Dear Friends and Loyal Customers,
It is with some sadness that we are announcing the closing of our Simply Soothing Marketplace retail store: effective January 10th.
Retail is very challenging, and especially in small towns. We have struggled for several years to keep this type of store open, but have made a business decision not to continue so that we may concentrate on other parts of the business.
The concept for our Simply Soothing Iowa Marketplace came from attending craft shows and watching people lugging beautiful handcrafted items around from show to show, while charging not much more than what would cover their costs. My vision was to create a comfortable storefront that would showcase these items, and allow people to shop in a relaxed atmosphere. Buying unique gifts made in our home state, while creating a sustainable business for the crafters.
We very much appreciate all the customers that have stopped in to buy gifts over the years. Our vendors appreciate them as well. Although we have had some of the best customers in the world, we have just not had enough of them to support this part of our business.
Please understand that lack of sales is definitely not a reflection of the beautiful items we have carried in our Columbus Junction store. It has always been heartbreaking to me that we couldn’t do justice for the hard work that has gone into the crafting of these gifts.
Over the next few weeks we will be open. There are many gifts left to buy, but when they are gone, they are gone. (Simply Soothing products, including Bug Soother, will continue to be available, but we will no longer have additional Iowa vendor’s items for sale.) Many of the vendors in Simply Soothing Iowa Marketplace are offering amazing discounts. There is not a better time to shop than now during the height of the holiday season, to buy something lovingly made by local Iowa artisans, rather than shipped in from China.
Simply Soothing will continue to make and sell our own products. We are going to put more effort into wholesale and ecommerce with a wider customer base while we continue to bring you natural, nourishing, and affordable products for you and your family. We will continue to keep you updated on what we are doing with that part of the business, in the meantime take advantage of some great sales on the Simply Soothing products you love. If you aren’t familiar with the products we make (beyond Bug Soother), please make sure to take a moment to learn about some of the other soothing products we make right here in SE Iowa.
Wishing you a wonderful holiday season,
Freda Sojka, CEO of Simply Soothing
