaxing effect, I was so surprised at how well this stuff works. No offense but I’ve used a lot of different products from a lot of different companies, so forgive me when I say that I expected a slight exaggeration on the effects of Evening Calm… it just sounded too good to be true. But it is so awesome, and 100% lives up to its name and reputation.

But wait, there’s more… today my fiance and I went to the Farmer’s Market in Troy, mainly just to scope out some more RAD products on my part. So add to my list of things I love: Happy Feet and the new soap infused with tea and pomegranate. I also talked my fiance into trying the Toke soap, and the men’s shave bar. He hasn’t tried the shave bar yet, but he did get to try his new soap tonight, and you have yet another RAD fan!

Needless to say, I will forever be a fan of RAD, and can’t wait to see what else you come out with! Keep the good stuff comin’!

Erika Updyke

 

Thanks Erika and we promise to never disappoint!

 

Sue

 

 

Hoe Down Liquid Soap

Yes we did and yes we are!  This year will be the year of RAD’s liquid soaps and body washes.  So we love the scent of the Hoe Down Lava Hand Soap so much we created a liquid soap of the same scent.  What would that be you ask? Why lemon lime of course.  You’ll want to eat it…but don’t its an acquired taste!

RAD's Hoe Down Liquid Soap

Take Care of Those Hands!

When it comes to our hands, it’s all about maintaining moisture. And nothing hypes the hydration like our Hoe Down. We combine our blends of hot process soap with coconut, palm and olive oils with our natural cleansing compound to nourish and clean your skin. Without worry of over-drying. So lather up some joy and then when your done apply some of that Hoe Down Hand Therapy to keep the mit’s soft and supple…that means you too GUY’s.

 

Lula-by and Good Night

I Haven’t Slept in Day’s

I was lying in bed and could NOT get to sleep! Why you ask? Because we have never blogged about our Evening Calm and what’s worse? It was never added to the Online Store! So, here it is! I must say, it is in the top 5 body creams in its popularity and it is something I use EVERY night before bed.  As always, we did not want to do a ho-hum lavender body cream, as lavender is the spa standard in the business.

Super Lavender

So we thought some added accents would set us apart from the herds of Lavender creams and bring added value to our customers. We started with the actual lavender and chamomile flowers and put them through our proprietary extraction method that is inherent with our Chaga and Latte Creams. This built the foundation of the cream. Next was the butters and oils. We always start with African Shea but decided to add Avocado Butter with its Vitamins A, B, G and E that make it a wonderful moisturizing treatment for dry and damaged skin. Also included is Safflower seed and Almond Oil, which is heavily used in massage therapy for its ability to absorb quickly and carry the creams nutrients to the skin.

Chamomile Love the Smell

Just when I thought we would be done, I was taking my morning dose of supplements and there it was in all its glory – Melatonin.  Melatonin keeps our sleep cycle in tune as it communicates with the body’s cells. Not only does it work to maintain cell health, it appears to regulate a system of self-repair and regeneration. For extra absorption – I recommend to all of my customers to put this cream on the bottom of their feet for the ultimate RAD experience!

RAD's Evening Calm!

And, there you have it! We have created the lavender cream that is unique and of course, RAD!

Click Here for More Info!