I always get such a thrill when I see Indie Beauty Network member products in shops that I just happen to stumble upon. Today, it was The Olive Branch near my new hometown in North Carolina.
I love decorating my home (even though I'm not terribly good at it) and I have noticed the shop for months, but always drove by because — well, you know — we Indies are busy. But today, I decided to give it a try. A few hundred dollars (+) later, I left with some lovely new home accents like a magnetic mail box cover with the initial "J", a clock, a new pair of handmade earrings, a decorative door wreath and a welcome flag for the front yard. (Clearly not a shop I can afford to frequent on a regular basis!)
But the best part was that I saw an Indie's products on the shelves! What a happy Indie surprise that was! Ally Kats in Vancouver, Washington has great products for little girls. I just had to whip out my camera and take a photo of the Apple Blossom Bubble Bash (how cute is that for "bubble bath?!!) and Body Wash.
Ally Kats owner Colett Bigler recently sealed the deal to purchase the company from Robyn, the prior owner in Biddeford, Maine. Colett had worked as a sales rep for the company for a few years and when Robyn put out the word that she was selling, Colett jumped right on it. She already knew the products were very popular so how could she resist?
And popular they are! Little girls from all walks of life just love them. So how could I resist picking up this little pink frou frou purse with some Lily Grapefruit goodies tucked inside for my sweet little frou frou daughter? Alas, it will be several months before The Olive Branch budget will be replenished. But it sure was fun!
Colett will be the featured Indie Candy in next week's Indie Experience Newsletter, which will include tips and suggestions for what to look for when buying an existing business. You can subscribe to the newsletter in the upper right corner of the blog, or just click here.