Mandala Soap Blog

Eleven New Mandala Soap Retailers

We're very pleased to announce eleven new Mandala Soap Retailers:

Branches An Uncommon Card, Gift & Paper Store
6656 SE Milwaukie Avenue
Portland, OR 97202

The Long Island Center for Yoga
107 East Main Street
Babylon, NY 11702
www.longislandyoga.com

Mountain People's Co-op
30 E. First Street
Nederland, CO 80466

Moonstones
4070 Burton Drive
Cambria, CA, 93428
www.moonstones.com

Herbs For Life
69 W. Main Street
Fredonia, NY 14063
www.herbs-for-life.com

Ginza
1721 Connecticut Avenue NW
Washington DC 20009
www.ginzaonline.com

Angel Light Center
13300 Watertown Plank Road, Suite A
Elm Grove, WI 53122
www.angellightllc.com

Gulliver's Books
3525 College Road
Fairbanks, AK 99709
www.gullivers-books.com

The Bookstore & More
1001 S Beeline Hwy, Suite F
Payson, Arizona 85541

Alternative Fitness & Health LLC
207 Avenida De Mesilla
Las cruces, NM 88005

ArtsInspire
Lindenhurst, IL
www.artsinspire.com

Eartheart of Nevada City, California Becomes Our Newest Retailer

We're pleased to announce that Eartheart of Nevada City, California has become our newest Mandala Soap Retailer. Eartheart is a gorgeous new gallery that grand opened this month with our Mandala Soaps adorning its shelves.

The owner of Eartheart says, "Your Mandala soaps are prominently displayed throughout the store along with mineral specimens and in display cases. Some are backlit, which is very complimentary to the Mandala designs within them, and some are at our cash wrap for impulse purchases. So instead of putting them all together in one place, we use them as adornments to complement the other items we sell, and they are going home with many people."

We were very excited to see and hear that our Mandala Soaps are being displayed with such care and thoughtfulness and in such a creative and imaginative way. Be sure to click and enlarge the photographs to see every delectable detail of this gorgeous store!

Eartheart offers the historic town of Nevada City, California a beautiful and unique collection of art, mineral specimens, art glass, jewelry, candles, and personal care products.

Eartheart
408 Broad Street, Suite 7
Nevada City, CA 95959
530.265.8265

Announcing Six New Retailers

We're very pleased to announce six new Mandala Soap Retailers:

Imagine in Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts offers the seaside village of Vineyard Haven, the main entry point to the island of Martha's Vineyard, a beautiful selection of gifts and products that nurture the heart and soul and please the imagination.

Imagine
29 Water Street
Vineyard Haven, MA 02568
508.693.1785

Mystic Journey in Asheville, North Carolina offers the town of Asheville an inspired collection of books, gifts, cards, crystals, jewelry, incense, candles, and more.

Mystic Journey
333 Merrimon Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801
828.253.4272

Crystal Garden Boutique in St. Helens, Oregon offers the community of this riverfront town a soulful assortment of mind-body wellness gifts and products.

Crystal Garden Boutique
1531 Columbia Blvd
St. Helens, OR 97051
503.366.3454

Everything Natural in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania offers its community healthy food choices, organic and fair trade goods, environmentally friendly gifts and products, classes, seminars, and events.

Everything Natural
426 S. State Street
Clarks Summit, PA 18411
570.586.9684

Living Recovery in Cohoes, New York offers the city of Cohoes, where the mouth of the Mohawk River joins the Hudson River in the Capital District in Upstate NY, a wondrous collection of books, gifts and inspiration for those in recovery.

Living Recovery
1105 New Louden Street
Cohoes, NY 12047
518.785.5258

Blue Heron Inn in Findley Lake, New York, located in the rolling hills of Southwestern New York State, offers its visitors and guests a magnificent bed and breakfast, restaurant and shopping experience.

Blue Heron Inn
10412 Main Street
Findley Lake, NY 14736
716.769.7852

New Paradigm Digest is Talking About Us

We were very excited to find this article about Mandala Soap posted on the brand new "New Paradigm Digest" Blog:

April 1, 2008

If you love mandalas and use bar soap, you’re going to love Mandala Soaps. Created by web entrepreneur, Valerie Rickel of Soulful Living.com, the collection includes ten beautiful designs embedded in clear-transparent fragrant glycerin soaps. When the soap is gone, you have a beautiful mandala disc that can be displayed on a window or mirror or in a small frame.. The soaps are selling well at stores around the country. You can either go to one of the stores you’ll find at the site or order online at mandalasoap.com. If you are a brick and mortar or online store you can also open a wholesale account online.

