Hi all, I'm a newbie in this forum and also a newbie in aromatherapy. I would like to ask the experts here for advice on starting with aromatherapy business.
as an introduction, it shames me to say that I don't have ANYexperience in aromatherapy. I don't use it,and I don't know what emcompasses "aromatherapy products" YET. But during a recent travel to Bali I noticed the wholearomatherapic "atmosphere" to the island, and after several visits to the local aromatherapy shops, it got me thinking to start a business, to build a brand of aromatherapy products.
Of course, with my serious lack of knowledge about AT (writing aromatherapy is getting redundant) I need to get some literature first, which I will soon. Thanks but no thanks if you have any book recommendations as it'd just confuse me selecting. I'll just go and get what's available.
My first and big concern is, what kinds of products should I feature? What should I fill my store with? (small 31 m-sq). secondly I really want to get the best available products for my brand; I understand you can't get them all from one source.
I know there are a lot of AT products (EOs, bath salts, and what have yous) and I don't plan to carry them all (just popular and well known ones like lavender, sandalwood, etc) BUT I do need to fill my store so I'm hoping that I could get help from this forum as to which items to feature and where to get them. FYI I'm going with the tropical feel for my store.
Thx in advance
Reno
RE: starting an aromatherapy business
Are you in the UK or USA (reference to 'store' as opposed to 'shop' makes me think this)? If so, why not do a bit of research and have a look at other like-minded 'stores' in the area - or even the big cities. I have a Nat Health shop in a local town that I frequent (I am not an AT therapist - but I do buy their products for family use). Their stock, at the beginning, was very much related to just your idea - AT products only. They found that stock was not moving, so they branched into crystal therapy. They also turned one of their back rooms into a small clinic, where people can go for aromatherapy/massage/IHM/crystal therapy.
Have you considered doing a basic course in aromatherapy, so that you would at least know how to make recommendations about a short list of EO's?
Good luck.
RE: starting an aromatherapy business
Hi Jabba,
thanks for the advice.
I'm neither in the UK nor the US. I'm located in Indonesia (the coutnry where Bali is in). Yes, I will certainly do my research; I'm going to get a book about AT soon. But just to speed things up IfiguredI'll ask around for expert advice. Not a lot of "AT shops" here, although you can get AT products in dept. stores but no specialty shop.
This isn't my idea alone, my 2 female cousins help me with this, they know more about AT although only from the consumer's POV. I know zilch at this point.
I've seen 2-3 shops that carry AT but they also sell souvenirs, snacks,andthe sort. excluding non-AT products, I reckon that will leave half the shop (about 4 x 5 m) empty. Also they don't carry a lot of "scents", I saw only lavender, sandalwood, rose, ylang-ylang, frangipani, lemongrass. I want my shop to sell only AT products, and maybe some bath-spa related items but importantlyI don't want it to look vacant. also I don't think I'll go with the clinic or spa setup.
Do you have any recommendation on other scents that would fit with my shop's overall theme?
in AT terms, is "scent" the same as EO?
In a month or so I'll go back to bali to research more on AT and perhaps find a distributor line there. Perhaps you have advice on what I should be looking for while I'm there?
Best,
Reno
RE: starting an aromatherapy business
Hi Reno,
I'm an aromatherapist in the UK, so obviously things are quite different here. In answer to your question about e.o's and scents. An e.o is derived from plants whereas a scent is synthetically produced. All e.o's have both physical and emotional properties, a scent is merely a nice smell. You will need to have some basic aromatherapy information, as the oils will have an effect on the person using them and you will have to be able to advise on which may or may not be suitable. As an example some will raise or lower someones blood pressure and could make them quite unwell given the wrong thing. Here in the UK it would be extremely difficult to have a shop selling just aroma things, as the oils themselves are so readily available on the net. Most here also sell herbs and other 'natural' products. You'll need to have moisturisers, bath products, maybe burners and carrier oil, also ready made blends that people can use on their skin. With the exeption of lavender and tea tree none of the e'o's can be applied directly to the skin, they will burn and irritate.
Good luck with your venture, but you will have to do a bit more groundwork I think to make it a success.
Dragonfly.
RE: starting an aromatherapy business
Hi DragonFly,
I'm aware the difference between AT and perfumery, I waswondering if using the term "scent" would be appropriate to differentiate between a lavender skin lotion to a lemongrass lotion.
"You'll need to have moisturisers, bath products, maybe burners and carrier oil,"
no, no, I'm not planning just to sell EOs or incenses. My understanding of AT products includes those as well, so it's more "AT, bath and spa". That's exactly what I want to know: the itemsmy shopshould be selling. do you have any more recommendation?
online store is still a foreign concept in Indonesia, especially due to the rampant CC fraud originated here resulting the country being "blacklisted" by many merchants. there's also the risk of not enough exposure when you base your shop on the web. bricks and mortars is still very much the way to go about your business.
Thanks,
Reno
RE: starting an aromatherapy business
Hi again Reno,
You wouldn't normally use the word scent, as the product would thenusually contain a synthetic 'perfume', which is a lot cheaper to produce than essential oil, and not benefiicial at all, other than creating a nice smell. So you really want to be able to get that on your labels, for example, 'Lavender moisturiser' and somewhere on there 'with essential oil of lavender' or 'with lavender essential oil'.
Yes, hadn't thought of that about the net in Indonesia, so hopefully a store will do well.
The things that go well here are probably skin products, moisturisers, body cream, soaps. You could also try floral waters, or hydrolats is their other name. They are a by product of the distillation process when they make the essential oils. You can use them as skin toners. Hmm... running out of ideas. Maybe herbal teas or you could look into stocking some flower remedies, they're not the same as e.o's and are taken internally diluted in water, and are used mainly for their emotional effect.
Hope this helps!
Best Wishes,
Dragonfly16
RE: starting an aromatherapy business
soaps...hydrolats...hmmm, floral tea....<takes note>. Yes thank you, this will indeed helps. Of course I won'tstop there, I'm going to have to do deeper research (must get book);but the very least it gives me a big picture of what my shop would be selling and makes the task way less overwhelming than before.
Thanks,
Reno
RE: starting an aromatherapy business
Hi rxw1510
Just a thought there isthe complementary and natrual health show on at the excel centre in London on the 15th and 16th October, here you will find all the big names in aromatherapy products and other complementary issues and lots more. If you are still in the country it would be worth a visit as you could pick up loads of information on suppliers and get ideas for your own store. You can get a free ticket to the show on [link= http://www.chexpo.com ]www.chexpo.com[/link].
Hope this helps
Good luck with your business
Love and light
