Two Cowboys: Clean and Nice Smelling Christmas Cowboys with Rocky Mountain Soap Company in Canmore, Alberta

Getting Soaped

If you are like me, with family members that have everything they desire, then you will know how hard it is to do Christmas shopping.

See This Video on Patreon: Click Here

"For as little as $1/month you will get the inside track on content like this and follow the travels of the Two Cowboys & A Camera. Join here."

Every Christmas I tease them that all they will get this time is socks and soap. This year I should make good on my promise. Thanks to Cam and Karina at the Rocky Mountain Soap Co. I may get away with it.

We checked in with Rocky Mountain Soap Co for another instalment of cleanliness in the Bow Valley. We wanted to find out what is available for Christmas to make shopping easy, natural and healthy. Because we are also about understanding and promoting good businesses, we wanted to know what is new at the Rocky Mountain Soap Co. business end.

If you haven't been introduced to the business, have a look here.

Impressions 

Cam Baty, the co-owner updated us on two recent developments at Rocky Mountain Soap. Firstly, there is a focus on reducing the complexity of the products with fewer ingredients. Second, is to explore more environmentally responsible packaging. In both of these cases, it makes good business sense and aligns with the values of the people that buy and use their products.

Fewer ingredients require fewer manufacturing steps. The inputs to the processes are reduced. Correspondingly, it reduces risk and simplifies operations. A simpler process requires less labour and has a direct impact on the cost. Words such as "hand-made", "lovingly crafted" or "artisan" are often used as marketing speak to position a brand, but is a far cry from what really happens (or should happen) in manufacturing.

The reality of any manufacturing operation is that it must strike a fine balance between putting out great products that customers love and doing it for a reasonable return. Else, there is no point in doing the business. Sometimes it can only be done by hand. In other cases mechanizing an operation is the way to deliver consistent and good affordable quality. In both cases, keeping things simple is a win-win.

When it comes to the good products of Rocky Mountain Soap Co. there is a benefit in fewer ingredients and keeping things simpler for our bodies. With a less crowded list of ingredients and no toxins, those that are present have the opportunity to come to their right to do the best job they can. You and I get to know what we are using when we use their soap, put on their sunscreen or wash our hair (for those of us that do have hair). Simple and good.

The harder nut to crack is finding environmentally responsible packaging in the cosmetics industry. Soap in a bar is easy. You can simply wrap it in paper. It is not so easy when it comes to lotions, pastes and other viscosities. The industry hasn't solved those problems and plastic bottles and tubes are standard. We all know that this is a continuing problem that ends up in landfills, if not the ocean.

Rocky Mountain Soap has been experimenting with a small paper container for their lip quench. See it here. They call it paper pots. While it is a more expensive option (for now), Cam believes it is the right way to go. More of their products may go the same way in the near future. We think it is the right approach too.

Enjoy your shopping with Rocky Mountain Soap Company this Christmas: https://www.rockymountainsoap.com.
At least we know we are going to have clean Cowboys in 2017.

P.S. Also, ask for the "Serious Scrub" to get your "man hands" clean, smooth and healthy. It has rocks  (pumice) in it...

Hendrik van Wyk
Nice Smelling Clean Cowboy

Get rewarded for supporting our local Producers: Receive special offers and invitations from the Two Cowboys and our Producers when you subscribe to our email list.

We are a content company. We earn our livelihood from producing great content about inspiring people and their stories. We use Patreon to help us earn from our work. It allows us to have a closer relationship with our collaborators and grow our audience. If you Sponsor us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/twocowboys or donate to our cause on GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/twocowboys we can do a lot more.

Photos

Christmas Boxes

Shopping

Testing

Consulting

You Should Smell This...

Two Cowboys on a Journey: Atelier Helping Artists to Tell Their Stories in Canada and The World

"Atelier"

(Learn: * Inspire: ** Amaze: * Live: ****)
(The Two Cowboys Subjective Rate-o-Meter.   )

...a workshop or studio, especially one used by an artist or designer.

"For as little as $1/month you will get the inside track on content like this and follow the travels of the Two Cowboys & A Camera. Join here."

In conversations with Artisans, they admit that the one hurdle they all identify is the need to take their work to market. They invest emotionally in their creations. They spend every living, breathing waking moment in making and fabricating. It takes hours, days, weeks and sometimes a lifetime for an artist or craftsman to produce their best work. This happens while there is always the delicate balance between creating something remarkable or just good enough to get it out the door for the week's rent of their workshop. 