Mandala Soap donates 1% of its annual sales or 5% of its net profits (whichever is greater) to non-profit environmental organizations.

http://newparadigmdigest.com/introducing-mandala-soap/

Mandala Soap Giftware Review in Spring Issue of New Age Retailer Magazine

We're excited to announce that a giftware review of Mandala Soap is featured in the Spring 2008 issue of New Age Retailer Magazine, by "Out of the Box" columnist, Jean Haller.

The review reads:

Mandala Art Soaps
Whether your customers appreciate spiritual art, follow a meditation practice, are yoga enthusiasts, or are simply seekers on the path of life, they will love Mandala Soaps. Choose from 10 delightful fragranced soaps, each presented in a clear, plastic case with a full-color mandala design embedded in the soap. These oversized bars of biodegradable vegetable glycerin soap have the appearance of stained glass as the light plays off the artwork. Once the soap has been consumed, the reusable mandala disk can be displayed on a glass surface or mirror or placed in a frame. Customers can give or get two gifts in one! The add-on acrylic Mandala Soap Easel can be used to display the soaps as the beautiful and meaningful art that they are.

Click to view a pdf of the review.

Stylish Opinion Magazine is Talking About Mandala Soap

We were excited to find this cool review of Mandala Soap posted on Stylish Opinion Magazine's Blog today:

March 11, 2008

Can we say blissful and clean in the same sentence? Sure, why not. With Mandala Soap, these products just make you want to be hygiene conscious. 10 totally inspiring fragrant, clear-transparent “stained-glass” soaps, with the colorful art mandala images. Best part? They are reusable and frameable.

Not knowing what a mandala is? Well, neither did we. According to their website: “A mandala is a circular art form, symbolic of unity, wholeness and the universe. It’s intricate geometric patterns draw the focus of the eyes toward its center, making it an ideal tool for meditation and centering.”) ommmmm.

Now where were we? Oh yes… and Mandala Soaps are cruelty-free, vegan, long-lasting oversized decorator bars, presented inside of clear protective packaging. Also check out their soap dish holder, which functions as both a soap dish and frame, to store at the sink, tub or shower. So see, seek, buy. Mandala Soap donates 1% of its annual sales or 5% of its net profits (whichever is greater) to non-profit environmental organizations.

http://www.stylishopinion.com/2008/03/11/mandala-soap/#more-848

Angel's Serenity Gift Store Opening Soon in Scottsdale, AZ Becomes Our Newest Retailer

We're excited to announce that Angel's Serenity gift store, opening soon in Scottsdale, Arizona has become our newest Mandala Soap Retailer. Watch for this store to open soon!

Angel's Serenity
4839 East Greenway Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85254

Mandala Soap is Honored to Donate Soaps to the Tibet House US Annual Benefit Concert

We're honored to announce that we will be donating our Mandala Soaps to Tibet House U.S., in support of their Annual Benefit Concert at Carnegie Hall on February 13, 2008.

Our "Awakening" Mandala Soaps will be included in gift bags for the performers of this event, who will include: Ray Davies, Phamie Gow, Nawang Khechog, Ashley MacIsaac, Marisa Monte, Sufjan Stevens, Tom Verlaine, and Band of Horses.

Tibet House U.S. is part of a worldwide network of Tibetan institutions committed to ensuring that the light of the Tibetan spirit never disappears from the face of the earth.

Click here to learn more about Tibet House U.S. and their Annual Benefit Concert

Sacred Circle of Alexandria, Virginia Becomes Our Newest Retailer

We're excited to announce that Sacred Circle of Alexandria, Virginia joins us today as our newest Mandala Soap Retailer. Sacred Circle, located in a beautiful 200 year-old building in Alexandria’s Old Town, offers the Washington, DC Metro Area "everything from astrology to zen," including books, music, gifts, and various services and events including divinatory readings and classes.

Sacred Circle
919 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
703.299.9309

Announcing Three New Retailers

We're very pleased to announce three new Mandala Soap Retailers:

Dancing Moon Books & Gifts in Raleigh, North Carolina, one of the largest independent, New Age retailers in the Southeast, offers the community of Raleigh a large selection of books and gifts, aromatherapy and candles, CDs, incense and crystals, jewelry, and herbs, as well events, classes, seminars, and movie events.

Dancing Moon Books & Gifts
1840 Wake Forest Road
Raleigh, NC 27608
919.833.8081

Aromas & Accents in Pleasant Hill, California offers its community "all things aromatic," including candles, oils, soaps, incense, potpourri, candle accessories, plus a nice assortment of unique items to brighten any home.

