"The way a place can reach right into your body and touch your emotions is REAL. I know I expected things to feel different, I just didn't realize just how impactful it was going to be day one."
It's the aromas that hit you first. Then you notice the natural wood fixtures, and the clean, airy vibe. The colorful photos of botanicals call you in, and the products carefully displayed throughout the space urge you to wander. For just a moment you might think you're downtown Chicago, or on the posh main street in Stillwater. Then you look over and notice the bar. That's when you know for sure, you're no place you've ever been before. You're at the Aroma Bar, only in Ellsworth.
Transforming a store to make it look better is one challenge. Add to that transforming a space to function differently, uniquely, like nowhere you've ever been before, is a little scary. We had a vision going into our remodel to create a truly engaging space that is welcoming and creative, where so much is possible, and the opportunities to explore scent is seemingly limitless. Welcome to the Aroma Bar!
It's been just over a month since we reopened and so much has changed. The reactions from those that come in for the first time is priceless. I've had a few people say they must be in the wrong place. There have been gasps, tears, and expletives I will leave to your imagination. Most of all, though, there is shared joy in what we've created on behalf of our customers and our community. The way a place can reach right into your body and touch your emotions is REAL. I know I expected things to feel different, I just didn't realize just how impactful it was going to be day one.
And here we are a month later and I can share that our daily customer count is up and our sales are up. People are finding us and using or services exactly as intended. I had a woman in the other day that knew EXACTLY what scent she wanted. I didn't have it in a damn thing on the shelf, but we mixed her up the body spray of her dreams, and she was so excited to sit at the bar and watch it happen. Our Blooming Bush (lilac) scented soap made such an impression we were asked for it to be added to body spray, butter cream lotion, hair conditioner, and shampoo...on demand, while our customers waited. A mama-to-be stopped in during Cheese Curd Festival and needed relief for sore muscles. Our muscle salve has a few essential oils that are not recommended during pregnancy, so we made a massage oil with safe, effective essential oils in the proper amount, just for her. We've punched more refill cards since having the chance to expand on our refillable products and saved that many more containers from becoming landfill trash. We hosted a full house for a sound bath meditation and have gotten used to moving and resetting the furniture for yoga classes. Next month we'll offer our first DIY Bar Experience, where customers can make their own salt scrub using our selection of salts, organic oils, butters, powders, and aromas anytime during our store hours. In the fall we'll open up a workshop schedule with classes in harmonious fragrance blending, basic emulsions, soapmaking, and more.
Coming to work is a joy for me in this space, allowing anything I dream up to become a reality. The space has changed the way we do business, the way we interact with our customers, the way we welcome new people into our lives, and is a true source of pride in our community. There was a time when I had accepted that I might never know the extent to which taking down a couple of walls, a bunch of fluorescent lights, and some ceiling panels in disrepair would change YB Urban?. Now, I'm so glad we fought for it, worked for it, and can see on the other side that it was worth every moment and is better than I could ever have imagined.
Transforming a store to make it look better is one challenge. Add to that transforming a space to function differently, uniquely, like nowhere you've ever been before, is a little scary. We had a vision going into our remodel to create a truly engaging space that is welcoming and creative, where so much is possible, and the opportunities to explore scent is seemingly limitless. Welcome to the Aroma Bar!
It's been just over a month since we reopened and so much has changed. The reactions from those that come in for the first time is priceless. I've had a few people say they must be in the wrong place. There have been gasps, tears, and expletives I will leave to your imagination. Most of all, though, there is shared joy in what we've created on behalf of our customers and our community. The way a place can reach right into your body and touch your emotions is REAL. I know I expected things to feel different, I just didn't realize just how impactful it was going to be day one.
And here we are a month later and I can share that our daily customer count is up and our sales are up. People are finding us and using or services exactly as intended. I had a woman in the other day that knew EXACTLY what scent she wanted. I didn't have it in a damn thing on the shelf, but we mixed her up the body spray of her dreams, and she was so excited to sit at the bar and watch it happen. Our Blooming Bush (lilac) scented soap made such an impression we were asked for it to be added to body spray, butter cream lotion, hair conditioner, and shampoo...on demand, while our customers waited. A mama-to-be stopped in during Cheese Curd Festival and needed relief for sore muscles. Our muscle salve has a few essential oils that are not recommended during pregnancy, so we made a massage oil with safe, effective essential oils in the proper amount, just for her. We've punched more refill cards since having the chance to expand on our refillable products and saved that many more containers from becoming landfill trash. We hosted a full house for a sound bath meditation and have gotten used to moving and resetting the furniture for yoga classes. Next month we'll offer our first DIY Bar Experience, where customers can make their own salt scrub using our selection of salts, organic oils, butters, powders, and aromas anytime during our store hours. In the fall we'll open up a workshop schedule with classes in harmonious fragrance blending, basic emulsions, soapmaking, and more.
Coming to work is a joy for me in this space, allowing anything I dream up to become a reality. The space has changed the way we do business, the way we interact with our customers, the way we welcome new people into our lives, and is a true source of pride in our community. There was a time when I had accepted that I might never know the extent to which taking down a couple of walls, a bunch of fluorescent lights, and some ceiling panels in disrepair would change YB Urban?. Now, I'm so glad we fought for it, worked for it, and can see on the other side that it was worth every moment and is better than I could ever have imagined.
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