Alexis Souders & Audrey Keller, Harborgirl Emporium & Prospect Harbor Soap Company
We opened “Harborgir Emporiuml” in November of 2008. People thought we were crazy because it was in the middle of a big recession.
Harborgirl came from a memory I had of seeing a mermaid called “Harborgirl” and I liked that idea for a name.
We originally leased the building and now we own it. We love to make fresh, healthy sandwiches, wraps, soups and salads. We also make cookies, pies, puddings and more for desert. All of our food is homemade and fresh. Our salad ingredients are all locally grown. Audrey’s husband Terry has started a business called Avalon Farms and he raises the vegetables in hydroponic greenhouses. Our best sellers change by the day and the season. Homemade soups are very popular, due to local demand we even make the no points “Weight Watcher” soup that is available in the off season. We have trouble keeping up with the orders for meatballs. I think the combination of good homemade food and friendly service helps us to run a successful business.
Prospect Harbor Soap Co. came from both Alexis and Audrey living and making the product in Prospect Harbor. The soap business started as a craft project, gifts were given to friends and family and through that successful venture we now distribute the soaps to over 60 locations nationwide. We have a web site for the soaps, we also do 2 shows a year. The Greenville Fly-In and the Wellfleet Oyster Festival on the Cape, we also have a booth at the Gift of Hand Show in Ellsworth in the fall. At one time we were doing over 25 shows a year, now between our wholesale business and the opportunity to sell retail in “Harborgirl Emporium” we stay very busy.
Alexis makes the soap and skin care products, she spends about 4 hours a day working on this in the summer and then she comes to “Harborgirl” to work a full day. Audrey makes the aromatherapy and candle products. We both do this in our homes. The product line is designed based on people’s needs. For instance the sea salt rub came about when someone asked for help with chapped and dry hands. All of our products are made for dry and sensitive skin, they have no animal products included and there is no animal testing. Audrey’s daughter bathes her cat with our products, but she did not do that until it was proven safe for humans first.
The soap co. does business year round but we try to do most of our production during the winter months when we have more time. The restaurant is open 7 days in the summer, closed Sundays after Labor Day, closed Sunday and Monday after Columbus Day and after a very Merry Christmas, closes on December 31 until April 1.
We find that the melding of the two businesses is a very good marriage. Our reputation for high quality, safe, affordable products in one business lends itself to the same standards in the next business. Due to our reputation, we have found that word of mouth is the best promotion of our businesses. We are always involved in the community and contributing to local charities. We support the schools, libraries, and many organizations in their fund raising. We do have paid ads in Downeast Magazine and Yankee Magazine. We were chosen one of 42 best New England made products by Yankee Magazine.
Our advice to anyone starting a business is not to listen to anybody else. Know that you can do it and you can!
The best part of living and working on the peninsula is the support we get from the local people in both businesses. When we are closed for 3 months in the winter we run into people all of the time who stop to ask how we’re doing and to give us a hug. We love working and living on the Peninsula!
