Couple cleaning up in soap
A couple have created their own soap-making factory in their kitchen and interest is now starting to bubble up across the globe.
Tim and Elaine Woodley, of Hyde Lane, Kinver, set up Red Star Natural Liquid Soaps Ltd in 2004.
Since then the company has gone from strength to strength thanks to the efforts of former West Midlands fireman Tim and his wife, who make the soaps at their home in Kinver.
However if the company's latest deals come off this year, production may have to move to bigger premises to cope with demand.
Tim said: "I was in the fire service five years ago and was not very happy about it. We were both arty and got on the internet to have a look.
"After a couple of other ideas we came across soap-making which neither of us had ever done before but we have made a business out of it and over the next six months we should be going worldwide."
The company uses only natural ingredients and does not use any animal products or animal testing and carries the approval of the The Vegan Society.
It is the couple's new natural liquid horse shampoo which has really caught the attention of big businesses across the globe.
And Tim and Elaine have even got former Blue Peter presenter Anthea Turner's sister and animal rights campaigner, Wendy Turner-Webster, on board to help promote the product.
The couple juggle their soap-making with bringing up their two children Jake, aged six, and Jonah, aged four, as well as jobs. Elaine is a district nurse while Tim now works at Elmfield School in Stourbridge as a press officer.
The family all get involved in the production line though. Even young Jake and Jonah help stick some of the labels on the soap when it is finished.
Tim said: "We have containers of soap in the hallway, kitchen, spare room, dining room and loft. It is everywhere.
"It is a lot of hard work but we are determined to make it a success and our sales are increasing every year so far.
"This is the most exciting time for us because we are on the verge of some bigger deals which will see the company go worldwide."
The couple's website is at www.redstarnaturalliquidsoaps.co.uk
