Outpouring of support keeps soapmaking family afloat

Sunday, June 21, 2009

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Nigro wipes away tears as she talks about the support her business received.

TARPON SPRINGS (Bay News 9) -- A Bay area family is taking a creative approach to keeping their struggling dream alive in the tough economy.

Linda Nigro and her family run a soap-making business. Lately, it's been a struggle for the artist to keep her head above water.

Last year, the family opened a shop on the sponge docks of Tarpon Springs. For a while, everything went well. But when the economy took a hit, so did their business, and they had to close up shop.

The family tried to save money by moving the business into their home, but the unpaid bills kept piling up.

"I got so burnt out," Nigro said. "I owed my landlord. I still do, about four or five months rent. I owe a lot of people."

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She considered throwing it all away and starting again, but her son stepped in at that critical moment. He shared their story and asked the online community for help.

Within hours, the soap orders started to pour in, some from places as far away as Singapore.

Nigro's daughter, Erica Allen, said the outpouring was "amazing."

"We were so blown away, we didn't even know how to react to this," she said.

Some of the comments attached were enough to leave Nigro speechless.

"Your soaps are beautiful," read one note. "I am broke and can only afford one, though."

Nigro said she also got a lot of ideas on how to improve the family business, and she plans to use some of those suggestions to sell even more soap online.

Now, more than 400 orders later, the family is busier than they have ever been.

"We're renewed, and we're ready to start over," Allen said.

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