Come Celebrate 2 YEARS of SEASIDE MAKERS this weekend!

 Two years ago, we decided to expand The Grapeseed Co. retail stores into a new concept, bringing the best local & artisan gifts together in one special shopping experience! Come celebrate with us this weekend at

2 YEAR ANNIVERSARY SALE!

10% OFF

Artisan Pantry Section

Jess Conti Leather Goods

Jules by the Sea Jewelry

MakeSmith Leather 

Relief Apothecary CBD

Seaside Masks

20% OFF

Blue Planet Eyewear

Grapeseed Co.

Kelly Clause Fine Art

Karin Shelton Fine Art

Kids Section

Pascale Beale Herb Blends

Turkish Towels

Santa Barbara Boho Masks + Totes

30% OFF

Select John Baran Wave Prints

Clothing, Doormats 

Macrame

VALID SATURDAY 10/3/20 and SUNDAY 10/4/20

at both of our locations

SEASIIDE MAKERS COLLECTIVE : our new stores in Santa Barbara and Carpinteria, California

The Grapeseed Co. has opened 2 new shops with a whole new concept! We're bringing together our favorite makers and artists in one place,  called Seaside Makers Collective. 

Meadow Rose Photo Art Wood Prints - Carpinteria Shop

We opened both the CARPINTERIA and SANTA BARBARA shops right before the 2018 holiday season, bringing together beautiful handcrafted jewelry, bags, children's apparel, wood work, pottery and of course, Grapeseed Co. in one store!

Grapeseed Co. Scent Bar at the Funk Zone SB Shop

Stop by Seaside Makers Collective in Carpinteria at 961 Linden Ave. and in the Funk Zone in SB at 209 Anacapa St. Grapeseed Co. has a Scent Bar in both stores you can visit daily to create your own bath & body products, or host a Scent Bar Party in our event spaces at either store.

Carpinteria Shop & Garden Event Space 961 Linden Ave.

We will also be hosting workshops and events to learn different crafts, and how to build your own Maker Business!We can't wait for you to experience this incredible shopping experience, stop by and visit us soon.

We've Moved! Vist our New Store in the Funk Zone & now Open Daily in Carpinteria

 
I am beyond happy to announce that we are fully moved in to our new shop in the Funk Zone at The Waterline, 120 Santa Barbara Street! 

The Waterline • 120 Santa Barbara St. Santa Barbara, CA

 This is a super fun new location where you can sip, shop, eat and hang at Topa Topa and Lama Dog breweries, Fox Wine Co., and the Nook restaurant along with other great shops! We are psyched for this new chapter for The Grapeseed Co. in Santa Barbara.

New Shop at The Waterline • 21 W. Ortega St. SB

The downtown Ortega St. location is now closed, and our office has moved the Carp Store and Warehouse on 4193 Carpinteria Ave #6. We are excited to be open daily, later hours, and Sundays for your convenience, and to be surrounded by such cool and complementary businesses in both locations! 

This sweet lemonade was made from a big fat lemon of a situation...

 2017 ended with the largest wildfire in CA history, the Thomas Fire, ripping through our normally idyllic seaside towns, followed by the tragic Montecito mudslides causing loss and devastation beyond imagination at the start of the new year. This also cut off access between our two locations, and was one of the most challenging times in the history of our 14 year old company! Like everyone in the area, we are still recovering from it. We were nowhere near prepared for the next round of crazy that hit Grapeseed Co. in April.

Ortega St. Scent Bar (after-left, before-right)

Part of the charm of our downtown Santa Barbara flagship store was the old brick building that houses some great businesses on Ortega Street, starting with The Grapeseed Co. The extreme weather has been taking a toll on our corner of the large, old building. On April 9th, our Scent Bar came crashing down out of nowhere! 5 years mounted firm to the wall, and BOOM! Over $5K of glass essential oil bottles hit the floor.

