Lori Lyons started working at Beauty and the Bath when she was just 19 years old! After managing the store a while and envisioning a new direction for the shop located in a charming historic brick building in the heart of Wickford RI, she purchased the business, rolled up her sleeves, gave it a fresh coat of paint and went to town making it “her own”. Soon it became a town staple and her fun whimsical personality become part of the boutique’s shopping experience itself. Now it’s known as a Rhode Island retail treasure and must-stop for tourists and locals. This year she celebrates 30 years since she bought the boutique May 15th, 1996.
By L.A. Reilly
LA: Congratulations on celebrating 30 years. Wow you were 19 years old when you started working here. Tell me a little about your journey over the years.
LL: I worked for the founder, Jean Lockwood who opened Beauty and the Bath in 1986. From my first day, Save 10% on select Rhode Island stores when you sign up for our free online monthly magazine.Subscribe For Free & Save 10%
LA: What changes have you made since purchasing Beauty and the Bath?
LL: When I bought the business, the interior was very pink. Pink everywhere you looked! When men came in the store, I think they were a little intimidated. I immediately changed the color scheme to purple and green. I “funked” it up and made it fun and whimsical. I changed the logo and incorporated it into the aesthetics by painting, a big beautiful sunflower on the floor. It remained a bath and body care/gift shop but my selections were driven by whimsy, fun and sourcing products that not only made you feel good, but brands I stood behind that you felt good using.
LA: I’ve always loved walking into your store and how great it smells from your soaps to candles to lotions. What are some of your favorite brands that you sell?
LL: Most days, what we sell the most of is our brands that only come from a few miles away within Rhode Island. Kayla Style soaps from Cranston Rhode Island are so beautifully crafted and packaged and have become shop staples. And then there’s Shore Soap Co-founded by a husband and wife from Newport, Rhode Island. She comes up with the formulas and he’s a super talented graphic artist who designs the sleek and simple packaging. Their ocean-inspired candles, body washes and oils… my customers cannot live without. Then there’s the Del’s products – candles, bath, body and lip balms that locals and tourists alike are always pleasantly surprised to discover.
LA: How do you stay on top of the trends in the business? You have such unique products.
LL: Great question! I never stop hunting. I never stop being curious. Sometimes sales reps show me something I’ve never seen before but most of the additions in my store come from me doing deep dives and maybe coming across something on my own. Of course, Instagram, Tik Tok and the Internet have made it easier in a way to see new things but also harder in a way because there’s so much to choose from out there in my category. I want to stock everything but there’s only so much room to do so. I guess I just generally follow my gut. It hasn’t steered me wrong yet. But in general, nothing hits my shelf that I don’t try or find a connection to. I burn all the candles and use all the lotions and soaps at home at some point and have to love them myself before I sell them.
LA: Tell me about your annual Holiday Pajama Party which has won The Best of Rhode Island award for Best Nonprofit Fundraiser Statewide.
LL: That’s my baby and what I’m most proud of so I’ll brag about it any day. When I got my business and the holidays were rolling around, I knew I wanted to do some kind of open house but have it serve a purpose. I was home cleaning my house on my day off with the Oprah Winfrey Show on in the other room. She was interviewing the founder of a national foundation called The Pajama Program. The founder was talking about as a mother, she had gone into a local shelter to donate her children’s gently used pajamas. Some kids at the shelter came up to her, staring at the PJ’s and asked… “What are they?” She then realized they’d spent their lives sleeping in their clothes and they didn’t even know what pajamas were! Hearing that really affected me and I had an “Aha” moment. I decided that will be my cause. I will ask my customers to bring me new, unwrapped children’s pajamas and I will round up as much help from the community to make it a party with a purpose. I mean, we all can remember as a child that feeling of warmth and love you got when you put on a new pair of pajamas, right? So simple and something we take for granted. I was so proud that first year to fill up my SUV full of pajamas. Now it has grown so much. All of my neighboring businesses donate raffle prizes and really great food and my vendors send me products to put swag bags together for donors, we offer a nice store discount, our famous “grown up” hot cocoa bar and it really has become a party. A neighborhood tradition! People tell me it’s not Christmas until they shop for pajamas for my party. Nowadays, I’m borrowing the North Kingstown Food Pantry’s big box truck to transport the pajamas! The sheer volume is crazy! And I am so proud. The PJs get donated to the NK Giving Program so we’re making local kids holidays a little brighter and I couldn’t be prouder. Last year we did take home an award for Rhode Island Monthly’s Best of RI – we won “Best Nonprofit Fundraiser- Statewide” and here’s some breaking news … I just got an envelope in the mail that were invited back to the party this year. So we’re hoping we got another win in our 30th year!
LA: You are located in beautiful Historic Wickford Village. Tell me about the local events you participate in from the Holiday Window Contests and the Wickford Art Fest .
