Meet the merchant

Mission Essentials’ success comes naturally

Looking for a more natural approach to skincare products, Daniel Island residents Gail and Steve Salomon, both registered nurses, launched Mission Essentials in 2007. After moving to the island with their daughters, Jenna and Nicole, in 2006, the couple saw a need to develop products without harsh chemicals.

“Having many years of experience as registered nurses, we wanted to find ways to decrease the use of harsh chemicals found in many personal care products. We began to research ingredients and essential oil benefits and developed our own products creating the line that is Mission Essentials today. Products that are ‘essential’ for your daily skin care mission,” explained Steve Salomon.

Mission Essentials’ product line has more than 25 items, including the popular Bug Buster Survival Kit. The kit includes a trio of natural products — Bug Bite, Fight Back 2, and Triple Butter Lip Balm — that are essential products for Lowcountry living, the company espouses. Along with their outdoor skin products, Mission Essentials also produces bath bombs, natural soaps, and shaving products. One of the company’s favorite gift items is handcrafted shaving vessels made from wood sourced from historic properties in downtown Charleston.

Before the COVID-19 crisis hit, many customers approached the company about producing a natural sanitizer. Working with a local company, Mission Essentials created a water-based hand and surface sanitizer.

“Having a non-alcohol product is also very much in line with our philosophy of not using alcohol-based ingredients in our products. The new sanitizer fits in perfectly with what we already do … Once the breweries and others go back to making their primary products, we will be the one to get ‘official’ sanitizer from,” said Salomon.

When the crisis started, Mission Essentials shifted its focus to the online business and social media presence. The company offers free delivery on all orders over $19.99 and locals can have items hand delivered for free.

Mission Essentials products are sold in over 100 retail locations across the country, including local Daniel Island businesses Island Expressions, Delta Pharmacy, and Qwik Pack and Ship.

Tom Pomposelli, owner of DI’s Qwik Pack and Ship, said the items are a perfect addition to his store’s inventory.

“The combination of high quality and Daniel Island produced products just seemed like a natural fit for my store,” Pomposelli said. “People love to buy them as locally made gifts. I have quite a few repeat customers that love their line of soaps. Of course, when the no-see-ums and mosquitoes show up, the bug spray becomes my best-seller.”

Greg Wood sells Mission Essential products at local golf pro shops — The Links at Stono Ferry and The Plantation Course.

“The products work very well, and are made from safe ingredients that will not harm the user or the environment,” Wood said. “We also love that the company is local.”

Find out more about Mission Essentials at mission-essentials.com.

If there are any local merchants you’d like to see featured in an upcoming column, send an email to marie@thedanielislandnews.com.

Daniel Island Publishing

225 Seven Farms Drive
Unit 108
Daniel Island, SC 29492 

Office Number: 843-856-1999
Fax Number: 843-856-8555

 

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