Innovation

Squeaky Clean Kids is a business driven by innovation, with a mission to provide education for sanitation and hygiene products to children who lack access to these necessities—founded by a public health doctor who witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of preventable diseases on children, particularly in areas with poor sanitation and hygiene conditions. The founder and two other public health doctors conceptualized a sustainable solution to address the lack of access to soap and clean water among children.

The inception of Squeaky Clean Kids emerged from the founder's experiences working in public health. He observed that basic handwashing practices could significantly reduce the incidence of respiratory diseases and other health issues. He started distributing toiletries collected from hotels to his patients, eventually realizing the potential of making the distribution of soap and hygiene education a sustainable business model. The creation of Squeaky Clean Kids involved the founder, two other public health doctors, and a team of suppliers who grow the ingredients used in their products. The team works together to manufacture all-natural and organic soaps using local materials made of recycled paper for an eco-friendly option. The team also provides hygiene education to children to promote healthy practices.

Driven by a sense of purpose to improve the health and well-being of children, Squeaky Clean Kids' innovation lies in its unique approach, where Dr. Winston himself, as a parent, knows firsthand how difficult it can be to convince children to take a bath. That's why they have created "the surprise," a soap shaped in fun designs like Legos or animals, which makes bath time more enjoyable for kids. This soap is designed to fit perfectly in a child's hand, making it easier to use. Many parents have thanked Squeaky Clean Kids for making bath time more manageable and fun for their children. The company aims to provide affordable and accessible products to children without access. The founder notes that their products help prevent pneumonia and diarrhea and understands the importance of making hygiene accessible and fun. The founder explains, "We value caring for the environment and children." Squeaky Clean Kids' commitment to these values is reflected in their initiatives, such as the buy-one-give-one concept, making them the first soap company to implement the such model. Dr. Winston said they were also one of the first companies to popularize eco-friendly products, such as shampoo bars, made from recycled materials. Squeaky Clean Kids' dedication to sustainability, natural ingredients, and hygiene education sets them apart from traditional soap companies. Their passion for sustainability and social responsibility drives them to continue innovating and positively impacting our community and beyond.

Inspiration

In today's world, innovation and inspiration are key drivers in any business's success. These qualities can be found in the story of Dr. Winston, who found inspiration in his children and patients from his medical center and created a socially responsible business that focuses on sustainability and environmental awareness. As a father, Dr. Winston had a simple yet profound inspiration – to make bath time enjoyable for his children. But as a licensed physician, he also saw the potential for soap to prevent deadly diseases like pneumonia and diarrhea, which are often caused by poor hygiene. This inspiration led to the creation of Squeaky Clean Kids, which not only produces quality soap products but also has a mission to provide hope and improve the lives of its customers. By focusing on the benefits of soap beyond just cleanliness, this company is setting itself apart in the market.

Dr. Winston recognizes the importance of sustainability in his business's inspiration for innovation. Before launching any new product, research is done to ensure that the ingredients used protect the environment and create minimal waste. This shows a deep commitment to sustainability, even when faced with challenges like higher costs for sustainable materials. By researching and using eco-friendly ingredients and packaging, the company minimizes its environmental impact. This does not only benefit the planet but also resonates with consumers who are increasingly concerned about the sustainability of the products they purchase. However, as with any business, there have been obstacles to overcome. Admittedly, Dr. Winston had faced a few in the aims of fulfilling their mission. Particularly, the promotions and marketing arm of the business wasn't part of their strong suit. Because Squeaky Clean Kids mostly focused on the development and research of their product, they somewhat failed to account for their broadcasting activities, which is crucial in communicating their successes and garnering support. Moving forward, as they are able to grasp their mode of operations better, the company is aiming to improve such elements. Another hurdle the company had faced was the pandemic. Although they have generally operated through an online store, Covid-19 still managed to dampen their activities. One significant aspect that was heavily affected were their visits and education seminars in schools. The pandemic introduced a wide array of health-related risks that posed a threat to the safety and security of the children. Squeaky Clean Kids then were forced to “lay low,” as Dr. Winston himself described it, for the better part of those years. It was only around late last year (the fourth quarter of 2022) were they able to begin to pick up their pace.

That being said, this doesn’t mean that the company has reached its peak nor that its impacts are nearing a plateau. Currently, Dr. Winston shared that they are working to acquire permits, which included acquiring an FDA approval, in order to gain a wider scope of business. He was eyeing that the company can transition its operations and distributions at a national scale. At the same time, in the near future, he said he is also aiming to expand in other avenues. Although Dr. Winston had yet to disclose where or what areas he was aiming to delve into, he promised to remain with his ethical roots of serving the poor and the underrepresented. Whereby, for whatever new innovations he and his company would be able to offer in the future, he’d make sure that the products stay affordable so that the underprivileged would always have access and that the production of such goods will come from only sustainable materials.

