Subscribe. Bynum's lawyer, Mark Halbert, could not comment on the details of any claims, but said of the lawsuit itself, "We believe the lawsuit is without merit.". CALL (513) 351-0941. DEFENDANTS, Court:United States District Court, N.D. Mississippi, Oxford Division, Civil Action 3:20-cv-55-NBB-RP 3:20-cv-55-NBB-RP, BUFF CITY SOAP, LLC, ET AL. It is critical to choose the correct additives because some can be harmful if not used correctly. They handcraft each bar of Buff City soap in the scents of Fruit Loopy and Blue Raspberry. Ric joins after serving as a key early-stage leader in some of the world's most respected food and beverage concepts including Starbucks, Potbelly, Qdoba, and Scooter's Coffee. Buff City Soaps hands-on experience is a fantastic opportunity for anyone interested in natural beauty. Bath Bomb Parties for Four or Eight are now 53% Off at Buff City Soap. Example video title will go here for this video. WebMagnolia Soap Enjoy the summery scent of hospitality. About Buff City SoapFounded in 2013 and franchising since 2018, Buff City Soap continues its rapid growth trajectory across 20 states and 100+ stores. The Buff City Soap Laundry Detergent is amazing. At the wholesale market, Bynum encouraged customers to purchase from her rather than the 'Memphis'Buff City.". However, the partnership was short-lived. It is free of all harsh chemicals and lasts so much longer and smells so much better than regular laundry detergent. I am excited to expand product offerings for more delightful everyday moments for guests in every neighborhood in the US," said Shellie Caudill who will serve as Chief Product Officer. General Atlantic has more than 175 investment professionals based in New York, Amsterdam, Beijing, Greenwich, Hong Kong, Jakarta, London, Mexico City, Mumbai, Munich, Palo Alto, So Paulo, Shanghai and Singapore. In their Bartlett and Olive Branch stores, youll see slogans like 100% Happen Natural Ingredients and Good, Clean Fun. Buffalo City Soap Company, which was founded in 2013, provides customers with the opportunity to learn about the entire soap making process, from the raw materials to finished products. SO ORDERED AND ADJUDGED this 29th day of September, 2021. The company has significant expansion planned for 2022 with its recent growth equity investment from General Atlantic, a globally leading growth equity investor. Bath bombs are usually $30 to $50 in price. Get Early Access to our Best Deals! On 07/20/2020 BUFF CITY SOAP INVESTCO, LLC filed an Other lawsuit against NEAL YANOFSKY. Buff City Soap claims Magen Bynum, founder of Magnolia Soap and Bath Company, created a competing soap business after running a franchise for the company. DALLAS, Nov. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Buff City Soap, a plant-based home and personal care brand franchise, announces the addition of "Bynum and the Magnolia Soap Defendants used and continue to use Buff City Trade Secrets, including product formulas and recipes, that Bynum learned while operating as a Buff City location to purchase additional raw materials to use in connection with her competing Magnolia Soap business.". To survive a motion to dismiss, a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face. The company has experienced rapid growth as consumers are drawn to its differentiated, high-quality offering of plant-based soaps, laundry, bath and body products, which are handmade daily in each store's Soap Makery. The lawsuit also said she was using raw materials that she purchased for a discounted rate to make soaps that were sold at the Magnolia Soap and BathCompany. Buff City Soap also asserts that Bynum initially failed to fulfillthe orders she received at the Atlanta wholesale market, leaving Buff City Soap LLC to complete the order for one customer. For each bar of Birthday Song Soap that is sold, Buff City Soap is donating $1 to local and national Covid-19 relief efforts. freeof harsh chemicals along with animal fats, Buff City Soap plans to become 'the Starbucks of soap', Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The ruling comes in response to Magnolias motion to dismiss Buff Citys trade secrets allegation due to the same arguments being made in a separate court action known as claim splitting in the Northern DistrictofMississippi. Last year, the company was purchased by Generation Tuxedo for $25 million. Typically overlays, or widgets, apply the third-party's source code to the existing code of the host website in an effort to change the user experience by overriding