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Designing for the SWEETEST New Shop in Utah
Wednesday Jul 27 2022 by Stacey Beyer

The shop is Sweet Bath Co, but the name should actually be SWEETEST Bath Co, as Melissa and Alexa, the business owners, have put their hearts into creating a company that supports working moms. 

 

“I was a new mom and my daughter hated the bath, so we created these really fun bath bombs,” Alexa recalled. “We thought, if we can take one stressor out of the bedtime routine… let’s do it!” 

And do it, they did. Sweet Bath Co has been in business for two and a half years now, but they only opened the doors of their first brick-and-mortar store at Traverse Mountain in March of this year. Del Reanne Lucas Wilson, a senior designer at The Black Goose Design, helped make that happen.

 

“We met with Del Reanne in October of 2021 and started the planning process,” Melissa said. I knew what I wanted for our space and she definitely helped bring that vision to life!”

 

“Between my initial conversations with Melissa and their company their logo, I could see what they wanted … what they needed, “Del Reanne added. “We saw eye to eye from the beginning, which was really fun.”

From that instant connection and shared vision came this gorgeous outcome.

 

“I find the success of any project is based on the synergy of the client and the designer. When you come together and feed off each other and love a project together, you always have a much happier end result. That was certainly the case here,” Del Reanne added.

DESIGNING A COMMERCIAL SPACE

While certain design principals ring true whether you’re designing a residential space or a commercial one, there are aspects unique to commercial to consider.

1. MORE EYES ON THE PRIZE

“I love designing commercial spaces,” Del Reanne said. “More people get to see and experience your work, so creating a space the public really enjoys and watching people over and over and over come in and react is very creatively fulfilling.”

 

2. FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE EVERYTHING

Del Reanne comes from a rich background in commercial design and knows you only have mere minutes to capture your audience and set your desired tone.

 

“When designing a commercial space like this, you have to give the audience an experience as soon as the step through the door,” Del Reanne explained. “You only have three seconds to make your first impression. It was our goal at Sweet Bath Co to create a space that feels fun, fresh, lovely and a bit elegant.”

 

“Stores often feel full and crowded,” Melissa added. “We knew we wanted a more open feeling and a very relaxing and welcoming environment. Light woods and lots of white… We wanted the shop to feel bright and happy, but also a bit fancy.”

 

3. EXPECT PERAMETERS

When designing a leased space, you can sometimes be met with elements to work around. In this space, one such element was the flooring. It would have taken the project well beyond the budget to replace it, so it was up to the team to work with it and make it all come together seamlessly.

“Unless the flooring in a space is spectacular, you don’t want to make it memorable,” Del Reanne said. “Where this warm, orange-toned floor was already in place, it was my job to work with it and not make it look like a mistake. We wanted to draw the eye up and create the focus someplace completely different. Our solutions for doing that ended up being some of my favorite features in the store. The chandeliers are spectacular! They make the biggest pop! And the crazy gold metallic flowers on the walls really add a ‘wow’ to the entire space!”

 

4. CONSIDER CUSTOMS

A commercial space has unique needs, which can mean unique fixtures and pieces. The Black Goose Design can help with that!

 

“A lot of people don’t realize we can create custom casework,” Del Reanne noted. “It’s one of the many services we offer. Here, we designed the gorgeous front counter specifically for this business, and I adore it!”  

 

5. DESIGN WITHIN DESIGN

Retail often calls for unique areas and experiences within the larger space. That was the case at Sweet Bath Co.

 

“We needed to create sections to support the various product types,” Del Reanne explained. “A kids section… A bath and shower section... A seasonal section… A gift section… The trick is making each section feel unique but also cohesive and on brand as a whole.”

 

6. DESIGN TO ENHANCE INVENTORY

We saved the best for last. In a retail space, the design should ALWAYS complement the product on display, not over overpower it.

 

“Creating a beautiful space is important, but you want to equally highlight the product,” Del Reanne explained. “You don’t want either one to get lost. Especially when that product is as beautiful as this. It’s unlike anything I’ve seen. I knew we needed a backdrop that would showcase that kind of beauty and uniqueness.”

 

THE SWEET OUTCOME

It’s easy to see the outcome of this collaboration does the brilliant products at The Sweet Bath Co justice. The shop, like the specialty bath products within, is relaxing. As you walk in, you’re not only greeted by the best smells imaginable but also a truly serene scene.  

 

ON A MOM CALM MISSION

Of course, the calm sweet Sweet Bath Co provides extends well beyond their Traverse Mountain retail shop or even a soak using their high-quality bath products. For them, it’s about adding much-needed mom calm. It’s why they’ve created a business owned and run by women that focuses on supporting women. From their design and fulfillment center to their storefont, Sweet Bath Co employs nearly 25 females, most of whom are busy mothers. For them, that’s the ultimate success story and the foundation of their happy brand.   

 

“I seriously can’t wait to get to work every day,” Melissa remarked. “We take dancing breaks and get to chat with friends all day. It is so much fun! We couldn’t ask for a better group of employees or a better way to recharge and bring more balance to all areas of our lives.”

 

Del Reanne worked primarily with Melissa on this project and felt an instant connection to her and the brand’s supportive mission.

 

“Melissa and I had the same excitement and vision, which I found very motivating. I mean, my desire to please is always huge, but when you add that kind of mutual excitement, it catapults it. I would do anything for Melissa. She’s darling and delightful. She’s so creative. Plus, she’s a really hard-working mom supporting other hard-working moms. That really resonates with me on a personal level.”

 

Wanting a solution to end-of-day bath time chaos, Sweet Bath Co ultimately created something even bigger. Even better. An inviting place to relax and feel supported. A memorable place to not only shop but to immerse yourself in beauty. Experience it all for yourself and stop by this serene storefront at Traverse Mountain soon.

 

Not in Utah? Don’t you worry. You can also shop their fabulous assortment of specialty products online





Labels: sweet bath co traverse mountain best places to shop in utah commercial design pointers where to go for help designing a retail space custom made casework bath bombs women owned business supporting working moms design tricks and tips