Overall impact

Going beyond the amount of sales or number of units sold Dr. Winston, the founder, mentioned that he measures the impact of Squeaky Clean Kids’ effort through the real support they manage to provide to their intended beneficiaries, the children from underprivileged families. He continued to point out during the interview that their endeavors as a social enterprise would always be considered a success if his team and himself could provide hygiene kits and pertinent education about sanitation to schools and similar communities in need. This makes sense after all. Their mission to provide proper, basic sanitation to children hailing from vulnerable origins is the bedrock of their organization. It would seem quite ill-fitting if, despite the instance of booming sales, these beneficiaries were left untended.

However, as much as Dr. Winston focused on the people aspect of his company, he also took into account other different stakeholders—prospective partnerships—in regard to making sure that their mission remained alive, well, and growing. Because it is in the working collaboration of different players, he believed, can the objectives be better met and the results realized. During the interview, he shared that Squeaky Clean Kids recently partnered with an international organization, Soap Cycling. Soap Cycling is an organization committed to collecting slightly used soaps and other bottled amenities from hotels that would otherwise go to waste. Dr. Winston mentioned that in this collaboration of theirs, they were able to reach and help more people in need of their services.

Business benefit

Innovation is the lifeblood of any business, and for social enterprises, the benefits of their innovation go beyond just financial gains. This is evident in the story of Squeaky Clean Kids, which has experienced many benefits from its innovation. Given that they are a relatively small enterprise, Squeaky Clean Kids is still in the process of establishing a strong social media presence. Despite this, Dr. Winston mentioned that most of their clients and repeat orders come from business-to-business transactions (B2B). This is a testament to the quality of their products and the value they offer to their customers, particularly to their loyal corporate clients.

Aside from customer loyalty, the enterprise has also acknowledged the importance of integrating sustainability as part of its innovation. While there have been challenges in balancing the cost of eco-friendly packaging with the need for profitability, finding ways to make their products both presentable and sustainable has the potential to attract a broader customer base and increase revenue for the business. With this, Squeaky Clean Kids continue to use recycled paper for the packaging of their products. They also partner with foundations and organizations that support social enterprises as a way to expand their offerings and reach new markets. The social enterprise is currently in partnership with the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) Foundation to tap other potential customers. They also take advantage of opportunities to showcase their products in malls to likewise advertise their products.

Above all, Squeaky Clean Kids works in compliance with the standards set by the government to ensure that their operations are streamlined and all locally-sourced ingredients or materials used in their products are of the highest quality.

Social and environmental benefit

As a social enterprise, Squeaky Clean Kids prides itself on offering locally-sourced natural and handmade hygiene products. Making their products as planet-friendly as they can is something they take seriously. By incorporating local companies into the supply chain, the firm is able to establish partnerships with communities, decrease its carbon footprint and energy costs, shorten lead times, and demonstrate its capacity to provide economic growth (International Finance Corporation, 2011). From the way their ingredients are sourced from Batangas, to how their products are made from natural ingredients, and even in the manner in which their packaging is made of recycled papers, it is apparent that the business pursues a commitment to care for the environment and is conscious about reducing what they take from the planet.

For every soap bought, another is given. Inasmuch as Squeaky Clean Kids tries to be as environmentally responsible as possible through the products it makes, the importance still heavily shifts on the number of partnerships and children they help. Staying true to its name, Squeaky Clean Kids has always been for the kids. It partners with different local communities to give out hygiene medications and kits to kids in need. Before the pandemic, the business also did community visits to educate the members of the communities about proper hygiene. The idea of educating people on proper hygiene has been beneficial, especially in light of the pandemic last 2020. At such a time when proper sanitation and hygiene became of utmost importance, the business was able to lay down the foundations of what it means to take proper care of one’s hygiene to those who may not have the capacity to learn about it. The business has unknowingly contributed to helping people take action to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to people who need it at a time when they need it the most.

More than the products they offer, the business also gives opportunities for people with mental disabilities to earn a livelihood. Through these initiatives, Squeaky Clean Kids is able to provide opportunities for people to thrive. With this, it is truly evident that Squeaky Clean Kids lives up to its people-first principle in the way it does business — how it is done by the people, for the people.

Interview

Dr. Winston Pascual, Founder and CEO