Whether you support all of the ideas of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. or not, you have to admit he has started a national buzz about what Americans are putting into and on their bodies. He has us rethinking cooking oils, sugar, and other food additives many Americans consume regularly. Even fluoride, which has been touted for decades by dentists as a cavity preventative, is now suspect.
But his message is less about banning items than helping consumers to truly understand what it is we consume. But when it comes to the federal government, that can be tricky. Most would agree there is a lack of transparency, or at least understanding, when it comes to ingredients and how they got on the store shelves. One young local entrepreneur who has been sounding the alarm about the chemicals we use is Savannah Reed.
Reed is the owner of the Safe & Sound Soap Company, which has a rather extensive line of soaps, sprays and scrubs. She started simply by seeking out a better laundry detergent.
“There are products out there marketed as ‘natural’ but they have several added ingredients that honestly are not natural,” the entrepreneur told the Pulse. “Yet some of the better products I tried were not that effective in getting your clothes clean, or smelled fresh.”
Keeping to a pledge of being truly all-natural, some of the Safe & Sound Soap items have as few as five ingredients, but they are still effective. I asked about the potency of her soaps.
“Essential oils are basically really concentrated oils from plants. Think of lavender being boiled down until you have a pure oil from the plant. They’re not watered down and the aroma is very strong,” Reed says. These oils are called “essential” because they capture the essence or fragrance of the original plant.
Rarely does anyone start a business where every item is created from the ground up. Yet, that’s exactly what this businesswoman did in August of 2023.
She first learned to make a natural laundry detergent from her mother. Since then, she has developed a much more extensive line of products to include air fresheners and cleaning sprays.
She first began retailing at farmers markets and would get instant feedback from customers there. Still, she tests everything on herself to confirm a product’s effectiveness before making it available for purchase.
Some challenges she discovered were getting the word out about Safe & Sound as well as finding a niche market. But there is a big gap in the market for what she does. Reed also does a lot of networking.
Currently, Savannah has much of her stock at the Sunshine Nutrition Center, as well as at other retailers in Rutherford and Cannon Counties.
As always, I asked the business owner what advice she has to give to anyone else in business.
“If you want to start something, you have to start somewhere. Just jump in there, identify the issues and find a way to resolve those issues.”
That’s wise advice from a young lady, but it hits the bullseye. Most who have a desire to become a business owner never take the first step due to fear or over-analyzing where is best to begin. There is often no time or place better than where you are.
Reed intends to expand her business by increasing her product line, which now includes car fresheners, as well as bringing in additional retailers.
She also recently built up her website so customers can find out more about what she does and purchase her merchandise there. Check it out at safeandsoundsoapco.com or contact her directly at 615-483-1671.