The wall that starts the whole building The Grapeseed Co. occupied on Ortega had expanded and blistered, popping the shelves off the wall.

21 W. Ortega Street • wall blister

Why did this happen? After the last evacuation rain, we had a 90+ degree day... The roof had been leaking all winter, and that water had been dripping down into our wall, causing a wet sponge effect. When the extreme heat hit, the wall expanded and shifted.

We were super lucky no one was hurt; we had 25 kids in there less than 24 hours before for a scent bar party! We became quickly aware as experts checked out the situation that it was no longer safe for The Grapeseed Co. to occupy 21 W. Ortega Street and continue to run business as usual. We had to move.

So, in just a month we secured a new storage warehouse in Carpinteria and moved tens of thousands of bottles and jars out of our current warehouse. With the new found space, we built out a scent bar, opened up the storefront and made it larger, and reconfigured our production lab and shipping areas. We turned my creative loft space into the office for our entire team. This kept us functioning, orders shipping, and business running seemingly as usual while we figured out what the heck to do!

Our main store has always been Santa Barbara based, so we decided the best thing to do was expand in the Funk Zone. A few weeks before the fire hit, we opened a tiny shop at The Guilded Table as an "experiment" for the holidays... clearly Mother Nature did not agree with my holiday sales plan! But the space has amazing potential, and I'm hopeful for what our "normal" Santa Barbara sunny summer days will bring. We've been working around the clock the past week building out the new Funk Zone shop. We can't wait to share it with you, host incredible Scent Bar parties there, blend up your favorite creative scent concoctions and just be surrounded by great people, businesses, food + drink, bubbling ideas and more.

Scent Bar in the Funk Zone • 120 Santa Barbara St.

Please come visit us soon! The Waterline building is located right behind Michael Kate Interiors and opens at noon daily. There's parking at the end of the street. It's a fun place for all ages to hang, and dogs are welcome, too.

2018 has been a whirlwind in business survival, a lesson in resilience, strength and the endless learning that goes along with entrepreneurship. That which does not kill us makes us stronger... The Grapeseed Co. is standing strong, just a mile away from our sweet memories on Ortega Street.

Please help us spread the word about the move! we're looking forward to sharing the new stores with you, seeing your smiling faces and continuing to thrive, no matter what life continues to surprise us with.

Cheers to good things ahead, always keeping your chin up and persevering!

~ Kristin

SANTA BARBARA SHOP 
120 Santa Barbara St in the Funk Zone
Open Daily!
Monday - Thursday 11:30am-6:30pm
Friday - Sunday 11:30am-8:30pm

CARPINTERIA SHOP
4193 Carpinteria Ave #6 at the Warehouse Row
Carpinteria, CA 93013
Open
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10:30am-5:30pm
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday noon-5pm 

refresh, reset and recover : navigating running a business through natural disaster

I had the wonderful opportunity to tell the story behind The Grapeseed Company this past week on Indie Cruise in Ixtapa, Mexico.

Sunset in Ixtapa, Mexico

 This could not have come at a better time for me, as I was feeling beyond hope due to 6 weeks of crazy and historic natural disasters in the Santa Barbara area, where we are based. We lived through the largest wildfire in the history of California...

Downtown Carpinteria      photo credit: Alain Julfayan

Followed by the aftermath of horrific mudslides in Montecito -- a small, gorgeous town located right in between Santa Barbara and Carpinteria. We are extremely fortunate that our entire team is safe, and did not lose their lives or homes. Many were not so lucky. Our community is grieving heavily as over 20 have died, and hundreds have lost pets, homes and businesses due to the fire and mudslides. People are still missing. Our community has also been divided by the physical devastation of the mudslides shutting down all road access between Carpinteria and SB.