or adding to the existing code. The new store is holding its grand opening at 9 a.m. Thursday. About Guideboat Capital PartnersGuideboat Capital Partners is a Dallas based private equity firm focused on investments in entrepreneur and founder led lower middle-market companies. Several bluffs can be found near Memphis on the Mississippi River. I am a 33 year old wife, mother, beauty professional, blogger, amateur chef, craft maven and DIYer, living in a small rural suburb outside of San Diego, California. Upon due consideration of the motion, response, and applicable authority, the court is ready to rule. Access this case on the Mississippi Northern District Court's Electronic Court Filings (ECF) System. Finally, Buff City rewards its loyal customers with two double rewards for completing their profiles. Plaintiff RONALD C. KOLESAR alleges that www.buffcitysoap.com is not sufficiently digitally accessible. Narcissist, their most popular scent, is also their most well-known. DEFENDANTS MAGNOLIA SOAP & BATH HOLDING CO., LLC, ET AL. Last year, Buff City Soap which is jointly based in Memphis and Dallas filed a lawsuit against Bynum for misappropriating trade secrets and false advertising. A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged. Id. Additional terms of the deal were not disclosed. In AmSouth, the court stated, While the tort has its origin in efforts of a third party directed against a plaintiff's customers conduct interfering with the plaintiff may suffice. Buff City Soap filed a lawsuit against its former affiliate for using trade secrets and false advertising. Buff City Soap is now known as Buff City Soap, in honor of Kellum and Ziemianins hometown of Bluff City and their sense of humor. February 18, 2020. A bath bomb costs $25, yields eight to ten bath bombs, and each child can make three bath bombs with only one batch. Sep. 29, 2021). (no spam, pinky-swear) ADDRESS. Even if it seems almost a certainty to the court that the facts alleged cannot be proved to support the legal claim,' the claim may not be dismissed so long as the complaint states a claim. Id. The rewards in this section include those equal to 10% of the purchase price of future in-store purchases made between July 20, 22, and July 24, 2022. The Company has experienced rapid growth as consumers are drawn to its differentiated, high quality offering of soap, laundry, bath and body products, which are handcrafted daily in each store's Soap Makery. Guideboat Capital Partners is a long-term partner to great management teams seeking out the next level of growth or liquidity. "Magnolia is a successful, woman-owned small business," said Bynum. An allegation of false advertising is all that remains in the Western District of Tennessee case. Sep. 6Buff City Soap, a retail store known for its plant-based soap and body products handmade in-store daily, is opening a Kokomo location. Established in 1980, General Atlantic combines a collaborative global approach, sector specific expertise, a long-term investment horizon and a deep understanding of growth drivers to partner with great entrepreneurs and management teams to build market-leading businesses worldwide. Crux Capital works closely with company management to implement strategies to build and unlock value over time. Where is Buff City soaps head office? The tax will be charged once the redemption is complete. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. An Overview of the Procedure, Giving Your Kitchen An Upgrade: How To Decorate The Wall Over An Electric Range, Add A Touch Of Elegance And Beauty To Your Special Occasion With Table Decorations, The Perfect Balance Between Form And Function: Decorative Trim For Any Interior Space, How To Hang A Decorative Plate On A Wall Step-by-Step Guide. Goat Milk Stuff Goat Milk Soap - BLACK RASPBERRY | Made with Farm-Fresh Goat Milk, Goat Milk Soap for Face - Leaves Skin feeling Renewed and Natural - Handmade (Box of 2) 2 Count (Pack of 1) 754 Buff City Soap filed a lawsuit against its former affiliate for using trade secrets and false advertising. To learn more about becoming a Buff City Soap franchisee, fill out a pre-qualification application form. Presently before the court is the Motion to Dismiss Counter-Claim filed by plaintiffs/counter-defendants Buff City Soap, LLC, and Buff City Soap Holdings, LLC (collectively, Buff City), seeking to dismiss the counter-claim filed by defendants/counter-claimants Magnolia Soap & Bath Holding Co., LLC, Magnolia Soap & Bath Co. of Oxford, LLC, Magnolia Soap & Bath