Youth inspired Irish Oaks Ranch Mercantile opening in Atascadero
–When brother and sister, Aiden and Emma Garrett, started making goat milk soap a few years ago to support their 4H projects, they had little idea their business would land them international sales and a new store. The new store, Oaks Ranch Mercantile, is holding the grand opening in Atascadero this Friday.
Five years ago, Aiden, 15, and Emma, 13, started handcrafting soaps and lotions with milk from their dairy goats. From sales to friends and family, the word soon spread and now the young team is distributing their products in California, and as far away as Maine, Australia, England, and Iceland.
Atascadero teens raise goats for school, business
Their new storefront is opening this weekend
and last updated 2021-03-04 12:05:48-05
In Atascadero, teenage entrepreneurs are opening their brick and mortar storefront this week. Well, the idea to make soaps came from Christmastime in the goat group, because we would make soap as a fundraiser and sell it to 4H and local people,â said business owner Aiden Garrett.
The 15-year-old joined a school club where he started raising dairy goats.
Soon, he was making soap and giving the samples to customers at his parentsâ ranch. His sister also joined in. Once Aiden got a dairy goat, I wanted a dairy goat, and my mom said I needed a way to pay for all the food and stuff, so we started making lotions,â said 13-year-old Emma Garrett.