Whether she’s helping a family member deal with a case of eczema, or searching for natural ways to treat fibromyalgia, Rae Ellyn has always had a passion for helping people lead healthier lives. She also has a passion for making skincare products – something she’s done for more than two decades.
In 2009, Ellyn was working as the district manager for a tanning salon and making products for the girls there. One day, the owner asked her why the salon wasn’t selling her great products.
And that’s how her business began.
In 2011, after getting into the art of soap making, Ellyn made her startup official by founding Celestial Balance Body Products, and now she’s about to celebrate the first anniversary of her Uptown Village store, located at 1902 Main Street, next to Moe’s Barber Shop.
“[Having the Uptown Village store] has been good for my business, but it has been a struggle getting people to realize I’m here,” Ellyn shared. “That’s the biggest thing I have a problem with; people come in who live in the neighborhood, who walk by everyday and go, ‘How long have you been here?’ And part of that is my flat signage, and I know that… I need signage that sticks out, so when you drive by or walk by you actually see me.”
While growing awareness may be Ellyn’s biggest challenge, growing her product line is not. Celestial Balance now features approximately 300 different products, including the popular “Bless My Face Cream,” Vinotopia wine soaps in chardonnay, merlot and rose wine, and soy candles in a variety of scents.
“We specialize in beer and wine soaps,” said Ellyn. “Some of our products are made from goat’s milk or coconut milk. It’s about nourishing the skin, feeding the body from the outside.”
When it comes to sales, Ellyn relies predominantly on in-person transactions, rather than via the internet. As she explained it, “it’s hard to sell smells.” The online sales she does get typically come from customers who have met her at an out-of-the-area festival and are looking to stock up.
But even then, she said, some customers just prefer to pick up their favorite products in-store, and she prefers that too.
“I like the social interaction,” said Ellyn. “I like meeting my customers and knowing did it work, did it not work. How can I fix it? How can I change it a little bit and make it personal to help somebody?”
Ellyn attends at least one festival a month, and she’s recently returned from the Washington Brewer’s Festival and the Oregon Brewer’s Festival.
One thing that makes Celestial Balance Body Products unique is that all of Ellyn’s products are made from scratch and according to her own recipes. She now makes up to five gallons of lotion at a time and trains her two employees to customize products with specific recipes.
“I was a one-woman show for five-and-a-half years,” she said. “Now the girls in the store can mix it up and bottle lotions on the spot.”
Celestial Balance also sells products made by local artisans, and Ellyn focuses on using natural products and as many locally-sourced ingredients as possible. Additionally, she donates products to nonprofit organizations in the area.
“I love what I do. I love educating people and I’m real big on not doing anything halfway,” she said. “I go to soap maker conventions and educate myself on how to do it right, including compliance with manufacturing rules.”
Looking to the future, Ellyn said there are plenty of opportunities for the business to take advantage of. For instance, she wants to improve the Celestial Balance website (www.celestialbalance.com).
She also wants to partner with more businesses, like salons and spas across the country, selling wholesale.
“Wholesale is the part that stabilizes the business,” she explained. “If you’ve got a pretty constant flow of orders coming in from stores and salons, that keeps the lights on. Then the rest is just growing the business.”
The Uptown Village store is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
If Ellyn has it her way, that’s just the start.
“I have big plans,” she said. “This is just store number one. I’d love to be in on the riverfront development project. I also want to be able to do more charity work and to help other single moms.”
Celestial Balance Body Products
1902 Main St., Vancouver Founded 2011
