Ghimire earns living by making soap at home

By Nisha Rai

Dharan, Oct. 30: Manita Ghimire, 38, a resident of Dharan-15, has been making a living by producing soap from locally available plants around her home.

About seven years ago, she participated in a soap-making training taught by foreign trainers in Kathmandu. She realised she could make soap using plants available in her local area and started making soap upon returning to Dharan. 

Ghimire said, “This has provided me an opportunity for employment from home with a small investment.”

With the growing use of social media, Ghimire markets her soaps on platforms like Facebook and Twitter, allowing customers to place orders directly. This eliminates the need for her to open a shop. She said, “Since the soaps are made and sold from home, it is especially beneficial for women.”

Currently, Ghimire produces soap using ingredients like mugwort (titepati), hemp leaves, charcoal, neem leaves and honey. 

Due to high demand, she also plans to make soap from alum. Although she initially started making carrot face wash, the demand for soap has led her to focus solely on it. “I make a 40 per cent profit on my investment, which is enough to cover my household expenses,” she said.

Handmade and labour-intensive, the cold-process soap Ghimire produces does not require machinery, making it ideal for women looking to start a small business from home with minimal investment. 

Since starting her soap business, Ghimire has provided soap-making training in other areas as well. Wanting to empower more women, she collaborates with local governments to conduct training sessions in various districts. Currently, the soaps cost Rs. 175 each, with the honey soap costing Rs. 150 for a 70-gram bar. Besides online sales, she also sells her products at local fairs and festivals. She added that Twitter was her primary source of larger orders.

Ghimire believed that if people are trained to make soap using locally available plants, they can earn a sustainable income, utilising locally available materials. Ghimire is an example of how social media can be used positively, reducing the need for renting space or setting up a physical store.