Former government director turned Yellowknife entrepreneur Jackie Hall has been helping Yellowknifers stay squeaky clean for almost two years through . 

Now retired, Hall launched her company in May 2019 while she was still working for the GNWT Department of Infrastructure. 

Side projects that tap into her creativity have been a part of HallSA国际影视传媒檚 life for as long as she can remember.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 always doing something weird,SA国际影视传媒� she said. 

The Prosperous Lake soaps and self-care products were born out of a soap-making book Hall dabbled in while she was home with her son in his younger years. 

She recalls gifting the soap to friends and family SA国际影视传媒渨ho were all very kind,SA国际影视传媒� though Hall said her soaps were initially terrible. SA国际影视传媒淭hey looked like dog turds. Not at all like the pictures in the book.SA国际影视传媒�

That was almost two decades ago. 

Hall eventually lost interest and turned her attention to other creative hobbies until a friend pulled out a soap of HallSA国际影视传媒檚 that she had kept all these years. 

SA国际影视传媒淚t reminded me how much I really liked that so I made another effort,SA国际影视传媒� she said. 

She suspected she would sell a handful of products, enough to cover the costs of materials, but never expected to turn her hobby into a proper business. Now, she admits she canSA国际影视传媒檛 keep up with demand. 

Things were going well before the pandemic, but since March, Hall said business has taken off. 

With the stress of the Covid era, people are looking to gift loved ones products that promote self-care, she said, and often that leads them to Prosperous Lake. 

Though Hall admits she sometimes feels overwhelmed by the appetite for her products, producing them SA国际影视传媒渋s a joy,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

As a team of one, Hall creates her own soaps, candles, shampoo and conditioner bars as well as the related packaging and marketing materials. All eco-friendly, pure, natural ingredients. If there is plastic in packages, she stresses that it's been recycled.

When possible, she looks to source her materials close to home. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 not always feasible to buy Yellowknife-based ingredients in the quantities she requires but Hall said all her supplies are purchased from Canadian companies.  

Once the ingredients arrive, making the soaps only takes a couple of hours. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 the curing that takes weeks. Since Prosperous Lake Co. only uses natural oils and butters, the soaps tend to be softer than other generic bars. The curing process, which for Prosperous Lake soaps takes about a month, allows the ingredients to sit and harden.

While the formula for soap-making remains primarily the same between products, Hall is always experimenting with new ingredients, new scents and essential oils to freshen up her repertoire. 

She explained that her excitement for new things can sometimes pose a challenge when one product sells out and sheSA国际影视传媒檚 already on to the next with a new set of inventory. 

SA国际影视传媒淥ne of my problems is that I canSA国际影视传媒檛 stop coming up with things,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 want to try this and try that and always want to make stuff.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚n some cases, I have to terminate certain products and I have to try to limit myself and keep myself in check,SA国际影视传媒� she said.  

Since its inception, Prosperous Lake Soap Co. has partnered with Barren Ground Coffee, the Woodyard Brewhouse, Janet Pacey and other Yellowknife businesses. 

Prosperous Lake products can be bought at , , as well as online through the companySA国际影视传媒檚 website. 

Hall said she couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 have imagined that her soap-making hobby would have grown into the business it is today. 

SA国际影视传媒淵ellowknife is so good to small, local business,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淧eople are always willing to give you a chance.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚 want to emphasize how appreciative I am to be in a small community. Yellowknife is so gracious.SA国际影视传媒