Logan Creek Soap lathers up 25 years in Door County

Jennifer Much

Contributor

May 14, 2024

STURGEON BAY – As Logan Creek Soap marks 25 years in business, its owner credits high-quality products and loyal customers for its success.

Since opening, Owner Heidi Gutschow said the art of soap making and the purpose behind it has not changed.

A handcrafted history
Located at 154 N. 3rd Ave. in Sturgeon Bay, the shop carries natural homemade soaps, shampoo bars and lotion bars, all made from scratch on-site.

Each of the products, Gutschow said, is created without synthetic chemicals or harsh preservatives.

The store originally opened in 1999 and was previously housed in a storefront on Madison Avenue.

Gutschow said she purchased the store in May of 2021, determined to keep the history of the namesake and the product line alive.

“My husband and I always wanted to have a small retail business in Door County,” she said. “When this opportunity presented itself, we did not hesitate to purchase it.”

Gutschow said the store has seen tremendous growth in her time as owner.

“The business has grown substantially since we purchased it,” she said.

Soap making, Heidi Gutschow said, is a two-day process that requires careful scheduling so the product can be cut at the correct time so it can cure. Jennifer Much Photo

That growth, Gutschow said, included securing a storefront on 3rd Ave. in the city’s downtown area, which came with more space for creating and curing the soaps.

“It has drastically increased our foot traffic and business,” she said. “We also have been able to increase our wholesale offerings, farm market presences and to offer custom label soaps and lotions.”

Gutschow said she also purchased Door County Soaps in the summer of 2022 and has added that line of products to her business.

A from-scratch mindset
Gutschow said Logan Creek Soaps has hundreds of products available for sale that are geared toward men, women and even pets.

She said all the products are made on-site, which is important to her.

“Most often, we hear how surprised customers are to learn that we make all the soaps ourselves and not purchase to resell,” she said.

The soaps are all-natural, and Gutschow said she tries to be zero waste with both soaps and shampoo bars – working to eliminate the need for plastic.

Lotion bars, she said, come in closable tins and most packaging, if any, are made of recycled paper.

“Our business is all about taking care of yourself,” she said. “I think we are unique with the variety of offerings we have from the soaps to shampoo bars and all the spa-type products we carry.”

In addition to Logan Creek Soap products, Gutschow said the shop also carries items from other small Door County businesses – which she said makes it an inviting place.

Currently, Gutschow said the Door County cherry soap is a best seller, as well as the lavender soap and solid lotion bars.

A true labor of love
Creating soap to stock the shelves, Gutschow said, is a time-consuming process, which requires a lot of effort and time.

“There is a lot of preparation for soap making,” she said. “The curing process takes 30 days, so keeping accurate counts of your inventory is essential so you do not run out of product.”

The back half of the store, Gutschow said, is lined with shelves of curing soaps and serves as a prep area.

Logan Creek Soap carries natural homemade soaps, shampoo bars and lotion bars, all made from scratch on-site. Jennifer Much Photo

She said she dedicates time after store hours to create the soaps.

“You need to warm oils, prepare your essential oils, botanicals, natural colorants and your lye solution at the proper temperatures, which takes time,” she said.

Gutschow said making soap is a two-day process that requires careful scheduling so the product can be cut at the correct time so it can cure.

Celebrating the milestones
Gutschow said she is proud that her business is celebrating such a timeless milestone.

Though she does not have definitive celebration plans, she said she continues to appreciate the support of her customers and their feedback.

“People frequently stop at our booth at the farmers markets and tell us how thankful they are that we are continuing with the same great offerings that the original owners had,” she said. “We often receive small notes with online orders telling us how much they love our products.”

Gutschow said she feels that being located in Door County also plays an important role in her business.

“Being in Door County helps our online sales, as we meet so many people from across the country who are visiting, purchase our products and become regular customers,” she said.

Gutschow said she is optimistic about the store’s future and growth and, even more excited to continue to offer Logan Creek Soap products.

“We would love to see the business continuing to grow with increased wholesalers and online presence,” she said. “We are so grateful for all the support from customers.”

The store is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Wednesday when they are closed.

For more information, visit logancreeksoap.com or follow Logan Creek Soap on Facebook.