Today, I am delighted to introduce you to a very special soap maker from Israel: Mazzi Pelet, the artisan behind Latika Soap. Here is our short interview:
1. When did you start and why?
“As a kid, my mom always made beautiful things with us at home, so handmade work was around at all times. at some point she started making cold process soaps and i was just mesmerized by the process.
Two years ago I started playing with the design element of soap making and fell in love completely!
I think it was those cupcake m&p soaps that got me.”
2. In your opinion, what makes your soap different?
“I don’t think that I am the first to make cute or designed soaps, but I know that each of us soap makers have their own way to make things. It’s the whole package of ideas and inspiration, customer service and the activity in the blog and facebook page.
I really want to build a family of soaploving people around LATIKA.
I want people to receive the full experience when they approach LATIKA in a fair or visit the site.
So – I put a lot of effort in to the packaging, design and being in touch with everyone. It really is handmade with love.”
3.When creating your soap, what inspires you?
“I love old things like 1800 apothecary shops, old style candy and sweets.. love tea parties and vintage cake stands.. and off course I really love the natural look of cold process soap, chunks and chunks of it 
”
4. In three words, how would you describe your style?
“Sweet vintage inspiration”
5. How do you measure success?
“Returning costumers.”
6. If you were to start all over again, what would you do differently?
“I really think everything we do leads us to the right direction. I don’t know if we even can do everything right, it was all good and exiting for me… I might have taken a break from school if I could do it again.”
7. Since you started your business, could you please tell us about your biggest mistake?
“Working too much on weekends ”
8. How do you advertise your business?
“I have a blog and facebook page I inspire to keep active and fun. I choose carefully who to associate my product with, I want the readers of the article or add would be in the right context to my product. A tiny picture of a soap will sometime do much more than a big article about us, if it’s not in the right context. This is something I learned from reading and going to lectures about self publishing and social network for small business.”
9. There are a lot of soap makers who have just started their business. Any advice for them?
“Love your work. Dare to try the craziest recipes! Dare to think big! Remember: it’s not just the soap making, a lot of your success depends on being a great business owner.
Take the time to learn, read and live the small business community and how it works.”
10. Where can we find you?
“I’m online a lot, less and less on etsy, more on my blog and facebook and in the lab.:)
Anyone can email me and join LATIKA’s family online We have a translation button in the blog now, thanks to the god of google
www.latikasoap.com
All photos courtesy of Latika. Here are a few more:
WOW! her soaps looks great!
are you doing a worldwide distribution?
you should!