Bellingham Business Journal, October 06, 2014

Page 1

Vol. 22 No. 8

Oct. 2014 The Shakedown expands [8]

The Buzz Haggen’s new CEO John Clougher said Haggen is done downsizing and ready to grow. He has a background in natural and specialty markets. HAGGEN, PAGE 9

Marijuana law A Bellingham attorneys practice has become 60 percent marijuana business law in the last year. MARIJUANA, PAGE 6

Business toolkit What’s holding you back from marketing you business? [20] The value of human resources. [21] Anne-Marie Faiola, founder and CEO of Bramble Berry, on the set of “Soap Queen TV,” in the warehouse where she runs her soap making company.

AMANDA KERZMAN PHOTO | COURTESY TO THE BBJ

The soap queen

Anne-Marie Faiola built a soap empire with 16 years of steady growth BY OLIVER LAZENBY The Bellingham Business Journal

A

nne-Marie Faiola quit her job as a corrections officer 16 years ago, put $50,000 on her credit card, and started her soap making company Bramble Berry. It turned out to be a good decision.

The company has blossomed and is on track to do about $10 million in sales this year. Faiola employs about 70 people in two warehouses in the Sunnyland neighborhood. The original warehouse buzzes with busy employees. Desks are on one side, and the other, much larger side, has buckets, bags, and boxes of soap supplies stacked on 20-foot-tall shelves.

Business briefs Kulshan Brewing Co. is expanding to a second location. [3] Allegiant Air drops service to Hawaii from Bellingham International Airport. [3]

Bramble Berry sells hundreds of products for soap making--everything from complete soap making kits to ingredients like essential oils, dyes and exfoliants, as well as ingredients for making lotion, nail polish and other beauty products. Bramble Berry has grown steadily since Faiola started it at 20 years old (she’s 37 now). See SOAP, PAGE 4

32nd Annual Space reserved for mailing label

October 28, 2014 SILVER REEF HOTEL CASINO SPA

You’re invited to celebrate with us!

Social | No Host Bar | Silent Auction 5:30pm | Dinner 7pm | Program 7:30pm | Raffle 8pm

www.wwib.org


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