Stepping inside Rain, the Manhattan Sideways team discovered an aroma of the divine. Perhaps it is expected for an artisan soap boutique to have a pleasant smell but Rain is far from typical.
Founded in 2000, Rain began as a job creation program in South Africa. Hendrien, Rain's South African owner, was, and remains, aware of the dire lack of opportunities for so many in her native country and elsewhere. With the hope of creating jobs and concurrently honoring the environment, Rain began as a business with both praiseworthy intentions and delightfully aromatic merchandise. All ingredients used in the preparation of Rain's vast array of soap products come from South Africa and include items such as baobab soap, made from the South African "tree of life." Hendrien gave us a tour of the awe-inspiring boutique, which houses countless soaps of diverse shapes and purposes. Each of us made a stop at the make-your-own bath foam station with rows of ingredients and scents, and had the best time testing some heavenly soaps. Officially fair trade and cruelty-free, Rain also vows to treat nature well. With an ostensibly terrific location next to Rockefeller Center, it would seem as though Rain would get plenty of attention. However, when we asked Hendrien about her experience on a side street, she explained that her first two years of business were rather difficult because she had not understood the significant difference between foot traffic on an avenue and that on a side street. Hendrien knows that the store's scent has the power to draw people into the shop, but she is also aware that keeping the door open is not energy efficient. Although this issue is frustrating, it is exemplary of the compassion with which Hendrien works. Every action taken demonstrates that Rain legitimately cares about nature, animals and humans. In an effort to express her shop's essence, Hendrien said, "Rain is a company with a soul." This could not be a more accurate description.
