Shay and Company — Local services in Milwaukie

As a hobbyist/amateur soap-and-skincare-maker, I want to express my appreciation for Shay and Company. To note for readers, this company is not here to teach you your craft. They are wholesalers.

Aside from being quite affordable and local to me, their service works easily and understandably - stop in and order, or order online for shipping or will-call pickup. I've had minor frustrations with the information on the website (particularly certain fragrances that are noted to not accelerate cold process soap, but went 'zoom' when I tried them myself), yet I'm holding this review as 5-star because of the following customer service experience:

I purchased organic shea butter, thinking, "Oh. It's certified organic and Free Trade. This feels nice all over!" I take it home and pop it open, finding it smelled a bit like sour milk. I expect nuttiness and/or smokiness, either of which pungently so, but not sour. My housemates thought it smelled rancid. My co-worker who I made some body butter for thought it smelled rancid. So I took it back in and they sniffed, saying it's the real deal and to be expected with an organic product. Sniffers and preferences aside, I didn't have a wide frame of reference to draw from, so I was willing to believe it.

That said, when I asked which shea butter I purchased before so I could go back to it, they replaced what I brought back at no charge. And it was a good, level communication, one that said (without saying out loud), "Look, you didn't know what you were getting, so we'll do you a solid. But we're taking a loss (that part they DID say), so count this as your one-and-only strike." As someone who's worked in customer service before, I appreciate how this was handled; Make it right with the client, but also educate and set expectations.

All said, I'm quite impressed with this operation. Although I'm likely to source some fragrances and colorants from elsewhere, I intend for a good 90% or better of my materials to come from Shay...

My company is Barefoot Beach Boutique and I sell “Skincare & ‘Shore’ Things”.

This is my second time ordering a five pound bucket of Horsetail Butter from your company. No other company comes close to the quality of your brand. It’s creamy and smooth and melts easily. I absolutely love it and recommend it highly.

I use the Horsetail Butter in my best selling product, Jellyfish Juice Miracle Salve. It soothes or heals a wide variety of skin issues.

I am very fussy with my ingredients. Horsetail Butter isn’t easy to find and if you do, they have coconut oil in it. which My daughter is allergic coconut and I don’t use it in any of my products because of her allergy. I tried making it myself once out of desperation and was very disappointed. 😔 I took the time to read the materials included with my shipment. I was pleased to learn Shay & Company is a small woman owned business. Barefoot Beach Boutique is as well. I am the woman. Hopefully, one day BBB will be large enough for my daughter to come aboard and then eventually my grandchildren. If I am ever in Milwaukie, Oregon I will stop by and say hello! If you are ever in Phillipsburg, New Jersey look me up. ☺️

I am a...

I'm the owner of Botanica Artisan, LLC and they are one of my best suppliers. Shay and Company, LLC is the best choice to get supplies for soap makers and cosmetic makers. It has the best prices, the best quality ingredients and offers a wide variety of hard to find ingredients. They have the most complete selection of essential oils, fragrance oils, many different options for clays, colors, micas and botanicals. I've been a client of this store for about four years and I've seen them grow and improve their products and services, they even sell top quality brands like Brambleberry and Crafter's Choice which means that I save a ton of money on shipping and handling. If you want to make soap, this is the place!!! They have everything you need from the best selling books, electronic scales, soap bases to the best soap molds in the market. A whole variety from beginners to experts. I will highly recommend Shay and Company Inc as the best soap and cosmetic supplier in the market. Every single customer is treated with respect and professionalism. They take great pride in offering only the best of the best and is a 100% Oregonian Company. ...