Co. of Tupelo, LLC, and Magnolia Soap & Bath Co. of New Albany, LLC (collectively, Magnolia). There are 81 Buff City Soap stores in the United States as of January 05, 2021. The employee, who was not identified in the lawsuit, claims that she was exposed to hazardous chemicals and suffered health problems as a result. Bynum would go on to operate Buff City New Albany, with locationsin Oxford, New Albany and Tupelo. Magnolia further alleges that as a result of these intentional and willful actions, Columbus Vegetable Oils stopped doing business with Magnolia, weakening the company's supply chain, causing unnecessary expenditures of time and money to find additional suppliers, necessitating the need for the creation of a new internal ordering system, and forcing Magnolia to pay higher prices for raw materials. Buff City Soap Shower Fizzy We strongly recommend avoiding this product if hot Other ingredients, such as honey or lavender, can also be used to personalize their products. "By early August 2018, Buff City Soap LLC learned that Bynum was beginning to operate a competing soap business[and]was using Buff City Trade Secrets in the manufacture of competing soap products," the lawsuit said. They not only provide 10% of their sales to your organization, but they also operate a distribution center and retail store in Franklin and Mt. I have purchased from this company for years therefore I know the size of the soap changed but it still states it weighs the same with the sleeve it's wrapped in but it's clearly not the same. Buff City Soap is best known for its handmade crinkle cut, swirl-designed bars of plant-based soap. All rights reserved. Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning), Machine Tools, Metalworking and Metallurgy, Aboriginal, First Nations & Native American. from 8 AM - 9 PM ET. The Memphis-based company Buff City Soap, founded by former firefighter/paramedic Brad Kellum, leveled a lawsuit against Magen Bynum and her Magnolia Soap and Bath Company of New Albany. "I'm passionate about building best-in-class teams and relationships with the Franchise community to further accelerate Buff's already impressive growth trajectory." In the Tennessee ruling, Judge Jon McCalla dismissed Buff City Soap's trade secrets claims against Magnolia Soap and Bath its owner and founder, Magen Bynum. Buff City Soap will use the funds to support continued store openings, product category expansion, and growth in e-commerce. PLAINTIFFS v. MAGEN BYNUM, ET AL. at 376 (quoting Boudeloche v. Grow Chem. Buff City argues that Mississippi law does not recognize claims for intentional interference with business relations unless the interference diverts customers from a business. Guideboat Capital Partners continuously supports their portfolio companies as active advisers and offers operational support to achieve full potential value for all stakeholders. This cleanser has no harsh chemicals or detergents and can last up to four weeks on the skin due to its chemical and detergent-free nature. 2023 The first 50 people who visit the new Sodium Cocoate (from Coconut Oil), Sodium Palmate (from Palm Oil), Sodium Rapeseedate (from Rapeseedate Oil), Fragrance, Sodium Olivate (from Olive Oil), Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Chromium Oxide Green, Iron Oxides, Tin Dioxide, Fluorphlogopite, Copyright Buffalo City Soap is available for purchase at www.buffcitysoap.com. Lucas Finton is a news intern at the Commercial Appeal. Coatings Corp., 728 F.2d 759, 762 (5th Cir. Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning), Machine Tools, Metalworking and Metallurgy, Aboriginal, First Nations & Native American. "Specifically, without authorization from Buff City Soap LLC, Bynum operated a booth using the 'Buff City'trade name at an Atlanta wholesale market. Buff City Soap believes that Bynum also falsely advertised her products, which the company claims to be its own, and caused damage to the company's reputation along with wronging customers in the process. Founded in 2013, Buff City Soap's mission is to make life smell wonderful, one handmade soap at a time. According to formerShelby County Historian Jimmy Ogle, the citys nickname stems from Memphis physical location. Debra Bynum is accused in a lawsuit of lying about her products healing and resveratrol properties. United States District Court, N.D. Mississippi, Oxford Division. We look forward to partnering with the Buff City Soap management team, as well as existing investors Crux Capital and Guideboat Capital Partners, to