Strong mum promotes self-care as tribute to daughter

A local mum has experienced the power of self-care first-hand and now she hopes her products can help others going through a tough time.

SELF-CARE: After experiencing her own personal tragedy, Claire Shum has witnessed the power in self-care and has launched a business to help others who may be struggling. Picture: Rhylea Millar.

PRACTISING self-care is a powerful tool when your heart needs healing and after experiencing her own tragedy, one small business owner hopes to help others going through a tough time.

When Claire Shum, 23, first began making her own bath and shower products, it started out as a fun hobby.

After experiencing her own personal tragedy, Claire Shum has witnessed the power in self-care and has launched a business to help others who may be struggling. Picture: Rhylea Millar.

But when she and her husband suffered the kind of the heart break that no parent should ever have to experience, their lives were turned upside down.

Devastatingly the couple lost their baby girl Abigail Grace at just nine days old due to a heart condition.

Claire’s dream to create a small business quickly evaporated as she began facing what was undoubtedly the most difficult time of her life.

“We were living in Goondiwindi at the time and because it’s a rural community, we were struggling with the lack of support after what happened,” Claire said.

“When Abigail Grace passed away I took a break from the business to focus on what was most important at the time.”

So when an opportunity came along for the couple and their two-year-old son to relocate to Toowoomba late last year, they decided to go for it.

And while Claire’s wounds will never truly heal, she has now relaunched her business The Soap Box Co and hopes her products will help others who may be going through a tough time.

“I thought about what had been the most important thing to me in the last 12 months and that was the power of self-care,” Claire said.

“The little things really do count so I’m making these products because I want my customers to love and care for themselves and know just how important they are … it’s not just about having a luxury experience, it’s about feeding your self-worth.”

BATH BOMBS: A range of products available at The Soap Box Co. Picture: Rhylea Millar.

Handmade with love, Claire sells a range of bath and shower products from bath bombs and bubble bars to shower steamers, whipped soap and sugar scrubs.

The small business owner said while she hopes to expand and collaborate with other business in the future, she is currently a one-woman show.

“I wanted to bring something new to the community that you can’t really find in a regional or rural area,” Claire said.

“Our products are not tested on animals, they are as natural and plant-based as possible and we try our best to be earth friendly by purchasing recycled products and using paper over plastic materials.”

And while the strong mum has overcome so much, she said she wasn’t sure if she would ever recover after the devastating event.

“When you’re dealing with grief you are left with so many questions that you can’t answer and you’re so stuck in your own head so be able to keep busy was helpful,” Claire said.

“It has given me a purpose and shows that grief does not define you … I’m still my own person and now I’m hoping this will help others to realise they are worthy too.”

Prices range from $6 to $20.

For more information click here or here.