The smallest business to make the grade in the Class of 2021’s 20 Best Places to Work in Michigan’s Great Southwest is a truly uniquely qualified business that literally does it all from one location. They make everything right in the store from the initial recipe development to the sourcing of raw materials and from the packaging and creation of labels to the task of putting things on display to selling them to eager customers is all done in house. While there are only three people on the team, they perform hard but satisfying work every single day handcrafting bath and body products in small batches on site. Ironically, the huge drive and desire for cleaning and sanitizing supplies as the pandemic built up placed Forever Clean Soap Works at the forefront and allowed them to not only survive but to dramatically thrive when many companies were forced to sit things out. As you’ll see one of the great sidebar benefits to working there is the amazing smells turn into a virtual 8-hour session of aromatherapy.
What is the name of the business you are nominating?
Forever Clean Soap Works, Inc
Who are the owner(s) and/or principals in this company?
Lisa Miller
Business Contact Information
Lisa Miller
2603 S. Cleveland Ave, Suite 2, Saint Joseph, MI 49085
How many people work at the company you are nominating?
3
Tell us the story behind the nominated company. What does it do, and what sets them apart from other companies in the region?
Handcrafted bath & body products are the heart of this fantastic business. All natural products produced right in the St. Joseph location, by hand, in small batches. Everything from start to finish is done by hand including packaging and creating and printing the labels. It’s a true labor of love. We service all people and those with allergies get special attention with custom made products just for them. During the pandemic when shortages were everywhere, we continued to make soap, a most valuable commodity these days!
In your own words, why do you think this company deserves to be declared to be one of the 20 Best Places to Work in Michigan’s Great Southwest?
When many Michigan small businesses shut down or were closed down by the state in 2020, this small business began to thrive by offering hard to get products such as hand sanitizer and soaps. Offering online orders and curbside, no contact pickup and when allowed to open, in-store shopping. Even today those things are still in place! For several years in a row, this company earned the Silver Award for Best of the Best in the Gift Boutique category. This company donates to several causes and supports the local High School Yearbook, Baroda Blossomtime Queen Contest, and is always willing to help out and support local.
What makes workers proud to say they work there, and keeps them a part of the team?
When you see multitudes of return customers who tell you that you’ve changed their skin for the better with your handmade products, it makes you proud to be part of this company! Quality is never compromised and locally-sourced raw ingredients when available help other locally owned companies. Who wouldn’t be proud of that?
Let’s pretend you’re writing a review for Yelp! or Trip Advisor. Give us your best recommendation for the nominated company that would make the rest of us wish we worked there, too.
There is no job that smells better than this! It’s like 8 hours of aromatherapy. Instead of ending the day with stress, you leave feeling calm, relaxed and you smell terrific!
What three key words best describe why this company is a Best Places to Work caliber company?
- Quality 2. Reputation 3. Integrity
As a Best Places to Work company “Super Hero,” what are the two most magical “Super Powers” this company seems to have on a day-to-day basis? (i.e., Ability to read minds, fly, invisibility, etc) And why?
Super Power One: Creativity. The ability to come up with incredibly beautiful and creative products every day, all day
Super Power Two: Healing powers. Can make soaps, lotions, creams & balms to heal your troubled skin.
Tell us about the leadership of the nominated company and what they do in order to:
A] Keep spirits and motivation high? Includes employees in planning and creating products
B] Keep innovation and fresh ideas advancing? Continually seeks employee input for new products and improvements in all areas
C] Keep communications open? Includes employees in all aspects of the business. It is truly all-for-one and one-for-all.
Explain a specific “wow!” moment in this company’s history that is virtually “Hall of Fame” or “Best Practices” worthy, as an example to other companies in the region.
Christmas 2020 was our biggest season EVER. And during a pandemic! One of our products completed the year with record sales because our customers spread the word on how awesome it is. We had to make it every single day for weeks just to keep up with sales. And customers are STILL spreading the word about it and sales are still great. Our customers tell us how it’s become a staple in their house and changed their lives. WOW!
Best Places to Work have a reputation for not only working hard, but also for playing hard.
A] How does the nominated company honor or reward success? Christmas bonuses!!
B] How does the nominated company socialize as a team? The boss takes the employees out to eat for dinner or lunch just because.
C] How does the nominated company get involved in community events? We continue to support St. Joe Today and the SW Michigan Regional Chamber with current events, hopefully there will be more this year!
D] How does the nominated company celebrate life? We believe in changing people’s lives for the better with the natural products we make. We hear from our customers how that happens for them, we also teach them how to make natural products themselves to better their family’s lives. We celebrate life by sharing our knowledge!
Write a brief, but compelling, recruitment ad telling people about why they should come and work there, too.
Working here includes hard but satisfying work, helping others every single day. Not just with a sale but long after, knowing that the products you helped make are helping someone else.
What one thing is special about your nominated company that most people in the community have no idea actually happens there, but should be shouted from the rooftops because it’s that cool?
We make EVERYTHING right here in our store! Yes, EVERYTHING! We create the recipe, we source the raw materials, we package, create and design the labels and put it on the shelf. We do it all right here AND you can come in and watch us do it!
Give us three employee perks or benefits that you think make the company you have nominated worthy of a Best Places to Work trophy?
- You leave here smelling terrific.
- You get to take home any ‘oops’.
- You get thanked every day for the work you do.
If this is your company and you win, write the best headline ever for your company newsletter describing your successful selection to the list, and be as specific as you can about how you would celebrate the win if money were no object.
Forever Clean Soap Works cleans up with the Best Place to Work! If money were no object I would take my employees on a two week all-expense-paid vacation. They work incredibly hard and deserve a refresher! I would also surprise them with raises when we got back because hard work should be rewarded.
Tell us anything else you want about this company that you suddenly realize we haven’t asked you about, but you’re sure will be the thing that puts you squarely into the winner’s circle! (Wait a minute! Can you put a square in a circle?)
It’s the little things that matter. Our employees get paid for lunch, they don’t get in trouble for being late. If they need to leave early we make arrangements. In return they are loyal, honest and extremely hardworking. Isn’t that how a company should be?