Aromas & Accents
45 Crescent Drive
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
925.689.2235

Alexandra in Williamsville, New York offers its customers a wide assortment of gifts "to fill all the senses," including handcrafted jewelry, fine papers, journals, candles and bath and body products.

Alexandra
5110 Main Street
Williamsville, NY 14221
716.632.6074

Horai-San of Brookline, Massachusetts Becomes Our Newest Retailer

We're pleased to announce that Horai-San of Brookline, Massachusetts has become our newest Mandala Soap Retailer. Horai-San offers the community of Brookline a wide assortment of mind-body wellness books and cds, crystals, gemstone jewelry, unique statuary, sacred art, and meditation supplies.

Horai-San
242 Washington Street
Brookline, MA 02445
617.277.4321

The Velvet Elephant of Mt. Shasta, California Becomes Our Newest Retailer

We're excited to announce that The Velvet Elephant of Mount Shasta, California joins us today as our newest Mandala Soap Retailer. The Velvet Elephant: Art Center & Fair Trade Emporium offers the community of Mount Shasta, and its year-round visitors, a wide variety of artist's supplies, art activity kits, and fair trade gifts, products and handicrafts.

The Velvet Elephant
510-A North Mt. Shasta Blvd.
Mount Shasta, CA 96067
530.926.2297

Announcing Our Newest Retailer: Unity Church of Venice Bookstore in Venice, Florida

We're pleased to announce that the Unity Church of Venice Bookstore in Venice, Florida joins us today as our newest Mandala Soap Retailer.

Unity Church of Venice Bookstore
125 N. Jackson Road
Venice, FL 34292

"The Town Traveler" Gift Shop Opening Soon in the New Virginia Beach Westin Hotel Becomes Our Newest Retailer

We're excited to announce that The Town Traveler gift store, opening soon in the newly built Westin Hotel in Virginia Beach, VA, has become our newest Mandala Soap Retailer. Watch for this store to open soon!

The Town Traveler
The Westin Hotel
4539 Commerce Street
Virginia Beach, VA 23462

Yuba Blue Becomes Our Newest Retailer

We're pleased to announce that Yuba Blue in historic, downtown Grass Valley, California has become our newest Mandala Soap Retailer. Yuba Blue offers its shoppers a wondrous selection of unique gifts, clothing, home accent pieces, and treats for body and bath:

Yuba Blue
116 Mill Street
Grass Valley, CA 95945
530.273.0840

Spirit at Work Books Joins Us as Our Newest Retailer

We're excited to announce our newest Mandala Soap retailer, Spirit at Work Books, which offers the community of Boise, Idaho a spirited selection of books, gifts, classes, events, and the Shangri-La Tea Room:

Spirit at Work Books
710 N. Orchard Street
Boise, ID 83706
208.388.3884

Mandala Soap Spotted in Today's Baltimore Sun Newspaper

I was quite excited to receive an email from Susan Weis, owner of Breathe Books in Baltimore, Maryland, today, letting me know that our Mandala Soaps can be seen on display in her store (over her shoulder, on the left) in a photo that appeared alongside a feature article about Breathe Books in today's business section of The Baltimore Sun Newspaper.

What a nice honor. They look terrific in her gorgeous store!

You can read the article here: http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-bz.christmas22dec22,0,2050123.story
(Sun photo by Monica Lopossay / December 12, 2007)

"Everything Yoga" Blog is Talking About Us!

We were very excited to discover this sparkling review of Mandala Soap on the "Everything Yoga" Blog:

November 27, 2007
Holiday Shopping -- A Few of My Favorite Things

There are a variety of fantastic (as well as organic and fair trade) items at Mandala. One of the more unusual and way cool gifts they're offering is something new -- Mandala soaps. Not only are these useful (after all, they do get you clean -- and smell fantastic) but they are beautiful to look at. And the best part -- after you've used the soap, you end up with a lovely mandala art design, suitable for framing. What's not to love? Choose from soaps with delightful names like Harmony, Nirvana, Lotus Light, and Inner Journey. I can't think of a better stocking stuffer!

http://www.itsallaboutyoga.com/2007/11/holiday-shoppin.html

Announcing Our Newest Retailer

We're excited to announce our newest Mandala Soap retailer:

New Balance
@ Heartwoods Healing Center
5307 N. Bemidji Avenue
Bemidji, MN 56601
218.444.8497

Announcing Two New Retailers

We're excited to announce two new Mandala Soap retailers:

The Present Moment
521 N. Milwaukee Avenue
Libertyville, IL 60048
847.367.1581

Touch of Grayce
65 Main Street
Geneseo, NY 14454
585.243.4980

Museum Store Association

We are pleased to announce that Mandala Soap is a new Exhibitor Affiliate of the Museum Store Association (MSA).

