Buff City Soap Moving HQ to Dallas with ‘Billion-Dollar Business’ Aspirations
Original Article: The Dallas Morning News - May 14, 2020
Buff City Soap is relocating its headquarters from Memphis to the Dallas area, aiming to leverage the city’s central U.S. location as it works toward becoming a billion-dollar company. The exact North Texas location and timeline for the move remain undisclosed, with the company describing the transition as “ongoing,” according to Memphis’ Commercial Appeal.
The private equity-backed chain of handmade soap stores, cleverly dubbed “Makeries,” where customers can get a sudsational view of employees handcrafting their plant-based soaps right before their eyes as they shop. With 35 locations in 11 states, including two in North Texas, the existing Dallas-Fort Worth stores can be found in Allen and Van Alstyne.
Originally called The Bartlett Soap Co., Buff City Soap was founded in 2013 by former firefighter and paramedic Brad Kellum, along with Jennifer Ziemianin. Their mission was to craft soap free from animal fats, unlike most commercial soaps, offering a more natural alternative.
Buff City Soap’s product range has expanded to include bars of soap, shower oils, bath bombs, body butter, men’s care items, laundry detergent and various bath accessories. The company also hosts in-store events where customers can get hands-on and create their own products from scratch.
Kellum told the Commercial Appeal that the company’s revenue was $20 million last year.
In 2019, Kellum stepped down as the head of Buff City Soap, handing the reins to Justin Delaney so he could concentrate on the creative aspects and product development. Delaney previously founded an online suit and tuxedo rental service, which he later sold to the founder of Men’s Wearhouse. Upon taking over at Buff City, Delaney expressed his “privilege” in succeeding Brad and his commitment to helping the company grow into a billion-dollar enterprise.
The CEO of Buff City Soap shared with the Memphis Business Journal that the decision to relocate to the Dallas area was largely driven by its central location in the country, which would streamline logistics for the company’s online operations. Additionally, some of the company’s private equity investors, including Crux Capital, are based in Dallas.
With the headquarters move, the company is also revamping its executive leadership team.
The fresh C-suite at Buff City Soap boasts a lineup of impressive talent from the retail world. Among them are April Willers, a former executive at Michaels, Mike Barhydt, who previously held a position at Jamba Juice, tech entrepreneur Brandon Powers and Chad Brizendine, a seasoned marketing executive.
