One year later...

March 27, 2023

On March 26, 2022 our lives changed forever.

One year ago SARAH'S SOAPS + 34 other small businesses were involved in a tragic winery fire where we were set up for a 2 day market. Over night, the local winery caught fire and we lost all of the small businesses that were inside of it. It was a massive loss for the entire community.

We lost it all - our stock, market display, signage, furniture, products, packaging, supplies - it was heartbreaking. It didn't feel real. We had so many unanswered questions: Why? How? What will our small business friends do? Where do WE go from here?

To see what once was our display that we used for over 8 years gone in the blink of an eye was hard to swallow. Of course, display items + "stuff" really, is replaceable. Thank goodness. But what is not replaceable are the memories that all of these special pieces held. Much of our market display was made of custom crafted pieces by local makers + small businesses, pieces that we collected over the years as our business grew from one small stand to a much larger display - pieces that we cherished deeply.

Even with so many questions lingering, one thing was certain: our community's support.

Messages like these came pouring in - so many messages from friends, family, customers + other local businesses asking how they can help, offering their time to pick up supplies, offering to spend time with us in the studio, sharing their own display/supplies with us. My heart was so full.

We didn't know what was in store for SARAH'S SOAPS in the future, nonetheless in the coming weeks but we left our shop open and crossed our fingers. We were absolutely blown away by your support + orders from our small shop. Although it took a little 'finagling' + time to make and pack them up, I was so grateful for each and every single one of them. Because of your support, we were able to bounce back on our feet.

Our next course of action: markets. Through the support of our wonderful friends at Little Hearts Markets, we were able to bounce back and begin attending markets 2 weeks later. It truly felt like a miracle. So many small + local businesses helped us to whip up a market display in time - special shout out to: Dixon Ink, Farmhouse 598, Past into New, MyBeau + more.

Although our display looked different that market season, it truly was special. It reminded me of the importance of community.

We shared our story with the local news, St. Catharines Standard and CBC Hamilton. Although it is something we will never be able forget, we finally feel like this chapter has come to a close.

So much growth has happened in the past year...

The start of this year's market season looked much different from the last - from jumping back in to market season, to participating in some of our largest markets, launching brand new products, joining new stockists, being published in a worldwide magazine, and connecting deeper with our local community - so many incredible things happened last year.

With a brand new display, we can't help but think back to last year when our situation was much different. I am so proud of how far we have come, how much we have endured that has made us stronger, how much we have grown (both personally + in business) from this.

I truly have all of you to thank - thank you for your continued support, your repeat orders, messages, reviews and pep talks, all of it means so much to me + my small businesses. If this past year has taught me anything, it has taught me to persevere even when times get tough.