by RENEE PATRICK Cascade Business News Feature Writer
Angelina Organic Skincare, the locally owned and operated natural skin care line, recently moved into a bright and spacious storefront on 838 NW Bond Street between Noi Thai and the Bond Street Market. At their grand opening on June’s First Friday ArtWalk, the company unveiled a space six times larger than their previous location on NW Hill Street and provided an elegant re-introduction to their line of handcrafted, organic and fair trade products.
“We grew out of our Hill Street space a few years ago,” commented Owner and Founder Angelina Swanson. “I’ve been wanting to move downtown and considered a lot of different options including renting warehouse space; I just knew that the old space wasn’t reflecting our line well. I kept my eyes open and finally found this space, it was perfect.”
Since the business started in 2001, their line of local artisan products have been introduced to markets across the country; distributed to doctor’s offices, spas and alternative health practitioners, the scientifically formulated skin care products are also natural, fair trade and organic, a niche market for Angelia Organic.
“Bridging that gap is my whole goal,” Swanson explained. “We make natural skin care products that are formulated for problem skin.” The company strives to create products that can combat issues like dry skin, allergies, eczema and depressed nervous systems. Healthcare providers like the St. Charles cancer ward and hospice regularly use items from their line.
“What we are most excited about [with our new location]is more interaction with the public and teaching them what we do here,” she said.
Education is a pivotal component to Swanson’s vision for the new store. An open-air atrium will provide customers a window through which to watch products being created in their new lab. “It’s like a brewery, everyone likes to see how it’s made, and no one has ever seen skin care products made before.”
An alcove in front of the viewing area will become an interactive education center. “We’ll have general information about how we make our products, why we are natural and showcase some of the local farms we work with to source our ingredients,” she said. Inspired by creative and interactive exhibits in the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington DC, Swanson wants to make the space hands-on, artsy and fun, but most importantly, educational.
The beauty of the natural sciences is essential to Angelia Organic’s mission, and the space reflects that passion. Small touches found throughout the store include dried flowers, laboratory beakers and flasks containing air plants and bundles of lavender and sage (ingredients in many products) create an elegant and fresh atmosphere.
Swanson plans to feature “maker nights” including their soap maker, Dawn Mead, and Gordon and Judy Knight, the team behind Tumalo Lavender where Angelina Organic sources their lavender and sage. “I see this as a forum to let people know what we are doing,” she said. “We’ve been doing all of this for years, but it’s been behind the scenes.”
Her very first product, Skin Doctor, a blend of moisturizers, essential oils and extracts that mend and strengthen dry, cracked skin has a prominent display at the front of the store. “Everyone from ranchers and daycare providers come in for Skin Doctor, it’s still a really big seller. I’ve been sponsoring trips all over the world, and we plan to integrate the photos they send of them using it into our display.”
The store’s natural beauty is reflected throughout Swanson’s choice of materials: the cabinets, shelves and displays all echo the integrity of her skin care products.
“We wanted to make the store like a blank palate, like a gallery, so everything could be displayed on a fresh canvas. All the wood is reclaimed. It came from a farm in Culver and were nasty, dirty, grey, filthy boards [before I]ran them through a wood planer…our counter and table came from an old forest service table that was on a friend’s land…another friend helped us with all the finished cabinetry. It’s been a real community coming together.”
Since opening the space Swanson and her staff have been enjoying foot traffic to the store for the first time. “A lot of people are coming by saying they had heard about our products but didn’t know we were in town or they wonder if we just started the company…the other really fun thing to hear, is ‘I’ll get it for you as a souvenir from Bend.’ It’s not only made in Bend, it’s made right here!”
Along with an emphasis on the natural and organic, is their commitment to the reuse and recycle ethic. A bottle recycling program used to give .50 cents to each customer who returned a clean bottle to the store. Now instead of giving it back to the customer, Angelina Organic donates products to Saving Grace, the local family violence and sexual assault assistance center, once a certain amount of bottles are returned. “We asked what Saving Grace needed, and they said women need skin care products,” she said. Last year alone they put over 2,500 bottles back into use.
As with many small businesses poised on the brink of an expansion, Swanson was faced with certain challenges. However all the issues with permits, construction, plumbing and more were put into stark perspective when she lost her mentor and close friend, Melissa Hochschild. “Melissa mentored me in my business for 14 years,” she said. “I signed the lease two days after she passed away and I feel like I have finally fulfilled her wishes for the business with this move…I have dedicated everything I’ve done in here to her and she has been on my mind every second of the process.
“There were challenges [in the expansion], but I expected it, and the truth was I had something much bigger in my face in comparison. It has all been put into perspective,” she explained.
The alchemy of beauty is alive and well at Angelina Organic Skincare.
838 NW Bond St. Angelina products are available online at www.angelinaskincare.com, at select retail stores in Bend and at Anjou Spa in Bend and Sage Springs Spa in Sunriver. 541-647-1655
