How Pacha Soap turned its social mission into a successful business

Pacha Soap proves you can change the world from anywhere. In 2010, while a sophomore at Hastings College in Hastings, Nebraska, Andrew Vrbas volunteered in Peru at a school, teaching sanitation skills to children. “Living in a developing country after being in the U.S., it really changed my perspective,” said Vrbas. He wanted to do something to…

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Pacha Soap co-founder Andrew Vrbas in front of a soap shop in Kamakara, Burundi, that their company supports. Photo courtesy of Pacha Soap.

Pacha Soap proves you can change the world from anywhere.

In 2010, while a sophomore at Hastings College in Hastings, Nebraska, Andrew Vrbas volunteered in Peru at a school, teaching sanitation skills to children.

“Living in a developing country after being in the U.S., it really changed my perspective,” said Vrbas.

He wanted to do something to help people in developing countries like Peru.

“I thought of this idea of a soap company that would make soap from local ingredients in those countries,” said Vrbas. He returned from Peru with the concept for Pacha, which means “earth” in Quechua, the native language of the people from the Central Andes.

He originally wanted to return to Peru to set up his business there, but he realized that he had no experience making soap and no business experience. So he spent the rest of his time in college researching how to launch his company. He told his friend Abi, an art and advertising student, who got really excited about it.

“She was one of the only people who didn’t think I was crazy,” said Vrbas.

Together they co-founded Pacha Soap. They also got married.

“We were able to go back [to Peru] when Abi graduated college, and I was able to show her what I experienced,” said Vrbas.

The social enterprise model

Pacha Soap is made in Hastings, but the raw materials are sourced from around the world, including Africa and South America.

“We’re just now beginning to form a partnership with an essential oil provider in Peru,” said Vrbas. “Although our journey has led us to East Africa, it’s been really cool to reforge that relationship.”

Pacha soaps are created using organic, fair trade, environmentally sustainable ingredients. They also come in unique scents like Pipe Tobacco & CoffeeCinnamon Cedarwood and Dirty Hippie.

Vrbas has been influenced by other social enterprise entrepreneurs like Blake Mycoskie of TOMS Shoes.

“We took his model and we refined and made it better, I think,” said Vrbas.

They’ve also looked to other successful players in the organic, sustainable, socially conscious consumer product space, like Dr. Bronner’s.

“They are the largest family owned soap company in the United States, so I’ve been excited to see what they’ve done from an organic sourcing standpoint,” said Vrbas.

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Pacha Soap Product Development Specialist Natalie Legener making soap in Hastings, Nebraska. Photo courtesy of Pacha Soap.

Global impact from Central Nebraska

Vrbas is originally from Atwood, Kansas, population 1,000. His wife Abi is from McCook, Nebraska, population 8,000. That makes Hastings, a city of 25,000, a significantly larger community than they grew up in.

Now, as world travelers, it’s place that they love to come back to.

“It’s really wonderful to come to a small community after travelling internationally,” said Vrbas. “The community has been very receptive to us.”

Vrbas said he’s learned a lot from successful business owners in the community.

“The people here are very special,” said Vrbas.

Early success

In the beginning Vrbas and his wife sold Pacha Soap at farmer’s markets and coffee shops.

“We would load up my Honda and hit the road, just walk into stores and tell our story,” said Vrbas. “It was definitely a learning experience. You have to have a thick skin.”

Pacha Soap is now available in 750 stores across the U.S. and Canada, including Whole Foods. Most of their sales come through retail. About 5% of sales come from online purchases, according to Vrbas.

Pacha Soap was officially incorporated in 2013. The company now has 20 full-time employees. In 2015 the company reached profitability, with 4% of its total revenue going to support its mission.

“It’s a sizeable number for us, but we’re still able to be profitable and grow,” said Vrbas.

Vrbas recently returned from Burundi where Pacha Soap supports three soap shops that will provide sanitation and jobs for the surrounding area.

“It’s so cool that our business can do that,” said Vrbas.

Ryan Pendell is the Managing Editor of Silicon Prairie News.

This story is part of the AIM Archive

This story is part of the AIM Institute Archive on Silicon Prairie News. AIM gifted SPN to the Nebraska Journalism Trust in January 2023. Learn more about SPN’s origin »

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