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Bradford woman marries two businesses with lasers and handmade soap

In this week’s Midweek Mugging, we meet the Bradford West Gwillimbury entrepreneur behind Mother Mary Soap Company and Bradford Laser Centre

In a charming old house on Simcoe Road, Bradford West Gwillimbury resident and business owner Toni Mossman runs her two businesses: Bradford Laser Centre and Mother Mary Soap Co.

Bradford Laser Centre has been Mossman’s core business for the past 10 years, and just four years ago she decided to add her handmade soap shop to her business portfolio.

Mossman has lived in Bradford her whole life and has been in the esthetics industry for more than 20 years.

She started Bradford Laser Centre out of her home in 2008, but once her kids were older and business picked up she decided to move it to a new location.

“(The business) got so busy we had to move it out of the house,” she said.

She and her husband Chuck Mossman purchased the 150 year old home in downtown Bradford just over three years ago and transformed it into a chic and modern business space for her two companies.

“I wanted to keep it that same homey feeling,” she said.

The upstairs and basement areas of the home are where Mossman runs her laser and esthetic business, and the main floor is where she has her soap making kitchen and shop.

She enjoys servicing her local clients as well as those who come from out of town. She said her laser business draws in a lot of clients from afar due to the special types of machines she uses.

“It makes me feel good when I know clients come to me, they feel comfortable with me and feel safe with me,” she said.

Mossman likes to use natural products on her clients, and one day after sourcing some online, she decided she wanted to try and make some on her own.

“I did a course…. and then, honestly… you just kind of learn as you do it. You experiment and try different things,” she said. “My work upstairs (the laser centre) is very structured... so when I have time to make my soap it’s fun because I can pick the colours, I can pick the fragrance, how I’m going to design it. I love it — it’s just a real release.”

The soaps she sells are all made from natural ingredients, including coconut oil, fats and extra virgin olive oil. In addition to soap, she also makes bath bombs, bath soaks, scrubs, and candles.

The name Mother Mary Soap Co. is named after Mossman’s late mother, Maria Gutta, who passed away six years ago.

Mossman has two other staff members who work with her, and one woman who rents space from her for eyelash extensions. She said her husband is also very much part of the businesses with her.

“I can’t have a business without him because he does all the background stuff,” she explained.

While Mossman acts as the face of the companies, her husband does a lot of the behind the scenes work with accounting and website maintenance.

Just this past fall, Mother Mary Soap Co. set up an online store. Mossman said it took her and her husband almost a year to do.

“It’s different when you sell online,” she said. “It took a lot of effort.”

Just the other week, Mossman said she shipped some soaps out to Vancouver.

“It just feels good that people like my product,” she said.

Mossman is proud of her businesses and loves what she does. She believes running a business should always be about the client.

“For me it’s about the client being happy. If people like your service and are comfortable, then your business will flourish,” she said.

Bradford Laser Centre and Mother Mary Soap Co. are located at 41 Simcoe Rd. They are open Tuesdays to Saturdays and can be reached on Facebook (Bradford Laser, Mother Mary) and Instagram or by phone at 905-775-1564.

Midweek Mugging is a regular series profiling local businesses or interesting people in Bradford West Gwillimbury. Want to be featured? Email [email protected].


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Natasha Philpott

About the Author: Natasha Philpott

Natasha is the Editor for BradfordToday and InnisfilToday. She graduated from the Media Studies program at The University of Guelph-Humber. She lives in Bradford with her husband, two boys and two cats.
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