North Peak Auctions to hold grand opening

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Chris and Sarah Ward might be newcomers to the area, but are old pros in the auction business. The husband-wife team opened Saratoga’s newest auction company, North Peak Auctions in April and recently announced the company’s grand opening will kick off this Saturday, June 18. 

To commence the grand opening, North Peak will hold an antique and clock auction featuring over 500 lots in downtown Saratoga. The event will take place at the Universal Preservation Hall on Washington Street with preview and registration opening at 8:00 a.m. and the sale beginning at 10:00 a.m. 

The auction features the contents of a traditional Lake Erie cottage, which include Stickley and Limbert furniture, fine works of arts and lighting fixtures. The auction will also showcase one owner’s extensive collection of over 300 top-quality antique clocks. 

North Peak Auctions is a premiere auction and consignment company that specializes in fine art, vintage clothing and jewelry, art pottery, antiques and Adirondack furniture. The Wards plan to introduce the benefits of an auction company to the Saratoga community and have invited everyone to attend, bid or simply come learn about the auction process at Saturday’s grand opening.

More information and photos of the auction items can be viewed at the company’s website: www.NorthPeakAuctions.com

McGillycuddy’s Soaps – A family venture

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The McGillycuddy family was making natural soaps long before organic products were considered “in”. Owner Deb McGillycuddy established McGillycuddy’s Naturals back in 2000, but Deb and her daughters Kendal and Keriann have been running their own personal soap biz for as long as the girls can remember.

“My mom started making her own soaps when she had allergic reactions to commercial products,” Kendal McGillycuddy explained. “My sister and I were also sensitive to the mainstream bath and body products and at that time natural products were harder to find and a lot more expensive so we started making our own.”

Today this home venture has blossomed into McGillycuddy’s Naturals, a natural bath and body business that features a line of top-quality spa products including both olive oil and milk soaps, body lotions, fragrances, lip balm, facial products and more. The company even carries a line of men’s products and shaving creams for men who suffer from skin irritation triggered by the artificial chemicals infused in many commercial brands.

“All of my friends were using the fun sparkly Bath and Body Works products, but it always irritated our skin,” Mcgillycuddy explained. “So we started reading books, taking classes and just sort of taught ourselves how to make our own soaps from all natural ingredients.”

Deb and her daughters started out making gift baskets for friends and families and McGillycuddy’s got its first real client when they began to sell soaps to a homeopathic pharmacy fifteen years ago. Ever since making that first sale, McGillycuddy’s Naturals continued to grow and mature into the thriving business it is today. Ten years ago the family left their home outside Philadelphia to return to the Saratoga area where Deb grew up. 

“We purchased a 100-acre horse farm in Dorloo, New York, where the previous owner used to make gazebos,” McGillycuddy said. “It was set up perfectly to run a business and we’ve been making soap there ever since.”

The three women alternate shifts, but make soap every day of the week to keep up with their retail quota and wholesale shipments. Deb currently manages the shop's other location in Sharon Springs while Kendal and her sister take charge of the new Saratoga location. 

"We're really excited to open this location," McGillycuddy said. "It felt right and seemed like the natural progression and next step for the business."

- Word on the street is that the McGillycuddy's bath and body products are top quality and that the family is as sweet as their soaps!

Check them out in the lower level of the Downstreet Marketplace or online at http://www.mcgillycuddysoap.com/.

Enjoy!

SKL