This summer, we are celebrating an incredible milestone: 11 years of MION Artisan Soap.
What started as a personal search for high-quality, natural skincare has grown into something far beyond what we could have imagined. Over the past 11 years, we have built not only a company, but also a wonderful community of customers, supporters, and an amazing team that shares our passion for natural living and healthy skincare.
Our journey began in a small apartment kitchen in Chicago. At the time, we were simply looking for products that were gentle, effective, and made with ingredients we could trust. When we couldn’t find exactly what we were looking for, we decided to make them ourselves.
We started with simple recipes, carefully researching ingredients and learning everything we could about traditional soap making and natural skincare. Every batch was made by hand, one product at a time, often late at night after work.
As demand grew, so did our dreams. We moved from our Chicago apartment to a house in the suburbs to create more room for production and storage. For years, we spent countless weekends at farmers markets, craft fairs, art festivals, and community events. We loaded and unloaded tents, packed products into our vehicles, and traveled across the region sharing our handmade creations with anyone willing to give them a try.
At the same time, we launched our online store, allowing customers to shop with us from anywhere. Slowly but surely, our customer family continued to grow.
One of the most exciting chapters of our story came in 2020 when we opened our first retail store. The timing was far from ideal. Just weeks later, the world changed as COVID-19 arrived. Like many small businesses, we faced uncertainty and challenges we never expected.
But something remarkable happened. Our community showed up for us. Customers chose to shop small. They ordered online, purchased gift cards, shared our products with friends and family, and encouraged us during some very difficult months. Because of that support, we not only survived, but continued to grow.
Today, MION Artisan Soap has four retail locations, a dedicated warehouse and production facility, and a team of nearly 20 incredible people. Every member of our team helps bring our mission to life each day through customer service, production, packaging, shipping, education, and community involvement.
While many things have changed over the years, our commitment to quality has remained exactly the same. We continue to use carefully selected ingredients, including certified organic oils and butters, extra virgin olive oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil, essential oils, herbal infusions, botanicals, clays, and other naturally derived ingredients. We never use synthetic fragrances, parabens, SLS, or unnecessary additives. Every product is formulated with the same philosophy that inspired us 11 years ago: simple ingredients, thoughtful formulations, and products that truly nourish the skin.
Perhaps the greatest compliment we receive is seeing customers return year after year. Many of you first discovered us at a farmers market, a craft show, or our very first store. Since then, you have shared our products with your families, coworkers, neighbors, and friends. Your recommendations, reviews, and continued support have helped us grow more than any advertisement ever could. The truth is, our products may have started this journey, but our customers made it possible.
As we celebrate 11 years, our hearts are filled with gratitude. Thank you for supporting a small family business. Thank you for believing in our mission. Thank you for trusting us with your skincare, your homes, and your gifts. We are excited for everything still to come and look forward to continuing this journey together for many years ahead.
With gratitude,
Olga, Iulian, and the entire MION Artisan Soap Team
