User’s Company is a licensed and standard soap production company that will be located #7 Egbeda street, Aba, Abia state. We have been able to secure a long term lease for a facility in a strategic location with an option of a long term renewal on an agreed terms and conditions that is favorable to us.
Soap is a universal product that can be found in all homes, canteen, laundries, hotels and toilets et al. Soaps are used for washing and bathing hence the demand for soap is hardly affected by economic meltdown due to the important role the product plays in our daily lives.
Soap production companies are involved in making bar soaps, liquid soaps, and detergent et al with different scent and packaging. Major players in the soap production industry do not just serve the market within the State or country they operate from, but also international markets.
The equipment needed for soap making include; the soap making machine, heat resistance plastic or stainless steel pitcher with lid, big stainless steel or plastic spoon, Stainless steel measuring spoons, measuring cups, small beakers, stick blender (for saponification process), a soap mold, soap pot, rubber spatulas, large stainless steel or plastic ladle, protective goggles, protective rubber hand gloves, Quick reading and accurate thermometer. You will also need supply of lye solution, oils, additives (colorants), and fragrances, amongst others.
The facility has government approval for the kind of business we want to run and it is easily accessible and we are deliberate about that to facilitate easy movement of raw materials and finished products (well packaged soaps and detergent).
We are in the soap making line of business to produce block soaps, liquid soaps and detergents in commercial quantities. We are also in business to make profits at the same to give our customers value for their money; we want to give people and businesses who patronize our soaps and detergents the opportunity to be part of the success story of Francis Soap Production Company.
We are aware that there are several big scale and small scale soap production companies scattered all around Port Harcourt, whose products can be found in every nooks and crannies of the country, which is why we spent time and resources to conduct our feasibility studies and market survey so as to enable us locate the business in an area that will support the growth of the business and also for us to be able offer much more than our competitors will be offering.
We ensured that our facility is easy to locate and we have mapped out plans to develop a wide distribution network for wholesalers all around Aba and Nigeria as a whole.
Much more than producing quality soaps and detergent in commercial quantities, our customer care is going to be second to none. We know that our customers are the reason why we are in business which is why we will go the extra mile to get them satisfied when they visit or purchase our product and also to become our loyal customers and ambassadors.
User’s Company will ensure that all our customers (wholesale distributors) are given first class treatment whenever they visit our Depot / Plant. We have a CRM software that will enable us manage a one on one relationship with our customers (wholesale distributors) no matter how large the numbers of our customer base may grow to.
We will ensure that we get our customers involved when making some business decisions that will directly or indirectly affect them.
Francis Soap Company is a family business that will be owned by Mr. Francis and his immediate family members. Mr. Francis Bassey who is the Chief Executive Officer of the Company is Graduate of Industrial Chemistry (B.Sc.) and he holds a Master’s Degree in Business Management (MBA).
He has well over 10 years of experience working in the soap production industry as a senior manager prior to starting Francis Soap Making Company. He will be working with a team of professionals to build the business and grow it to become one of the market leaders in the industry.
OUR VISION STATEMENT
Our vision is to establish a standard Soap Production Company whose product will not only be sold in Aba, but also throughout all the states in Nigeria and in other parts of World.
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission is to establish a standard and world class Soap Production Company that in our own capacity will favorably compete with leaders in the industry. We want to build a soap production business that will be listed amongst the top 10 soap and detergent brands in Nigeria. We want to build a household brand name.
OUR PRODUCT/SERVICE OFFERING
User’s Company is going to operate a standard and licensed soap production company whose product will not only be sold in Aba. We are in the soap production line of business to make profits and also to give our customers value for their money and we are going to do all that is permitted by the law of Nigeria to achieve our corporate goals.
Our products and services offering are listed below;
- Toilet Soap / Bathing Soap (Bar Soap) with different fragrance
- Baby Soap (Bar and liquid) with different fragrance
- Body Wash (Liquid Soap) with different fragrance
- Hand Wash (Liquid Soap) with different fragrance
- Dish Washer ( Liquid Soap)
- Clothe Washing Soap
- Car Wash (Liquid Soap)
- Detergent
OUR BUSINESS STRUCTURE
User’s Company is a business that is established with the aim of competing favorably with other leading soap and detergent brands in Nigeria. This is why we will ensure that we put the right structure in place that will support the kind of growth that we have in mind while setting up the business.
