New in Town: Country Harvest Soap

Walk down Beach Boulevard, and you'll notice a new business where The Outpost used to beckon shoppers looking for unique gifts.

Now Country Harvest hopes to become a popular spot for cosumers looking to buy homemade craft soaps and candles. The shop opened its doors on Oct. 1.

“Bathing and candles always go together, as far as I’m concerned,” said Cindi Stevens, owner of Country Harvest.

You won't find long chemical names in these household products. Ingredients for the soap selections are natural, and vary from goat’s milk to olive oil. The candles are made with soy and are known to burn longer than typical, store bought candles. Soy-based candles also are supposed to emit fewer harsh fumes, as opposed to traditional candles.

Owner Cindi Stevens moved to Gulfport from St. Petersburg to take care of her dying father. He was going through end-stage emphysema and Alzheimer's. She quit her job as a paralegal to become a full-time caretaker.

To earn some extra money, Cindi began making all natural soaps and selling them at Art Walks and Fresh Markets. It was an instant hit with locals. “We did fairly well,” Stevens said of her early days in soap and candle making.

After being a successful vendor, Stevens decided she wanted to expand a garage unit around the corner to the new storefront location.

She just recently moved into the old Outpost shop. It is more spacious and creates a lot of foot traffic from the ever-popular Beach Boulevard.

Aside from her fresh candles and soaps, Stevens opens her space for local artists to sell their work. Paintings and handmade jewelry line the shop. The going rate for an artist’s commission on the block is roughly 40-50 percent. Stevens offers her space for 20 percent.

“I want other crafters and artists to have an opportunity to display and sell the things that they make,” she explained, noting the camaraderie indie business owners share.

In the future, Stevens hopes to expand. She is branching out into wholesale at the moment and her website is up and running.

Stop by and welcome Country Harvest to downtown Gulfport... permanently.

Country Harvest Soap Company is located at 3007 Beach Blvd, Gulfport. 33707. Call 727-290-7247 for more information.