Online shopping and creator websites such as Etsy are making it easier to sell their wares. However, wouldn't it be great if creators only needed to make, while customers line up at the door?

These Artists are remarkable people. They each have a unique and often inspiring story. Their stories have the potential to exalt their creation from the mundane and routine to the exquisite and inspirational. No one will know these stories unless someone tells them. Many don't know how inspirational they are until someone discovers it.

This is where Carolyne Kauser-Abbott and Atelier Boutiques (https://atelierboutiques.com) come in. Carolyne's passion for unique, one-of-a-kind creations from outstanding artisans inspired her to create a service where she helps these makers to take their products to market and to tell their stories.

It is a marketplace with a difference.

Atelier recognizes the creative effort required by dedicated artists to learn a skill, practice a technique and experiment with materials. It creates a virtual space that opens the doors to those workshops near and far, by giving you a glimpse into the artists’ studios, a chance to read or see their stories and the ability to buy their products.

Carolyne searches for exclusive, handcrafted, high-quality, wardrobe accessories for women including jewellery, scarves, hats and sweaters. The home décor collection is carefully selected to bring artisanal showpieces and unique household gifts to market. 

She invites us to meet the creators and understand their stories of how and why they are pursuing their craft. This is where our journey meets. Two quirky Cowboys & A Camera is about telling stories of people that make things. Producers. Inspirational people and beautiful things. 

Please be introduced to Carolyne and her creators. Stay tuned as we jointly undertake a journey to showcase the many Artisans working away in their Ateliers across Canada. Who knows, you may just meet your neighbour.

Hendrik van Wyk

In My Atelier

Get rewarded for supporting our local Producers: Receive special offers and invitations from the Two Cowboys and our Producers when you subscribe to our email list.

Who we are: We are a social enterprise. We are funded through donations and sponsorship. All our earnings are applied back to covering our costs of marketing and promoting Producers and inspiring local communities. Please support us to bring you more (www.forwardthefavour.com)

Photos

Unique

Simple

My Space

Focus

o-CNN: Big Sky BBQ Smoked Meat and Beer With Friends in Okotoks, Alberta

BBQ With Friends

(Learn: * Inspire: *** Amaze: ** Live: *****)
(The Two Cowboys Subjective Rate-o-Meter.   )

Rob Bolton has a lot of friends. Believe me. A lot of them!

"For as little as $1/month you will get the inside track on content like this and follow the travels of the Two Cowboys & A Camera. Join here."

It is not just because he does amazing BBQ and serve cold beer. It is because he is a community guy, an entrepreneur at heart and he knows what his customers want. We are a fan of whatever Rob is cooking up next. That is why we cannot wait to get the word out about his latest adventure.

We checked in with Rob on the opening weekend of his new venture: Big Sky BBQ.

It is a BBQ Pit, Barn, Drive-Through, Drive-By, Patio, Drive-in, Biker Yard, Lawn, Bar, Hangout. Call it whatever you will. One thing is for sure. It is going to be the meeting place on the 22A into Okotoks, Alberta. The place where women will come looking for their husbands.

What we didn't expect is Rob's plan to make it an Okotokian Breakfast stop on your way to work in Calgary. He assured us that the app is in development. We checked with the developer in new Zealand. It is on schedule. The plan is for all breakfast to be eatable one-handed and that you will have it within 30 seconds from pulling up to the window. How you clean your hands in the car is your problem.

I guess a sticky steering wheel will just serve as the ideal reminder to pick something up for dinner on your way home.

Rob, you have a winner. You had us at BBQ and Beer. We are glad to be friends. Now we have one more excuse to make the trip to Okotoks.

Guess where it will be?

Hendrik van Wyk
BBQ Cowboy

Get rewarded for supporting our local Producers: Receive special offers and invitations from the Two Cowboys and our Producers when you subscribe to our email list.

Who we are: We are a social enterprise. We are funded through donations and sponsorship. All our earnings are applied back to covering our costs of marketing and promoting Producers and inspiring local communities. Please support us to bring you more (www.forwardthefavour.com)

Photos

Head Office

Outside Bar

Smoker Love

Carnivores

Balsamic Love

Hangout