Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Base Soaps co-founder Mick Cronin wanted the company to have a social purpose.
In brief:
- A local social enterprise has turned a gift-giving experiment into a flourishing business.
- The owners received support from the Mill House Ventures.
- A new program is now open to help social enterprise businesses scale up.
Many of us may have tried some DIY soap-making in the past. But chances are, few of us are like Mick Cronin and Lianne Brink. These two founded Base Soaps from their home just outside of Canberra.
Base Soaps started as a gift-giving experiment in 2017. With a little help along the way, it is now a fully-fledged business. It sells tens of thousands of bars and liquid soaps across the country.
Co-founder Mick has a PhD in Chemistry. He wanted Base Soaps to have a social purpose – to help to address preventable diseases in Australia’s rural and remote communities.
He wants people to know that their for-profit, for-purpose business is a social enterprise. This means giving back is embedded into the company’s constitution.
“You can, simultaneously, have environmentally thoughtful, high-quality hygiene products, and contribute positive impact to rural and remote Australian communities,” he said.
“Some Australian communities suffer incredibly high rates of preventable diseases.
“We assist by contributing to existing programs that address preventable diseases in Australia’s rural and remote communities.”
One is Otitis Media – better known as middle ear infection. Both co-founders were concerned with the high rates of this in children in Indigenous communities.
They set up the constitution of Base Soaps to require them to donate at least 50 per cent of profits to causes that address these kinds of issues.
Asking for support along the way
A number of mentors have helped Mick and Lianne along the way. Many of these were found via Base Soaps’ connection to Canberra’s social enterprise intermediary, The Mill House Ventures.
The Mill House Ventures provides a comprehensive suite of through-life support for local social enterprises and their founders. These range from short workshops to mentoring programs.
Their latest program, Scale for Impact, is now open for applications. It aims to help established social enterprises, like Base Soaps, to identify future growth opportunities.
Scale for Impact is an initiative developed by The Mill House Ventures through funding from the ACT Government.
“The Scale for Impact program offers established social enterprises in Canberra tailored business support to help identify potential growth opportunities and pathways to philanthropic, sponsorship and/or investment funding,” CEO of The Mill House Ventures, Craig Fairweather, said.
Mick from Base Soaps encourages other entrepreneurs keen to make a difference to connect with The Mill House Ventures.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re already established, or simply have an idea. Go in with an open mind and you’ll quickly find out if this is the best way to make change, and enjoy yourself in the process,” said Mick.
To find out more about the Scale for Impact program go to: millhouseventures.com.au/scale
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