EssenceTree is opening up its very first brick-and-mortar retail shop after owner Charmaine Gibbs-West — a former Wall Street executive — worked exclusively from a home-based operation. The space will be at 655 Highland Avenue in Suite 1, behind Highland Bakery.
“It started out on a farm we owned in Nashville,” Gibbs-West told What Now Atlanta (WNA). “Since we came to Georgia, we worked out of our home. This is our first commercial space,” she continued, stating that EssenceTree just might be the first African American-owned skincare company in the area. Before they open up, you can find their products online or at select Whole Foods and Sevanada locations.
EssenceTree is a holistic “movement,” encouraging women, in particular, to consider infusing an herbalist and plant-based lifestyle with their daily routine. While its main focus was to educate women about transitioning into a more healthy lifestyle, EssenceTree’s products quickly grew in demand — to the extent that retail stores wanted Gibbs-West to do COVID-friendly products, she told WNA. “It turned into a blessing,” Gibbs-West said since she ended up with $5,000 worth of sanitizers she can sell. “It’s something I would make for myself and my family.” Gibbs-West looked up laboratory-proven essential oils that really work and with that, created a “beautiful cocktail” of which they’ve already sold over 1,000.
While Gibbs-West wants to assist and educate women, the products are also for men — like superfood soaps, butters, creams, plant-based acne masks, and oils. Halloween will be sort of a “soft-launch,” in which EssenceTree will give away “Trick-or-Treat” goodie bags with some of these products at the new location.
Gibbs-West still has work to do at the space. Post renovations, which include creating a boutique in the front and manufacturing space in the back, will feel “elevated,” she said. “We’re so very happy to be a part of the community. We love to ride bikes and go to the BeltLine.” EssenceTree has a planned opening of November 28 and curbside pickup being available starting November 2.
(Edited to include that EssencTree’s products are also found at Sevanada and that curbside pickup will be available November 2)
One Response
Sounds like a good product line.
Welcome to the neighborhood!