Surrounded by family, friends and supporters, Susan Kerber, center, cuts the ribbon for the ceremonial grand opening of RAD Soap Company’s new headquarters in Glenville on Friday, Sept. 9, 2022.
GLENVILLE – RAD Soap Company cut the ribbon on its new facility in Glenville Friday, a space that will house both the company’s new headquarters and production facility for its unique line of handmade lotions, soaps and other products.
The Kerber family was joined by around 50 friends, partners and supporters Friday to tour the new space. The business was started by Sue Kerber, and is now co-owed by her and her sons, Zac and Max.
“This is going to be a great place for me, because it feels like home,” Sue Kerber said. “You welcomed me here, and I think we’ll do great things.”
Sue Kerber started the company in 2009 out of her kitchen in Cohoes. She began making homemade lotions and soaps when her oldest son, Zac, was born with eczema. Many doctor appointments and failed prescriptions later, she said that she decided to turn to nature.
“We’re really a special company,” Sue Kerber said. “We have a special process and we add ingredients like this is actually a mushroom, we pulverize it and put it into things, this is a Reishi mushroom, this is a Chaga mushroom. You’ve probably heard of this now, but we were the first ones to start doing those kinds of things.”
Sue Kerber first sold the products she made in her home at the Troy Farmers Market, she said. The products were later discovered by Whole Foods, and RAD Soap Co. now sells its products across the U.S.
“The integrity of our product is always kept,” Sue Kerber said. “We don’t care how big we grow, we’re always going to have a great product for you. Anything we can change, it’s called RAD, so we can be radical, we change products all the time to make it better and better.”
RAD Soap Co. started with a few types of lotions, Max Kerber said. The company has now grown and has over 50 types of lotions and soaps, he explained, as well as sugar scrubs, CBD creams, natural deodorants and more.
“We appreciate everyone coming out, the support is overwhelming,” Zac Kerber said. “We’re excited about what’s going on. It’s a huge chapter for RAD Soap in our history.”
RAD Soap Co. operates a retail store in Stuyvesant Plaza in Albany, and has a newly established relationship with Market 32.
The move to Glenville brings the company closer to Pine Ridge Industries, a business division of Schenectady ARC.
Schenectady ARC supports individuals with developmental disabilities in different areas such as employment. RAD Soap Co. began its partnership with Schenectady ARC about three years ago, executive director of Schenectady ARC Kirk Lewis said.
“It’s been a tremendous partnership,” Lewis said. “Our statewide organization honored RAD as one of its four employers of the year across the state. We are thrilled that they’re here.”
RAD Soap Co. has a unique process for creating its handmade bars of soap. The top secret process involves suspending the soap in a glycerin state with botanicals and essential oils. According to RAD’s website, its soap is never exposed to sodas and lye and therefore its natural ingredients are not altered.
Categories: Business, News, News, Schenectady County, Scotia Glenville