We will ensure that we only hire people that are qualified, honest, hardworking, customer centric and are ready to work to help us build a prosperous business that will benefit all the stake holders (the owners, workforce, and customers).
As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our senior management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of five years or more depending how fast we meet our set target. In view of that, we have decided to hire qualified and competent hands to occupy the following positions;
- Chief Executive Officer (Owner)
- Plant Manager
- Human Resources and Admin Manager
- Sales and Marketing Manager
- Accountants / Cashiers
- Soap Making Machine and Packaging Operators
- Customer Services Executives
- Distribution Truck Drivers
MARKET ANALYSIS
- Market Trends
The trend in the soap and detergent production industry is such that, any product that has been proven to be reliable and healthy tends to sell more and determine the direction of the market for such industry.
You would quite agree that there are loads of soap and detergent brands out there in the market that you may have to compete with. One of the things that you need to do to get your own fair market share is to come out with a creative packaging for your soap and detergent and also come up with different fragrance and sizes. You might just have to consult a brand expert if you truly want to make it big with your soap making company.
Lastly, another trend in the soap production industry is that leading soap and detergent production companies ensure that they get well – known celebrity to become their brand ambassador. With that, it is easier for them to be able to sell their products and have an active presence in the industry.
- Our Target Market
When it comes to selling soaps and detergents, there is indeed a wide range of available customers. In essence, our target market can’t be restricted to just a group of people or organization, but all those who resides in our target market locations such as; Aba, Isingwa, Umuahia etc.
In view of that, we have conducted our market research and we have ideas of what our target market would be expecting from us. We are in business to engage in the production and wholesale distribution of soaps and detergents to the following groups of organizations;
- Hotels
- Restaurants and Canteens
- Event Planners, Parties and Corporate Functions
- Corporate Executives
- Government Officials
- Business People
- Celebrities
- Pregnant women / Expectant mothers (for their babies)
- Military Men and Women
- Sports Men and Women
- Students
- Laundry Owners
- Our Competitive Advantage
A close study of the soap and detergent production industry reveals that the market is becoming much more competitive over the last decade. As a matter of fact, you have to be highly creative, customer centric and proactive if you must survive in this industry. We are aware of the stiffer competition and we are well prepared to compete favorably with other soap and detergent production companies in Aba and Nigeria.
User’s Company is launching a standard soap and detergent production brand that will indeed become the preferred choice for businesses and households in Rivers State and other states in Nigeria where we intend marketing our soap and detergents.
Part of what is going to count as competitive advantage for User’s Company is the vast experience of our management team, we have people on board who are highly experienced and understands how to grow business from the scratch to becoming a national phenomenon. So also our large national distribution network and of course our excellent customer service culture will definitely count as a strong strength for the business.
Lastly, our employees will be well taken care of, and their welfare package will be amongst the best within our category (startups soap and detergent production companies) in the industry, meaning that they will be more than willing to build the business with us and help deliver our set goals and achieve all our aims and objectives. We will also give good working conditions and commissions to freelance sales agents that we will recruit from time to time.
- Marketing Strategy
Before choosing a location to launch User’s Company we conduct a thorough market survey and feasibility studies in order for us to be able to be able to penetrate the available market in our target market locations.
We have detailed information and data that we were able to utilize to structure our business to attract the numbers of customers we want to attract per time and also for our soap and detergent to favorable compete with other leading brands in Port Harcourt and throughout Nigeria.
We hired experts who have good understanding of the soap and detergent production industry to help us develop marketing strategies that will help us achieve our business goal of winning a larger percentage of the available market in Port Harcourt and other cities in throughout.
In order to continue to be in business and grow, we must continue to sell our soaps and detergents to the available market which is why we will go all out to empower or sales and marketing team to deliver our corporate sales goals. In summary, User’s Company will adopt the following sales and marketing approach to sell our soaps and detergents;
- Introduce our soap and detergent brand by sending introductory letters to households, retailers, supermarkets, hotels, laundries, merchants and other stakeholders.
- Open our soap and detergent production company with a party so as to capture the attention of residence who are our first targets
- Engage in road show in targeted communities from time to time to sell our products
- Advertise our products in community based newspapers, local TV and radio stations
- List our business and products on yellow pages ads (local directories)
- Leverage on the internet to promote our soap and detergent brands
- Engage in direct marketing and sales
- Encourage the use of Word of mouth marketing (referrals)