SBDC @ Mesalands Community College
Her life in Washington and Alaska gave her a deep appreciation for nature and hard work. Sandra Groves came to New Mexico fully equipped for arid weather and rugged landscape. Her love for livestock and a healthful lifestyle created a direct path to her all-natural bath products. From her early efforts with goats-milk soaps to a broad line of bath items, her main concern is to provide quality, skin-sensitive items.
In 2012 she was making unscented soaps to sooth her own sensitive skin. When she realized there was a demand for similar products, Sandra came to the Mesalands Community College SBDC for marketing help. Sandra knew the image she wanted to express and worked with SBDC to develop her labels and product names. She very carefully chose the packaging for each product to enhance and sustain the single message of effective, all-natural products.
Now Desert Bath & Spa has many products made from all-natural and food-grade ingredients. One early product is a hand lotion in bar-form made from only three pure ingredients. Sandra’s passion to design useful products has led her to a Spa Collection, which includes gift bag presentations. The lines now include men’s, children’s and pet products.
When this creative process had taken over her kitchen, Sandra and husband, Ron, bought a separate building dedicated to her customized product development. This true home-based business exemplifies the possibilities that can result from good ideas and hard work.
Known among her friends and customers as Hurricane Sandy, she constantly demonstrates a passion and energy felt throughout this small community. Her products are offered in stores and museums and an art gallery. She frequents craft fairs, where her booths attest to her artistic flare. Her trademark cactus, framed in purple and white, brand the desert theme with natural solutions. The newest product is a bar soap covered in hand-felted wool. The future for Desert Bath & Spa will always be defined by quality control, small batch production and the purest ingredients. And don’t forget Sandra’s secret ingredient: FUN!