LL: There’s always something happening in Wickford Village. We have a very robust merchants group called “The Wickford Village Association”. Once a month during May to October there is Wickford arbor fire with food trucks, live music, kids activities, great shopping and waterfront dining. The best part is live floating fires illuminating Wickford Cove. Then there’s Wicked Weeks in Wickford where we have a witches paddle, scarecrow contest, a costume parade for families, a spooky sip and stroll and cemetery tours. It really gets you in the Halloween spirit. We have daffodil days in the spring and of course the holidays are magical with Santa coming in by boat and you can join him for a horse drawn carriage ride throughout the village and sing carols along with him. We have a window decorating contest and an elf parade. The town is glowing with thousands of white lights. It’s like a living in a Norman Rockwell painting.
LA: One thing I’ve always loved about your shop is that you always have something new and unique how do you come up with ideas of what to sell?
Browse Our Latest Magazine Monthly Issues
LL: You know Laurie, I just kind of follow my gut and constantly research. My eyes are always wide open for new possibilities and fun twists on the every day. Nothing that I put on my shelves isn’t something I use myself or someone I know or perhaps a customer has tried and suggested. I only have so much space so beauty and the bath is really a compilation of the best of the best and bath and body care. Products for your laundry, your home and your body that enhance everyday life.
LA: You also sell gifts from men. What are your most popular sellers?
LL: Nowadays men are completely redefining what it means to look after themselves. Self-care is a big part. Our percentage of men customers have grown incredibly in last 10 years. We hear all the time from guys how grateful they are that we have, for example, shaving soap and old-fashioned shaving brushes, which have really made a comeback. We offer them in all price ranges. You’d be amazed at how many men come in to buy someone else a pampering gift and find something for themselves they didn’t expect.
LA: What are your best selling items and what makes them so popular with your customers?
LL: We have a few best sellers. I refer to them as my shop staples. The can’t-live-without favorites we’ve carried some for decades that my customers rely on. Our big clawfoot tub in the center of the shop filled with New England made bath bombs is a popular place to explore and smell! All handmade with only pure ingredients and I’m not exaggerating, I have sold thousands in my 30 years here. The same man has made them for me and drives them down from New Hampshire and I’ve yet to have anyone tell me their skin didn’t agree with them. They’re just epsom salts, essential oils and basically bicarbonate, which makes them fizz. They are pure magic in the tub. Some days I can’t believe how many bath bombs flew out of here. Our pajamas are something else we’re famous for. It’s hard to find quality all cotton pajamas that are comfortable, breathe with you at night and are adorable and we’ve established ourselves as the local go-to shop to find those. It’s impossible to have a bad day on a day you’ve bought yourself new pajamas! A few other best sellers would be are Yore products made in Exeter, Rhode Island and we have this egg-white facial soap from Cranston, Rhode Island that leaves your face so bright and so smooth we call it the cheapest facial in town. Our Thymes collection has a huge following especially their Frasier Fir at the holidays. People are obsessed with that candle! These are just a few. I try to post pretty regularly on our Instagram @beautyandthebathri and let folks know what the greatest and latest bestsellers are.
LA: When you were not working seven days a week, what do you do for fun and what is your favorite restaurant in South County?
LL: Well, first of all, I don’t work seven days a week even though we’re open seven days I do take time for myself and have two great women that hold the fort down while I’m not here. I’m lucky enough to have a 1934 cottage right down the street from the shop on Wickford Cove. I can take a kayak ride or I meet my friends in a secret little waterfront spot to hang out and chill. My joy is entertaining and cooking for my family and friends. I love dining alfresco on my porch and just connecting with great conversation and lots of laughing. I love putzing in my garden and I’m still amazed at little miracles that pop up and bloom. I’m also the voice and photographer behind the I Love Wickford Village socials where we are the driving force on Instagram and Facebook, which brings us visitors and has a direct impact on the commerce of our small business community. I’m super proud of how that has grown. A few years ago I discovered Wild Flow Barre & Yoga right in my neighborhood. I’m addicted to the barre class and have to say that it’s not only physically, but mentally transformed me. It has taught me to prioritize my health before anything else because if we don’t have that, nothing else matters. I like different restaurants for different things. And I also like different environments for people watching and different vibes. I’ve loved Matunuck Oyster Bar since it was just one little dining room with a raw bar. Many great memories at Capital Grille and Spain Restaurant. But I also think one of the best spots in Rhode Island to watch the sunset is that little upstairs bar at George’s of Galilee. You can watch the commercial fishing boats returning to Point Judith after a long day at sea and see the Block Island Ferry going in and out, everybody waving. We really live in a postcard .
Beauty and the B
ath is located 11 West Main Street, Wickford, RI and shoppers who want to shop online can go to: beautyandthebath.com
Contact: 401-294-3576
Email: lori@beautyandthebath.com
Open 7 days a week: Monday-Saturday: 10am-5pm Sunday: 12:00pm-5pm Facebook @ beautyandthebath Instagram@ beautyandthebathri
