Castaway Cottage is a family-run business offering beautiful hand-crafted products for the bath and home. From colourful bath bombs and crumbles to a range of natural wax melts and soaps; all made with care for skin and the environment using essential oils or carefully selected fragrances.
The packaging is compostable, recyclable or upcycled. We operate a zero-waste process and go to great lengths to ensure our ingredients are ethically sourced and cruelty-free.
The brain-child of 13yr old Archie, the Castaway team now includes three generations of a family from 13-74 years.
What made you decide to set up Castaway Cottage?
Castaway Cottage has gone from hobby to a growing business. It started after a trip to Hitchen Lavender Farm, where Archie picked so much we wondered what we could do with it. He has always been a fan of the high street brand that-shall-not-be-named selling bath bombs, so we looked into making bath bombs for Christmas presents. Before we knew it, we had hampers full of handmade goodies and everyone asking for more. After some feedback, we expanded the range and registered as a business. Our goal is to help Archie create a business he can run full time when he leaves school.
Quote from Archie
“A trip to Hitchin Lavender Farm, Hertfordshire in 2017, and a desire to do something with all of the hand-picked lavender started the journey of Castaway Cottage for me three years ago. Our name, Castaway Cottage was inspired by Enid Blyton’s Famous Five – it sounded like a location that would pop up in the book by the intrepid adventurers that I was reading at the time. After two years of family-made Christmas Presents and demand for our products and running and analysing surveys from those receiving our products, fast-forward to 2019 and with the support and help of my family, Castaway was registered as Limited Company. It is now a growing enterprise involving three generations of our family. As someone with Autism, having the opportunity to work full time in a business I love when I leave school, is pretty exciting. Thank you for supporting a dream“.
If you could give any of your products as a gift, which one would you choose and why?
The vegan treat box. It is the quickest way to create a DIY spa. It includes the Zinger bath bomb, packed with unwinding and uplifting essential oils. It is such a versatile bath bomb product, you can use it in the bath, but it is equally brilliant in a bowl of water in a foot spa!
You create products that help people relax. Why do you think time to relax is important?
The past five months have highlighted everyone’s need to escape and relax, particularly if for those shielding or working from home. Time to relax and unwind and let the mind recover is essential to mental and physical wellbeing, whether that’s pottering in the garden, reading a book or a soak in a hot bath. We’ve seen a lot of people acknowledge the need of others to relax, and we have delivered lots of gift boxes with handwritten notes to people. The word relax features a lot! We’ve also created one-off party bags for a ladies DIY spa get together. Everyone has their go-to relaxation strategies, and we think that’s important.
What’s been your biggest lesson as an Entrepreneur?
To keep listening to your customers and responding to their needs. It’s how we evolve and develop our products. It also ensures we minimise costly mistakes as it is expensive to bring a new bath product to market. There are a lot of legalities!
What has been your proudest moment in business?
Getting shortlisted for four Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce, Inspiring Herts Awards. In particular Archies nomination for Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
Check out castaway cottage on our #SHOPLOCAL directory here or via their website: https://www.castaway-cottage.co.uk/