Tiger Muffin Soaps

Since launching Tiger Muffin Soaps with his sister Becky, it has become a staple at most of Lancashire's farmers markets, craft fairs and other marketplaces, and has blossomed offering not just soap, but home-made shower gels and hand creams too. Matthew got the idea to branch out in to this unusual line of business while he was working in the pub trade.

At first he offered just five different flavoured soaps, but over the years has added many other flavours and products, including shower gel, bubble bath and hand cream. They now aim to add five or six new products a year. Flavours on offer include raspberry, blueberry, geranium, blackberry and vanilla. "The base I use is quite tough," Matthew explains. "It comes as a solid, and I will heat it up until it becomes a liquid. It's not as easy as it sounds. If you heat it up too much it goes funny. Once it is a liquid it is then just a case of adding oils, or fragrances and colours."

One of the keys to Tiger Muffin's success has been innovation in flavour and scent, and the ability to make bespoke products on demand. "In the run up to Christmas we always get quite a lot of people coming to us to ask if we can make this flavour or that, and we will make whatever people want."

The business is currently focusing on developing a strong market in Lancashire. It regularly holds stalls at Poulton le Fylde, Houghton Towers and Cedar Farms farmers markets, and craft fairs at Samlesbury Hall near Preston, and Lowther Pavilion, Lytham St Annes. Its products are also on offer at Rowlands Pharmacy, Formby Village and Homestead Farm, Holmswood.

Contact Matthew Lepp

Email: tigermuffinsoaps@hotmail.com