Our amazing Lori Sheridan Wilson’s husband and daughter have formed the Sea Soap Company. We’ve been using this soap for a while and really love it. If you’re on the island, you can email or text Lori, venmo her the payment, and she’ll deliver the soap right to you!!! If you’re downtown, pop into Wake Refill, which is a great place to visit regularly and stock up on their zero waste products! The soaps are great in outdoor showers where you don’t want to put any harsh chemicals out in the marsh.
Lori’s daughter Cora has long been a valued member of our turtle team and an enthusiastic participant in environmental programs here on the island.
We have loved having her be part of our team and watching her grow up through the years.
Soap with a mission
The Sea Soap website tells the story of how it started: When Cora was diagnosed with mild intellectual disability, dyspraxia, apraxia of speech, and ADHD, Lori and Brian realized how important it was to create meaningful opportunities, not just for her, but for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities everywhere. Below, Brian and Cora tell the story to Palmetto Life.
Cora and Brian decided to start a business together, and while she originally wanted to do a food truck, they settled on soap. After all, everyone needs soap. It’s environmentally friendly: they use only natural ingredients with no chemicals or additives, recycled paper packaging, and even the ink is from algae instead of synthetic dyes.
Even Murphy the dog is in on the action
The logo features a dog on top of a huge wave. According to the company website, this is their dog Murphy, who
represents everything we believe in: joy, adventure, family, and the freedom of riding your own wave.
Murphy himself is an honorary member of our team!
Big success in a short time!
Brian thought it would take time to build the soap company, but at just over a year, they are already hiring more people to help with packaging and work the markets with them. In an interview with SC Voyager, he says:
We create meaningful jobs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, so every product we sell supports real people and has a real impact.
Brian and Cora love working together, and she likes going to markets and talking to new people. Cora has sold some soaps to the turtle team and we LOVE them. The motto is “sea the good”: the good in people of all abilities and the good in the products.
Soap with a thank you card!
Everyone gets a thank you card with their purchase. Signing and packaging these is one of the ways employees of all different abilities can help create a brand and culture.
The soaps are great gifts, great additions to a guest room or outdoor shower, or great ways to treat yourself; all while supporting a family we love. You can order on the website here, find a farmers market, or check out Wake Refill.
