Soap City Buff filed a lawsuit against Magen Bynum, the founder of Co. Bath and Soap Magnolia, claiming that she has caused irreparable harm to their brand by creating an unfair competition. The lawsuit, which was filed on Friday, accuses Bynum of falsely advertising and misappropriating trade secrets as a former affiliate of the company Bartlett.

City Buff, currently based jointly in Memphis and Dallas, was founded in 2013 as an alternative soap company known as Co. Soap Bartlett. It comes in the form of a handmade soap, made with plant-based ingredients, and is free of harsh chemicals and animal fats.

Buff City engaged in negotiations with Bynum regarding the establishment of a location in Mississippi during this period. As of 2018, when the franchise system was initiated, the company stated that it presently oversees over 100 stores across 20 states.

Bynum would later establish Buff City New Albany after opening branches in Oxford, New Albany, and Tupelo. By partnering with Buff City, she gained privileges such as obtaining raw materials, receiving endorsement for marketing, and utilizing the business framework in exchange for a 5-percent management fee.

Nevertheless, the collaboration was brief.

According to the lawsuit, Buff City Soap LLC discovered in early August 2018 that Bynum had started a rival soap enterprise and was utilizing Buff City Trade Secrets to produce similar soap items.

Bynum, the owner of LLC Soap City Buff, operated a booth at the wholesale market in Atlanta, encouraging customers to purchase Soap City Buff products instead of those from the trade name ‘Buff City’.

Bynum started her company, Soap City Buff, and competed under the title “Magnolia Soap.” The rest of the orders were fulfilled by her. According to the lawsuit, Soap City Buff failed to complete the order for one customer, leaving LLC Soap City Buff to fulfill the orders received in the wholesale market in Atlanta. The lawsuit also claims that Bynum initially failed to fulfill the orders.

Starting in 2019, Buff City Soap aims to establish itself as the premier soap destination,

The Magnolia Soap and Bath Company vended cleansers produced from unprocessed substances acquired by her at a reduced rate. The legal action alleges that Bynum and her recent establishment are engaging in unjust competition with Buff City Soap because of her understanding of its business tactics. The allegation was submitted via the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee.

While operating in City Buff, Business Soap Magnolia learned that using additional raw materials for purchase and connecting with suppliers is essential. They also discovered the trade secrets, including recipes and product formulas, that are used by Defendants Soap Magnolia and Bynum to continue their operations in City Buff.

False advertising also argued in lawsuit

Throughout the course of these events, Bynum additionally engaged in deceptive marketing of her merchandise, which the company asserts as its own, and consequently inflicted harm upon the company’s standing while also mistreating its clientele. Buff City Soap firmly holds this belief.

The lawsuit refers to Buff City Soap’s false advertising as the assertion that its products possess healing and restorative attributes. Bynum supports her claim by stating that her products are available for purchase in pharmacies and doctor’s offices, suggesting that they have healing properties.

Alongside the payment, Buff City Soap requests injunctive relief, asserting that the losses suffered by the company cannot be adequately remedied with financial restitution.

Halbert, Mark Bynum’s lawyer, could not comment on the details of the lawsuit, but he believes there is merit to it.

Lucas Finton is a news intern at the Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at lucas.Finton@commercialappeal.Com and followed on Twitter at @LucasFinton.