BURLINGTON, N.L. — Gayla Saunders, of Gayla's Luxurious Bath Boutique, is one of the over 20 vendors participating in the Spring Fling at Copper Ridge Academy on Sunday, June 9.
Saunders, who makes a variety of luxurious self-care products at her home in Burlington, is looking forward to the event.
“The Spring Fling is awesome because you get a lot of people from the community and surrounding areas out on the same day,” Saunders said. “There is a variety, with lots of vendors and it’s fun. Plus, I like that we are giving back to the school.
“I think this my second or third time going, they always have a good turnout and the team is good to work with. So I watch out for when they are going to go.”
Saunders started out around two years ago making bath bombs, using techniques she learned from her daughter in Alberta.
“I was always crafty, but never thought this would be for me,” she said.
From those first few bath bombs, Saunders has expanded her line to include lip balm, Happy Feet Soap, and creamers (similar to a bath bomb but with more oil), as well as party and wedding favours. Her products are all handmade, using natural ingredients.
“I work out of a room in my house, with blenders, mixers and a bath bomb press,” Saunders said. “I use a lot of baking soda, plus ingredients like citric acid, grapeseed oil and witch hazel. And I use sugar for the scrubs, of course.”
Saunders says the natural ingredients help her products feel luxurious while keeping her prices low.
“I want everyone to be able to afford my products,” Saunders said. “I enjoy knowing that my friends and neighbours can enjoy the products at a reasonable price. And everybody loves them.”
Saunders personally tests each product before putting it on the market.
“The creamers I make, they have six times the oil of a bath bomb. I promote those for dry winter skin,” Saunders said. “I put one in the tub and sat for 40 minutes, it was just like I had been given new skin. It’s amazing.”
While she is happy with her current success, Saunders looks forward to the future of her business.
“I’m hoping to be able to do this full-time eventually,” she said. “Right now, I’m still working from my house, but I am hoping my products will boom and I’ll be able to have a ‘business-business’.”
Baie Verte Spring Fling
The Baie Verte Spring Fling will be held on Saturday, June 9, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Copper Ridge Academy in Baie Verte. The canteen will open at 11 a.m. Admission to the event is $2.
This is the fourth Spring Fling for event organizers, Mary Broderick, Christa Payne and Renee Mitchell. The team is welcoming over 20 vendors, and they have room for a few more.
At present, the event is featuring handmade crafts, baked goods, skin care products, healthy cooking and baking products, as well as a variety of other small businesses.
“This event features small, at-home business people,” Mary Broderick said, “It highlights their talent and skills.”
“It’s good for communities on the peninsula to gather at one event. And it’s good for vendors to be able learn from each other.”
All proceeds from admission and from table rentals will go to the Student Leadership group at Copper Ridge Academy. Members of that group, led by teacher Ryan White, in cooperation with their parents, will be operating the canteen at the event, and helping with set-up and take-down.
For more information about the event, please contact Mary Broderick at 532-7381.
