Gift Focus inc Attire Accessories - March/April 2023

62 When did you start up and why? We started in 2020 because we felt there was a lack of eco-friendly, vegan & cruelty-free, beautiful bath products at a reasonable price point. What prompted you to launch the business? I was working making someone else’s business successful and started to wonder why I wasn’t doing it for myself. When I noticed a gap in the market during furlough, I decided it was now or never! What challenges have you overcome since the company’s launch? The rising costs of ingredients and packaging have made it difficult, as has the current economic climate. Tell us about your product offering. We have a wide range of bath salts, facial steams, body scrubs, bath oils & clay face masks, with more product lines to come this year. Everything is handmade, cruelty-free, eco-friendly, vegan and 100% natural. What are your most popular products? Our range of facial steams are by far our most popular products. Have any styles taken you by surprise with their popularity? Definitely the facial steams - we thought people would wonder what they were for, but our customers absolutely love them! How do you keep your designs fresh and current? Do you follow trends? We try to bring out a wide range of products in different fragrances to cater to everyone. We don’t follow trends – we just make good stuff out of natural ingredients! What sets you apart from your competitors? We provide affordable luxury – we believe you shouldn’t have to pay a lot for selfcare products that are made from highquality ingredients. How are you finding the current climate in the UK? Is it affecting business? It’s been tough, but we find that people still want to treat others to lovely gifts. How do you view the future of independent retail post-pandemic? We’re hopeful that people will continue to want to shop small and support independent businesses. Are you active on social media? How is this important for the business? Absolutely - we find a lot of our customers come to us via social media. Do you have any advice for new businesses starting out in the world of gifts? Do your research - there’s a lot that you need to know when it comes to running a business, and it’s worth learning everything you can! What can we expect in the future from the company? Plenty of new, exciting products - and hopefully one day, a bricks and mortar shop! SALT AND STREAM T: +44 (0)7766 996 101 www.saltandsteam.co.uk

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