White County company wins national award

Moonshine Soap of Cleveland has been given an honorable mention in the 2005 Handmade Beauty Business of the Year.

The Handmade Beauty Network selected Essential Wholesale as the No. 1 Business of the Year and named Rainbow Meadow and Moonshine as honorable mentions.

Ten entries were submitted to the panel of judges for HBN's first-ever endeavor to recognize exceptional members and their contributions to the handmade beauty industry.

Moonshine Soap, owned by Ellie Trinowski, is a manufacturer of handmade soaps made with shea butter, therapeutic essential oils and other high quality ingredients.

"It was such an honor to be selected as a nominee, but to be honored with an actual honorable mention is just incredible," Trinowski said. She sees Moonshine Soap as a journey enabling her to inspire others to take care of themselves emotionally and physically.

"It is my hope that with small deliberate steps we can all encourage and take care of each other one beautiful day at a time," she said. Moonshine Soap has been a member of HBN since July 2001.

The judges evaluated nominees on a wide range of factors, most notably their consistent demonstration of devotion to the industry, along with their innovation, creativity, integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and vision. Founded in January 2000, the Handmade Beauty Network is the only trade organization providing a holistic suite of meaningful, tangible benefits to handmade beauty businesses, including those manufacturing soaps, cosmetics, fragrances, candles and aromatherapy products. With more than 400 members worldwide, HBN's missions include harnessing the shared energy and vitality of HBN members to address issues of consumer education, regulation, marketing and public relations, freeing HBN members to concentrate on achieving their business goals.