The Citizen, 2003-11-19, Page 23THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2003. PAGE 23.
It all began with tearless shampoo for local business
A joint venture
Sisters Yvonne Fischer, left, and Melody Harnack are building a successful cottage industry
with their Trilogy Treasures. The main division is their Ahhh.... Nurturing Naturally product line.
(Bonnie Gropp photo)
They do gift baskets and have had
inquiries for corporate gifts. “There
are always new ideas coming to us,”
said Harnack. “We think we’ve got it
all figured out then some other
suggestion comes up and it will lead
to another. It’s a never-ending list.”
Among these are bridal shows,
fundraising ventures, home spa
parties and soap-making classes.
In an effort to give back the pair
has also committed to donating IO
per cent of the profit of each product
purchased to Amnesty International,
Children’s Wish Foundation, Save a
Family Plan or Huron United Way.
Besides the Ahhh division of
Trilogy Treasures, there are two
more recent additions to the
business. Heart of the Country
provides unique gifts that are
affordable. “It’s kind of in the baby
stages,” said Harnack.
As well, Mom has gotten into the
act. Shirley Brewer, mother of
Harnack and Fischer, creates hand-
smocked heirloom-style clothing,
such as antique christening gowns.
“These are both quite new. It’s the
bath and beauty products so far that
have taken on a life of their own,”
said Harnack.
For the busy wives and mothers
being a team relieves some of the
burden. “We’re lucky we have the
kind of relationship where we can
work well together. That we are
sisters has never been a concern,”
said Fischer. “And it helps that
we’re a lot alike.”
Particularly when it comes to their
product. Having recently stayed up
two nights in a row to fill orders,
Fischer admits the time is coming
when they may have to look at
expansion. “But it’s hard to let that
control go.”
“The number one
of us is quality,”
>ne priority for
said Harnack.
both
1At
ffiittfiday,
Love Mom, Dad
& Kaila
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen editor
It all began with tearless shampoo.
Today it’s grown into a modestly
successful cottage industry offering
a unique line of natural bath, body
and home care products.
Yvonne Fischer of Belgrave said it
was about two years ago that her
sister. Melody Harnack, “the
creative one” got her started making
soaps and bath salts. “I started
playing. It was for gift ideas mostly.”
However, while researching,
Fischer was surprised and alarmed
by some of her discoveries. “I came
across an article that said what
actually makes tearless shampoo
tearless is a numbing agent.”
Fischer was alarmed and began to
consider what types of chemicals
were being used in products. “I have
three children. Melody has five. It
was a concern for us, so we started
making our own products.”
Research continued, development
grew and a business began to take
shape. “There was a lot of trial and
error,” said Fischer. “Initially I
thought we were just going to pour
soaps. Now we have more than 84
products.
These products are one division of
what has become Trilogy Treasures.
The division is appropriately named
Ahhh.... Nurturing Naturally.
Its product list includes a foot care
line, baby line, bath products, hair
care, hand-milled soaps, facial
creams and lip balms.
One of the most popular items is
the brown sugar body glaze. The
principle ingredient brown sugar,
gently exfoliates while moisturizers
and cleansers provide total skin care.
Their incense is hand-dipped in oil
for a cleaner, long-lasting burn.
To introduce their products the
women first started attending craft
shows. “We got feedback that there
was a need for a high-quality, natural
product,” said Harnack. “From the
shows, word of mouth spread and we
started getting busy.”
They have done some wholesaling
and still have one consignment
location, though they are currently
searching out others. They also do
private labelling.
“Last year prior to Christmas was
when we first began developing a
market,” said Harnack.
For now, the day-to-day operation
from research and development to
marketing and labelling is done by
the two from their homes.
Friends and family are used as
testers, and “you'd be surprised by
what we throw out.” said Fischer.
“We are looking for something
beneficial to skin, hair and body. We
want to make it as natural as
possible,” Harnack adds.
A natural product made with water
does require some preservative.
Fischer and Harnack use a food
grade preservative when the need
arises. “I figure if you can ingest it,
it’s probably the safest thing to use
on your skin,” said Harnack.
The pair have put together a
catalogue of their products, none of
which are over $10. There is also a
website www.ahhh.ca
Orders can be placed by phone at
357-2700 or 887-6061 or by e-mail
at info@ahhh.ca
It is best to give a week for orders
to be filled, though it may not
require that much time. Orders are
delivered.
[otto
The Brubachers of Ethel
[^ Ste&tauiani and Siaketif.
| REAL Home-cooked meals!
I Come and try our cinnamon buns. 1
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I Sat. 8:00 am - 6:30 pm; Sun. Closed l
|r^ 887-8659 in Ethel
Festival Singers perform Dee. 7
Join the Blyth Festival Singers for
an afternoon of music and story on
Sunday, Dec. 7 at 2:30 p.m. in North
Street United Church, Goderich.
Step back to medieval times and
listen to the heartwarming story of
Brother Heinrich’s Christmas by
John Rutter - featuring narrator,
Duncan McGregor; puppeteer,
Marian Doucette; oboist, Graham St.
Laurent and bassoonist, Lutzen
Reidstra. This is a delightful fable of
story and music about Heinrich, the
donkey and how he composed a
special carol for Christmas Eve.
The concert will also feature
special guests - The Goderich Area
Youth Chorus, under the direction of
Kathleen King-Martin. They will
delight you with their sounds of
Christmas.
Other choral works by the Blyth
Festival Singers will include music
by Dutch, American and British
composers. The Blyth Festival
Singers are under the direction of
Robert Blackwell.
This will be a great family concert
- a time to enjoy the music of the
season and join in singing some
traditional carols.
Tickets available at: Blyth Festival
Box office 523-9300; Blyth Festival
Singers; Campbell's Photography,
Goderich; For Friends and Pets,
Lucknow; The Dutch Store, Clinton;
Snyder Studios, Wingham; Tasty Nu
Bakery, Zurich; Nifty 'Korners,
Seaforth and are also available at the
door.
www.movielinks.ca tong distance?! -800-265-3438
Challenge: Getting enough calcium and vitamin D to
maintain strong bones and protect against osteoporosis
WEDDINGS
WEDDINGS
Performed - your location or our
iindoor or outdoor chapel
(non-denominational)
For brochure call:
REV. CHRIS MORGAN
_L FAITHS PASTORAL CENTF
BENMILLER, 524-5724
Solution: Women 19-50 years of age should consume 1000 mg of calcium and 5
ug (200 III) of Vitamin D per day. Milk and milk products, such as cheese and
yogurt provide the most readily available source of calcium and other bone
building nutrients. Other sources include calcium-fortified beverages (soy, rice and
orange juice) tofu made with calcium sulfate, salmon and sardines with bones,
sesame seeds and almonds Bok choy, kale and broccoli also provide calcium but
in smaller amounts. Vitamin D is found in fluid milk, eggs, fish and fish liver oils,
margarine as well as in soy and rice beverages fortified with vitamin D. Sunlight
on the skin can be a major source of vitamin D but is limited in Canada from
October to March and by use of sunscreens. To prevent osteoporosis women are
encouraged to get enough calcium, vitamin D and protein, limit caffeine, have
sodium in moderation, and keep active particularly with weight-bearing activity.
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