Writer / Kara Reibel
Photographers / Amy Unger & Kara Reibel
When Fishers resident Ambre Crockett began creating her own unique body products for her massage clientele, word quickly spread, and now Ambre Blends is in over 400 retailers internationally.
Ambre Crockett started her natural body products business, well, naturally. After graduating from Lawrence Central High School, Crockett attended the Healing Arts Institute in Colorado. While she was there, she not only studied massage therapy, energy work and aromatherapy, but she worked with an herbalist. Through this experience, she enhanced her education with the art and science behind herbal tinctures and body products. Her experiences would lead her down an unexpected path, that of an entrepreneur.
“While in Colorado, I created my initial formula,” shares Crockett. “Once I moved back to Indianapolis, I used my proprietary formula to create my own natural herbal mixtures for clients, and word started spreading.”
Crockett has continued the methods she learned in Colorado. In 2001, Crockett moved back to Indianapolis and started her own massage practice and made products for her clients. She did not realize what a strong seed she planted with her clientele. The clients loved the products and asked for more created, growing demand beyond her friends and family.
All Ambre Blends are made by hand with consistent care and thoughtfulness in every batch. Using only 100% pure and natural vegan ingredients from all over the world, each Ambre Blends product is handcrafted from a proprietary blend base of Amber Essence.
“Amber oil has been used for centuries for its medicinal and aphrodisiac properties,” says Crockett. “With this as one of the ingredients in the Ambre Essence as our base, each essence reacts with one’s body chemistry, creating a unique experience for the customer.”
“I began selling my product at art shows,” shares Crockett. “In 2001, I started a tradition of holding an open house, and we have held it ever since. In 2003, Heidi Woodman of Haus Love called and said that she wanted to carry my products.”
That was when Crockett realized Ambre Blends was creating a buzz. Many other local boutiques and spas picked up Ambre Blends, and she also opened her online store that year.
In 2007, Stephanie Harris became friends with Crockett through a mutual friend. Harris was given a roll-on body product and received an unusual amount of compliments for it. While on vacation, Harris ended up giving the roll-on away to someone who became obsessed with it. When she returned from that trip, she promptly replaced it and bought more for gifts.
Harris knew something magical was happening with Ambre Blends and wished to be a part of it, becoming a partner and Director of Sales and Marketing.
“Ambre was doing this all by herself, completely self-funding and building her business,” shares Harris. “I hit the street and created more sales outlets.”
Taking a huge risk, Crockett and Harris went to their first trade show in January 2009. It was a big step and expensive, but it paid off tremendously. Their marketing began with a grassroots effort through word of mouth, then the boutique, gift and spa shows. Now Ambre Blends is working with a showroom in Los Angeles to penetrate the West Coast market. They have an online store locator and are distributed throughout more than 400 retailers domestically and worldwide.
The products within a retail location typically start with the roll-on, then the shops bring on the body creams and the spritzers. As the demand is established, it builds.
“Our client doesn’t just use our oil; they want to use the soap, body creams and skin tonics,” says Harris. “We build lifestyle products.”
The unique blend, Ambre Essence, serves as a standalone essence as well as the base for the entire line. The other three scents are individually made up with 90% of their formula being Ambre Essence with additional oils added. This allows layering of their products.
“We are a very layerable line,” says Harris. “A client can use all the different products with the body cream, roll-on and deodorant, plus lip remedy, and all of the essences complement one another.”
The Ambre Blends team has grown with team members Sarah, Rebecca, Lisa, Michelle and Ambre’s husband, Adam. Adam Crockett became part of the team and handles operations. Their building looks like some sort of commercial lab and smells fabulous with all of their products at various stages of creation.
The adjacent shipping center is one that would appeal to Martha Stewart with clean lines and modern surroundings. Their work space is simple, functional and professional, naturally.
In time for the holidays, Ambre Blends is re-launching their pure soy wax candles with some improvements from their vintage line in time for the holidays.
“We are always expanding our line and will come out with one or more new items every year,” shares Crockett. “In 2016, I will finally launch my baby line and hopefully release a new scent along with a couple other new products.”
All of their current and soon-to-be released products are made with the same care and hand craftsmanship, maintaining the integrity of their natural process. Ambre Blends offers all of their products at local retailers and online. Their offices are located on the northside of Indianapolis.
For more information on where to find Ambre Blends, visit ambreblends.com.
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