Montectio and the 101 freeway     photo credit: unknown

The 101 freeway is flooded with mud and has been closed for 11 days with no reopen date. The only way to transport product between our stores is a 5 hour drive around the mountains (it's usually 15 minutes!) The Grapeseed Co. has 3 physical locations: our flagship store and scent bar in downtown Santa Barbara, The Guilded Table collective shop in the Funk Zone in SB, and our warehouse store and production kitchen in Carpinteria, CA.

Our staff has been stuck on either side of this disaster trying to keep the business running the best we can as we usually move product between locations and ship wholesale and online orders daily. It's been stressful as we try to keep perspective of those that have lost everything while we operate day by day trying to keep things going with the roads blocked off. Transport has been limited both shipping our product and receiving ingredients and packaging to continue manufacturing, which we do daily.

I didn't think I'd even be able to make Indie Cruise due to the roads being closed to LA right after the mudslides hit. While the 101 North remains closed, they luckily opened the freeway South out of Carpinteria the day before our flight out of LAX. I felt extremely grateful, but also guilty leaving my community when we are hurting so badly. There was also little I could do staying here a week ago. First responders are the only folks being let in to help right now as the aftermath and cleanup is so dangerous. We've donated both as a business, and personally monetarily, but that didn't feel like enough with the great immediate needs in our community.

Leaving home turned out to be the best possible way for me to refresh and reset my mind so I can help Santa Barbara recover, both personally, and with the power of my company. Honestly, I showed up to Indie Cruise a bit in shock. We went out sailing together the first day. We got to know each other, went snorkeling and even saw whales! Water (especially warm ocean water!) has always been a healing force for me. Being in this beautiful, cleansing environment with such amazing entrepreneurs started to help me breathe again. Instead of just feeling thankful we were alive and didn't lose everything, I began to start thinking how I could help Santa Barbara recover.

The theme of Indie Cruise was Emerge, Engage, Evolve and Expand. My talk was about the Expand Phase. With the craziness of the past 6 weeks, I felt, "who am I to go speak about expanding when I made these huge decisions, signed leases, had to close our stores and now we are floating in the world of unknown in the aftermath of these natural disasters?!" 

We have been in business since 2004, and opened 2 more retail locations in the past 6 months; The Carp location opened at the end of the summer, and The Funk Zone location right before Thanksgiving. I had visions of this being a great growth move as our company is so rooted in the community with what we do upcycling grapeseeds to create our natural skin and body care products. 

I had recently moved from SB to Carp, and was excited to open our 2nd shop in my hometown where we needed to get our own warehouse since we'd grown out of our SB office and had been subletting warehouse space prior to fit our growing company. The Funk Zone is the new "hot spot" in SB that tourists and locals alike are flocking to. I had a grand plan of this being the best holiday season ever! 

Then we were hit by natural disaster and shut down for a great portion of December due to the Thomas Fire, and the heavy smoke and ash that lingered afterwards. Santa Barbara is a huge tourist destination, and tourism has basically stopped since Dec. 5, 2017. Even with 3 stores, we didn't scratch the surface of what we normally do in December sales. Again, perspective... we have our loved, ones, home and business locations still in tact. I learned no matter how much you plan, you can never plan for natural disaster. While I was listening to the 4 other speakers, and even to myself up there telling my own expansion story, something started happening...

@grapeseedco on instagram "Such an pleasure and honor to tell the story of expanding #grapeseedco this week on @indiebusiness @indiecruise and share the stage with these lovely ladies! Together we represent 4 important stages of building your business: emerge, engage, evolve and expand. Each story was amazing, heartfelt and inspiring!"

I felt a new sense of inspiration from this amazing tribe of people in the room with me. I sat alone late that evening on the deck of our room listening to the healing waves lap on the shore, reflected, and made a small step from Mexico to help those that lost everything.