meaningfully scale the business. Sign-up for exclusive email updates and get 15% off your entire in-store purchase! The scent is distinguished by the combination of grapefruit, patchouli, and Egyptian musk. "Now I'm grateful to join such a fast growth company and continue building a phenomenalteam to fuel expansion all over the world." For more information visit the Guideboat Capital Partners website: www.guideboatcap.com. Buff has more than quadrupled in size since 2020 to more than 145+ stores in 27 states. Founded in 2013, Buff City Soap's mission is to create plant-based products free of harsh chemicals and detergents. The state with the most number of Buff City Soap locations in the US is Tennessee, with 30 stores, which is about 37% of all Buff City Soap stores in the US. About General Atlantic General Atlantic is a leading global growth equity firm providing capital and strategic support for growth companies. In the agreement, she was allowed access to raw materials, approved marketing, and business model from Buff City for a 5-percent management fee. "Bynum and the Magnolia Soap Defendants used and continue to use Buff City Trade Secrets, including product formulas and recipes, that Bynum learned while operating as a Buff City location to purchase additional raw materials to use in connection with her competing Magnolia Soap business." Buff City Soap, a plant-based soap company founded in 2013, has grown quickly since it was founded. We are more excited than ever about our growth potential.". Last year, Buff City Soap which is jointly based in Memphis and Dallas filed a lawsuit against Bynum for misappropriating trade secrets and false advertising. WebAVAILABLE NOW! 319-209-2035. The Mississippi case was set for trial in February but delayed as a result of COVID-19. Filing 1 COMPLAINT, Filing fee $ 400, "I'm thrilled to be joining Buff City Soap - my wife and I were huge fans of the brand long before this opportunity!" All profits from Buff City Soap are donated to local and national charities, and all profits are run entirely by volunteers. In the coming years, the company intends to rapidly expand its business. Riley v. St. Luke's Episcopal Hosp., 355 F.3d 370, 375 (5th Cir. Webwww.buffcitysoap.com Contact Information Headquarters 2718 Fairmount St, Dallas, Texas, 75201, United States (844) 468-7627 Buff City Soap Profile and History Founded in 2013 and franchising since 2018, Buff City Soap is a handmade soap company. It is our goal to invest in good, homegrown businesses. "We made significant investments last year in the team and systems while fortifying our product offering that has resonated across the U.S.". BUFF CITY SOAP, LLC, ET AL. 2004) (quoting Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 45-46 (1957)). Buff City Soap files lawsuit against former franchisee who created a competing brand Buff City Soap claims Magen Bynum, founder of Magnolia Soap and Cision Distribution 888-776-0942 The Buffalo City Soap Companys soaps are a fantastic resource for non-profits. The complaint must be liberally construed in favor of the plaintiff, and all well-pleaded facts accepted as true. Id. WebNarcissist Shea Butter Soap Fall in love with the scent of your own skin. According to the Bartlett-based company, Magen Bynum, the founder of the Magnolia Soap and Bath Company, has caused irreparable harm to its brand. Notes Of Magnolia Flower, Apple, Blackberry, & Melon. Plaintiff RONALD C. KOLESAR alleges that She is seeking unspecified damages. In their counter-complaint, Magnolia alleges that, during the pendency of this litigation, Buff City contacted Magnolia's raw material suppliers, including Columbus Vegetable Oils, threatening that if they continued to do business with Magnolia, Buff City would no longer purchase materials from them. (jla). However, Bynum began operating her own soap company around 2018 and her actions resulted in claims of using trade secrets. PLAINTIFFS v. MAGEN BYNUM, ET AL. They have also done a lot of different things to help out the environment. "We are thrilled to welcome Ric Smith, Shellie Caudill, and Jean Grossman to our already talented leadership team," said Craig Kessler, Buff City Soap's CEO. Were delighted to have invested in them because theyre changing the game. The Bartlett company claims that Magnolia currently has 25 stores across the Southeast. 2023 www.commercialappeal.com. The shop has a wide range of soap flavors to choose from, each with their own distinct scent. PHONE NUMBER. 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