When our son Hal officially joined Alabu full time, he implemented a new level of excellence, from how we run our business to our products. My soap batch size was limited by how heavy of a pot of soap I could lift and pour. Dean & Hal enlarged it from my 80 bar batch to 320 bars with the help of a mechanical hoist they designed and constructed. Every batch now had a “batch sheet” with detailed information about making it. It was assigned a batch code that is stamped on every bar bar. He upgraded almost everything we used in soapmaking and also added new products, pictures and logo. We started concentrating on wholesale accounts and Health food stores. Our business grew to being offered in 500 stores around the country. Here is one of Hal’s blog post. A short historical perspective.
Our adventure started with Dean dreaming of having our own family business. The little dilapidated farm we had purchased was my dream. Goats were my idea, after all, they were so practical for their milk, provided endless entertainment and… well, good at getting into trouble.
We drank the milk they provided and what we couldn’t drink we made into yogurt and cheese. Then after helping a friend make soap, I began researching and experimenting with that formulation of goat milk soap. I wanted to make the best soap I could for our family and friends. Dean, on the other hand had always wanted his own business. He put a basket of our soaps out when we were having a yard sale. I was surprised that my soaps sold out quickly. Now Dean had been thinking for a while he would like to create a business on this new thing called the “World Wide Web”. He had been working in computer technology since he graduated from college and was eager to learn about this new www. So naturally Dean decided we should sell my soaps on it.
I thought he was crazy and I was not interested in making soaps as a business. I was homeschooling our 2 young children along with taking care of the garden, chickens, goats , cats and a dog. Eventually he got me to commit to making two batches of soap a week. At that time my batch size was 9 bars of soap. Dean partnered with a friend from work to create a webpage as an online craft fair. The idea was to make it easy for crafters to sell their creations on an online store (years before Etsy thought of it). It opened for business December 1998 with me providing goat-milk soap, candles and some other crafts I made. By early 1999 the site had several crafters including our 12 year old son who made his popular Rice bags for therapeutic warm moist heat. In a few months there were over 60 crafters selling everything from Art to Wedding photos and everything in between. In February 2000, our soaps had become so popular Dean decided we should concentrate solely on our family business, newly incorporated, “Alabu Inc”.
Back in 1994 when we bought an old run down farm. My daughter had her heart set on getting a horse. But I am too frugal and practical, so she got 2 milk goats and our son got chickens. We learned how to care for and milk goats and make cheese and yogurt. Life was filled with new adventures of taking care of our animals, gardening, preserving our produce, maple sugaring, and sewing. And we did manage to fit in homeschooling. In 1997, my friend and goat mentor needed help using up her excess goat milk by making soap. Her first attempt failed, so she asked for my moral support to try again, she added it would be a good chemistry lesson for our homeschooled kids. Excited to learn and spend time together, we donned goggles and gloves in her kitchen, where she explained that we would use lye and oils to create soap. After weeks of curing, I tried the handmade soap and I was amazed. Unlike drying commercial soaps, this one left my skin soft, without flaking or itching. I became hooked on making my own soap, sharing it with family and friends who loved it.
This is Marilyn and Stan. Great Aunt and Uncle to our grandkids. I think Marilyn was a good big sister to Dean as big sisters go, with the typical older sibling teasing. She and Stan are 7 years older than Dean and by the time I came in the picture they both were good friends. When we had children, Marilyn became like a fairy godmother to them. Stan became the ever so kind and amusing Uncle, with silly poems, duck and other secret languages. When Marilyn was speaking at a conference at Disney World, she and her ever so patient Stan, took our then 5 year old daughter with them. All through our kids growing up, Marilyn and Stan took them on all kinds of amazing trips. They frequented New York City’s, broadway plays, operas, museums and fine restaurants. They brought them on many vacations on a tiny Connecticut Island and Mohonk Mountain House. The list goes on and on.
In Marilyn’s spare time she is an author. Marilyn and her 2 younger siblings, Brian and Dean, had a very interesting childhood. Marilyn shared about it in her book, “An Unconventional Childhood”. Her book is a humorous look at their growing up in the Catskill Mountains in New York State. Purchase from Amazon or from us here at Alabu. Buy: An Unconventional Childhood.
Now that our kids have kids, Marilyn has stepped up her game to take their great nieces and nephews on memorable trips too. Their latest adventure was taking the twins, (Mr. Number Three and Miss Number Four) who are 11 years old, to Yellowstone National Park, Grand Tetons, and Jackson WY. She takes Dean along as Stan isn’t always up to extended travel. They even got a chance to catch up with cousins who retired to Wyoming which just added to the fun.
I’m sure our kids and grandkids will always remember all the great adventures with them. Thank you Aunt Marilyn and Uncle Stan for always being a “Great” aunt and uncle, we have all been blessed by your kindness and generosity.
It’s hard to believe our Miss Number One is turning 15 years old. She is so excited to be a teenager. She has overcome many challenges and has faced them with courage and strength. She has a sweet spirit and a kind heart and we are so proud her.