Founded in 1955, MSA is a nonprofit, international association organized to advance the success of cultural commerce and of the professionals engaged in it.

Learn more about MSA at http://www.museumdistrict.com.

The M & Brushstroke Design mark is owned by the Museum Store Association.

Shipping Our First Orders

It was a special day here today at Mandala Soap, as we shipped off our first wholesale orders, and we wanted to commemorate the occasion with photos! 

Shown at left, our colorful Mandala Soaps being packed into boxes for shipment to our wholesale customers.

At right, our boxes of Mandala Soap being shipped from our local UPS Store, in the careful hands of the nice clerk behind the counter, who was willing to pose for our camera, and who likely found it a bit humorous that we needed to capture the moment on film. :-)

1% for the Planet Auction

Mandala Soap is a member of "1% for the Planet" and is proud to donate 1% of its annual sales or 5% of its net profits (whichever is greater) to non-profit environmental organizations working to help put a stop to global warming, as part of Mandala Soap's commitment to support efforts that protect, preserve, and restore our precious planet earth.

This month, we are excited to be participating in the "1% for the Planet" Holiday Auction by donating a Complete Set of Mandala Soap, with a value of $120.

You can help support the important work of "1% for the Planet" and Place an Auction Bid on our Complete Set of 10 Mandala Soaps. (Note: Bidding closes Dec. 5th at 8:00 EST.) Be the highest bidder and win!

Thanksgiving Gratitude

All of us here at Mandala Soap have lots to be thankful for on this Thanksgiving Day, but we are particularly grateful for our first eleven wholesale customers, who will be selling our Mandala Soaps in their retail stores this Holiday season!

Here is a list of the first retail stores to offer Mandala Soap:

Liberation Yoga, Los Angeles, CA
The Sea Trader, Gualala, CA
Foodworks, Guilford, CT
Styx & Stonz, Hoffman Estates, IL
Breathe Books, Baltimore, MD
Circles of Wisdom, Andover, MA
Yoga Sisterwear, Setauket, NY
Soul Journey, Cashiers, NC
Healing Haven, Astoria, OR
Journeys of Life, Pittsburgh, PA
East West Bookshop, Seattle, WA

(Please visit our Retailers page for more detailed listings.)

Shown above: "Gratitude" Mandala Soap, infused with the essences of Wild Orchid, Water Lily and Peony.

Mandala Soap is Here!

It's official... Mandala Soap has arrived and, as of today, is now "officially" available for sale!

It is with great excitement that I say those words, as Mandala Soap has been my dream in the making for over seven years!

It is extremely rewarding to see something that I hold so close to my heart finally come to fruition and be birthed into the world.

My name is Valerie Rickel, and I am the developer of Mandala Soap. I am also the founder and creator of SoulfulLiving.com a popular web community and internet magazine devoted to personal growth and spirituality.

Mandala Soap is my love and my passion. It brings together so many of my favorite things: art, spirituality, soap, and mandalas! It has long been my dream to bring the beauty and healing nature of mandalas to product development.

I have been planning and developing Mandala Soap almost as long as I have been creating my website, SoulfulLiving.com. Those same seven years spent dreaming up the idea for Mandala Soap were also spent publishing thousands of self-help articles at my website, written and submitted by many of today’s best-selling authors and leading-edge thinkers within the personal and spiritual growth movement.

My intense love and interest in mandalas runs deep. I came to discover mandalas through the mandala images left behind by my artist father at the time of his death and the rich insights about these mandalas that I found in his journals. Read more about his journals here.

In fact, my passionate interest in mandalas inspired me to launch an online store called, Mandala, in 2001, to complement the content offerings at my SoulfulLiving.com website. The store offers a unique and unusual collection of mandala-inspired gifts and tools for soulful living. While my store has offered products obtained from other producers for the last six years, I have always known in my heart that, one day, I would have the resources to bring my own products to market and sell my own mandala-inspired goods. Mandala Soap is the first realization of that dream!

Mandala Soap is a new and unique gift -- the perfect gift for art lovers, spiritual seekers, and meditation or yoga enthusiasts!

Our collection of 10 blissfully fragrant, clear-transparent “stained-glass” soaps are embedded with colorful mandala art images that are reusable and frameable. Mindfully handcrafted in the USA of high-grade biodegradable vegetable glycerin, Mandala Soaps are cruelty-free, vegan, long-lasting oversized decorator bars.

Beautiful, meaningful and meditative, Mandala Soaps are sure to inspire moments of peaceful centeredness!