A Niles woman is getting help growing her business selling all natural bath and body care products thanks to the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber’s recent HYPE competition.

HYPE is the chamber’s Shark Tank-like event where new entrepreneurs pitch their companies to compete for cash support, and Alexandra Ranft of Bare Naked Salts and Soaps is this year’s first place winner. She tells us she got the idea for her business about three years ago when her infant son developed a skin condition and she took a look at the baby products she was using on him.

“ They were full of chemicals,” Ranft said. “ And so when I switched and started making my own bar soap, it had cleared up.”

So, Ranft got to work.

“ I had an abundance of soap

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