Inspired by Service, Built to Care: The Veteran Behind Compact Care

Imagine you’re on a crisp fall hike deep in the woods and discover the perfect picnic spot. Maybe your little baseball star has begun his second tournament game on a hot day. There might be your town’s outdoor festival that is busier than ever this year.

Now imagine your picnic spot is miles from the nearest trailhead facilities, the ballfield restroom is out of order, and everyone needs to wash up before chowing down on fried festival foods.

These scenarios, and many more, are tailor made for Compact Care.

Aaron Barnes developed the idea for travel-friendly hygiene products in the harsh environment of multiple Afghanistan deployments in the 2010s. Since departing the U.S. Army in 2017 after nearly a decade of military service, he’s honed his pocket-sized products to fit a variety of needs, temperatures and skin types.

Compact Care’s lineup features revolutionary products including portable soap sheets, gentle facial towels, and expandable bath towels. Each product requires little to no water, but they’re designed with great care.
 

The Problem

Barnes, who lives in Venice, Florida, says his time in the desert climates was the catalyst to creating better options for his fellow soldiers. If they were stationed at an outpost or on patrol, traditional showers were rarely available. Soldiers had to make do with baby wipes and hand sanitizer.

Both options dried out easily, not providing much in the way of cleanliness. They also left primarily chemicals behind.

Barnes noticed other issues, too. Soldiers working with machinery often had chapped hands from the chemical sanitizers or had to deal with leftover residue. For treating injuries in the field, they needed sterile products that could fit in day packs when soldiers could only carry the bare essentials.

”I wanted to make something strong, clean and reusable,” Barnes says.

Beyond the military, Barnes believed pocket-sized hygiene products could serve emergency personnel and people in their everyday lives. ”I want to be a brand people can rely on,” he says.
 

The Process

Returning home from deployment, Barnes couldn’t stop the ideas from flowing. He recalls sitting at a restaurant drawing designs on napkins, brainstorming how to improve them.

”I knew I needed to make the products last and, most importantly, ensure they were always ready to use,” he says.

Barnes worked through multiple iterations of the towels, soap sheets and Snoodles Scrubs, Compact Care’s rinse-free bath sponges.

The towels went through five prototypes, ending in a cotton blend that tested the strongest. The soap sheets began as a powder formula before changing to a natural, oil-based soap.

”The soap sheets went through a lot of experimentation. We even did a double-blind test group,” Barnes recalls.

Barnes wanted the soap to not only be anti-microbial but provide moisturizing agents. Along came coconut oil as the ideal base.

”We allowed soldiers around the world to test the soap sheets in different environments,” Barnes says.

Barnes even tinkered with Compact Care packaging, ensuring customers with limited mobility could easily open and close them.

The Solution

About five years into his journey as a small business owner, Barnes defines success as ”what my customers gain.” He is proud to see his products are a hit with a variety of people, whether soldiers in the field, parents on the go or avid campers.

”The first time we sold out at an RV show was a great instance of people seeing the usefulness of our products,” he recalls.

Barnes reached out to Financial Services Representative Damaris Snead at his local SouthState branch in Venice when needing banking services for Compact Care. Snead went over his business account and payment options, ultimately deciding on products that best serve Compact Care’s operations.

”When I first met Aaron, I first wanted to build a relationship with him, really getting to know him and his business so I could get a good understanding of his financial needs,” Snead says. ”I continuously stay in touch with him so I can assist with any financial needs he may need now or in the future.”

Having a banker to reach out to with questions is vital for a small business owner. Snead has connected Barnes to SouthState’s Treasury Navigator services and continues to offer guidance.

”She spends extra time with me and is always available,” Barnes says. ”I know I can call her and get a result if I need help.”

As he worked to solve the ”compact” part of his business model, Barnes remains focused on the ”care” side by giving to those in need. He supplies hygiene products to Courage Kits for unhoused veterans, Suncoast Humane Society, My Warrior’s Place and more.

After using a water-doused Compact Care towel to prevent heatstroke at a high school track and field event, Barnes is also encouraging people to stock Compact Care products in first aid kits.

Starting a business hasn’t always been easy, but Barnes says the end result has been well worth the countless hours.

”If you’re caring for others with your product, you’re doing the right thing,” he says.

You can find Compact Care products at retailers in Central Florida, online at CompactCareLine.com or Amazon.