It might be a bit ideological, sentimental even, but I want to keep the brand my grandparents purchased over 80 years ago alive. It's an amazing product and has never been compromised by cheaper synthetic or petrochemical materials. It's still made exactly the way it was 100 years ago. Red Star was Australia's first Pumice soap and the slogan was that it will "clean everything from hands to pots and pans".

Having worked for the last twenty years in manufacturing, brand and channel management I know that the best products often never see the light of day  because they need to be made to a particular price point to sell. This often results in compromising the product's performance and ecological credibility. Commercial viability is the reason why we don't have any 'Aussie Favourite' products made in Australia any more  - and if they do make it they often have to be modified to meet that magic price.

I believe that two things are lost here: Quality 'Aussie Made' products and our Brand Heritage. 

The Red Star manufacturing vat that my grandfather built has been offered to me and, without re commissioning it, there will be  no more Red Star. I want to make some small improvements to the vat such as relocating and recommissioning it, and any additional funds will be used to market Red Star and improve the web site etc. I have some very good supporters in independent retail and we will work hard to make sure it can get to market. 

Red Star Cleaner was first made by a couple of chaps who used to be Communists, hence the star. The original star on the packaging was five pointed, however I have changed it to the seven pointed commonwealth star of Australia. That's it. Everything else is the same - most of all, the formulation and method of manufacturing. In fact, when Red Star was 'peddled' (literally by bicycle) for sale around the Melbourne suburbs of Carlton, Fitzroy and Collingwood in the early 1900's, the locals use to call it 'Commy Dirt' (I forgot to mention that it's made out of Bentonite as well as the Pumice and both could be considered as 'dirt' (now known as organic cleaners).  

Please help this great old Aussie brand by becoming a 'Soap Star' and donating to save a bit of Aussie heritage and a wonderful product. 

To relocate and recommission the vat, including a few small improvements to the way it dispenses the product into the packaging. Any additional funds will be used for marketing Red Star, improving the web site etc. This is the vat my grandfather built.. At the time, it was over engineered (fortunately), so even the stirring gear at the top (which is an old truck diff) works perfectly. The major improvements I will need to undertake are re-wiring and fixing the mixing pump and dispensing taps. So far I have had quotes for around $3,300 plus the relocation costs. 

I just need the continued support and interest from customers and retailers for quality Aussie Made products.