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Jordan Evans / 01 Jul 2020
Home & Gift Virtual schedule revealed
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Celine Dibert, Press Loft / 24 Jun 2020
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Kelly Grant / 07 Apr 2020
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BEHIND THE BRAND BESPOKE AROMA
Education worker turned aromatherapist, Jo Evans, owner of Bespoke Aroma, launched her very own natural skincare products range in 2014. Jo shares with us how her Lancashire kitchen became the workshop behind her ever growing range of products including her brand new vegan skincare range.
Hi Jo, can you share with us how Bespoke Aroma began?
I retrained as an aromatherapist when my family relocated to the Lake District in 2010. Previously I had worked in Education in the Midlands. I started working as a mobile therapist and then secured the role of Spa Manager at a brand new Spa being built at the Relais Chateaux hotel The Gilpin. Here I made all the products for the treatments and this then led onto working with other Spas to develop their own bespoke range of natural products to use during treatments as well as developing bespoke treatments and training their therapists. I also make bespoke products for businesses and other therapists and run skin care making workshops. The products I am bringing to Harrogate are my aromatherapy range of bathing and pamper products and my brand new vegan skincare range. I have been supported by the many female business owners I network with as well as some amazing friends and of course my family. My main initial inspiration to make products was a friend of mine who was undergoing treatment for breast cancer and was struggling to find something she could use on her skin safely. I developed an oil for her which not only helped with her skin but also aided her healing. This made me realise that helping people to feel happy in their skin was what I wanted to do with my life, it is so satisfying!
Why is it you love what you do?
My biggest highlight has been launching my new vegan skin care brand as this has been in development for many years and it was fantastic to see the planning all come together. 3 of the products have just been awarded ‘Commended’ at the international Beauty Shortlist Awards 2020 where I was up against well established companies from USA, Canada, Australia and UK so to have been recognised for high quality products amongst these other companies was incredible. I love developing new products either for my own brand or as bespoke work for other companies as I feel like a mad scientist at times working on different formulations and samples. When I get it right it so satisfying and when I get feedback on how a product has helped someone or made their skin feel amazing it makes it all worthwhile!
Knowing what you do now, what advice would you give to yourself when you were first starting out?
I would tell myself to not under value what I do just because I am a small company. I would tell myself to work on getting a few things and do them well and not to have too many plates spinning at once.
What can visitors expect of Bespoke Aroma at Home & Gift this year?
All of my products will be new to Home & Gift as I haven’t exhibited before, but in particular I shall be bringing my newly launched award winning vegan skincare range called Bespoke Spa and I shall be adding to my current range of aromatherapy pulse points to offer products to help with anxiety, mindfulness and focus.
Do you have any favourites in the colelction?
I absolutely adore my Foot Scrub! The smell of peppermint and Rosemary is amazing and it feels fantastic on your feet. I also love the velvet feel of the Warm Oil Face mask and the zing of my refreshing facial mist
Hi Jo, can you share with us how Bespoke Aroma began?
I retrained as an aromatherapist when my family relocated to the Lake District in 2010. Previously I had worked in Education in the Midlands. I started working as a mobile therapist and then secured the role of Spa Manager at a brand new Spa being built at the Relais Chateaux hotel The Gilpin. Here I made all the products for the treatments and this then led onto working with other Spas to develop their own bespoke range of natural products to use during treatments as well as developing bespoke treatments and training their therapists. I also make bespoke products for businesses and other therapists and run skin care making workshops. The products I am bringing to Harrogate are my aromatherapy range of bathing and pamper products and my brand new vegan skincare range. I have been supported by the many female business owners I network with as well as some amazing friends and of course my family. My main initial inspiration to make products was a friend of mine who was undergoing treatment for breast cancer and was struggling to find something she could use on her skin safely. I developed an oil for her which not only helped with her skin but also aided her healing. This made me realise that helping people to feel happy in their skin was what I wanted to do with my life, it is so satisfying!
Why is it you love what you do?
My biggest highlight has been launching my new vegan skin care brand as this has been in development for many years and it was fantastic to see the planning all come together. 3 of the products have just been awarded ‘Commended’ at the international Beauty Shortlist Awards 2020 where I was up against well established companies from USA, Canada, Australia and UK so to have been recognised for high quality products amongst these other companies was incredible. I love developing new products either for my own brand or as bespoke work for other companies as I feel like a mad scientist at times working on different formulations and samples. When I get it right it so satisfying and when I get feedback on how a product has helped someone or made their skin feel amazing it makes it all worthwhile!
Knowing what you do now, what advice would you give to yourself when you were first starting out?
I would tell myself to not under value what I do just because I am a small company. I would tell myself to work on getting a few things and do them well and not to have too many plates spinning at once.
What can visitors expect of Bespoke Aroma at Home & Gift this year?
All of my products will be new to Home & Gift as I haven’t exhibited before, but in particular I shall be bringing my newly launched award winning vegan skincare range called Bespoke Spa and I shall be adding to my current range of aromatherapy pulse points to offer products to help with anxiety, mindfulness and focus.
Do you have any favourites in the colelction?
I absolutely adore my Foot Scrub! The smell of peppermint and Rosemary is amazing and it feels fantastic on your feet. I also love the velvet feel of the Warm Oil Face mask and the zing of my refreshing facial mist