A plant-based luxury skincare brand is one of the first new businesses to open at Arnold Market Place.
Skin Solace is a handmade skincare brand that started off in just one room in 2016 but has since expanded.
Business owner Natalee Onyeche lives in Nottingham and started her business after arriving from Ghana. Her daughter suffers from dry, eczema prone skin and used a product that worked for her there. Natalee then wondered if she could create something similar.
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After taking a soap course, Natalee’s business got underway and now, Skin Solace has been in Arnold Market Place for just under a week. Natalee said: “As an entrepreneur I had done markets, mum and baby groups and they seemed to be going well. After the business launched, I took a two year break when I had my third child and then in 2020, I began to rebrand.
“I wanted the branding to be good enough to be stocked in department stores like John Lewis and I did go on to do John Lewis pop-ups in 2021 which gave me confidence, it was a worthwhile exercise.”
Skin Solace has affordable products. From candles that start from £12 to bars of soap for £4, body butters for £10, £15 or £20, shampoo bars and more.
Skin Solace’s products come in environmentally friendly packaging including aluminium that can go on to be reused. Natalee continued: “The business had been struggling online but now with this shop, we can be more up close and personal, people will be more inclined to buy; sometimes, there’s anxiety over small brands when you don’t know exactly what to expect.
“We’ve been open for three days but people have come in to smell the products and learn about what they do for the skin. It’s always been a fantasy of mine to have a shop. From operating in one room in my house, I knew that in order to grow and produce more, I needed more room.”
Now, Skin Solace are in talks with experts in international trade to export their products to different countries.
Natalee added: “We want to export to Sweden, Switzerland and Norway where there’s an emphasis on self care and plant based products. Skin Solace’s focus is on self care and wellbeing for men and women to engage in luxurious essential oils that can transform ordinary showers into more indulgent showers, which is something small but meaningful.
“This is also a place where people can come if they want to sit down or have a cup of tea, that will always be on offer.”
Gedling’s Conservative MP, Tom Randall, said “It is great that the AMP, which is partially Government-funded via D2N2, the Local Enterprise Partnership, is attracting new businesses and footfall to my home town of Arnold. Our high streets are increasingly a destination for experiences and small businesses like Skin Solace will I am sure help draw shoppers to Arnold.
“I regularly use the Post Office and wish all the new businesses in the AMP well. The AMP is starting to fill up but there is still empty space available that would be perfect for local start-ups or shared office space and I hope the Council is able to help small local businesses fill that space soon.”
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