@grapeseedco on Facebook & instagram: We are beyond heartbroken for our community and the tragic loss of lives, homes and businesses in #Montecito ❤️ We’re giving anyone that lost their home a free #organic #shampoo and #conditioner set at our #Carpinteria or #santabarbara stores! If you are stuck on either side of the #mudslide, visit both our main #Grapeseedco locations in Carp or #downtownSB and we’ll hook you up, and give you a hug! #montectiostrong #santabarbarastrong #carpstrong #sbstrong #805strong #community #locallove #givingback

On the trip home yesterday, I knew I needed to research what else we could do to help. Everyone who lives and works in the area is struggling and in different levels of trauma right now. Most have not been as fortunate as I was to escape the madness and are still in day to day survival mode. In addition to the greater loss mentioned above, people have lost their jobs, can't get to work and are worried how they are going to make it. Businesses have had to lay off their entire staff and close. We luckily are healthy enough right now to make it through with our current team in tact, and will actually be hiring another employee and providing a job in the area. Another little step to help the community. Small, local business like Grapeseed Co. provide jobs! 

I spent the travel time reading stories of amazing ways people are coming together and helping our community heal, from candelight vigils, to the Montecito Mud Angels, to registering to become a Red Cross helper. I'm coming back renewed with more energy I can put into recovery efforts. Part of that is sharing my perspective and ways you can help here. I shared my research on how we can help with some of our staff this morning. It touched my heart to see they wanted to volunteer and register with the Red Cross to help or find locations to donate clothing and personal care items. Each person doing what they can, and this is what it is going to take! Each and every one of us reaching out, lending a hand, giving a hug to our neighbors and helping in any and every way we possibly can. 

Since many of our wholesale and retail customers don't live in the area, this is to help you understand what's going on, and why we have been slower in response. We are also extremely grateful for you, right now (and always)! 

I am listing some resources on how to help the recovery efforts here, including ways to donate for those not in the area. Please LMK others in the comments as you come across them.

HOW TO HELP IN PERSON:
Register for training and volunteer with the Red Cross: Sign up for a disaster bootcamp- emotional advocate, crisis management, and shelter training.

DONATE:
Direct Relief International- This locally founded non-profit is providing relief fund directly to locals affected by the mudslides. 


Search Dog Foundation - The search dogs have been critical in the mudslide recovery efforts. They lost their building in Santa Paula during the Thomas Fire and are in great need.

United Way of Santa Barbara - In Santa Barbara County, the Fund will serve the long-term needs of Santa Barbara County families and individuals, as well as the short-term needs of Santa Barbara County nonprofit organizations helping evacuated individuals displaced by the Thomas Fire and floods caused by the fire scar. direct donation link HERE

Montecito Mud Angels - I've known Eric since he started the first TedX conference here in 2010. This guy knows how to rally and has a big heart. He is making sure donations go directly to those in the greatest need! The stories of how they are helping will bring a tear to your eye.

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and your concern. To our wholesale partners and online customers, thanks for your understanding! Please be patient and kind with each other as we wade through this. The road to recovery here will take years, but I'm staying positive as I see our community coming together in beautiful ways. We will come out so much stronger from this! 

my baby... photo bombing our Indie group shot

And lastly, a special thanks to everyone at Indie Cruise for listening, sharing and helping get me out of that deer in headlights feeling, finding ways to take action, loving my baby, and motivating me start blogging again ;)! You are all amazing people and I'm lucky to have met you.

Peace,
Kristin

Make Your Own Skincare at The Grapeseed Company Scent Bar

The Grapeseed Company offers the option to customize your own natural personal products with over 100 oils that you can mix and match to get your desired scents.  For Santa Barbara locals, it is as easy as walking in and choosing your product and working with the very knowledgeable Grapeseed associates to blend your customized scent.  We also offer the option to create your own personalized product online through our virtual scent bar.   In the video below is an illustration of how fun, easy and simple it is to customize your own product.

PRESS: The Grapeseed Company Showcased in National Craft Beauty News Feature

The Grapeseed Co. was chosen to be featured in a national news clip on Craft Beauty, and the rise of consumer awareness and demand for craft and handmade products. Watch as one of our customers, Dianne Duva, talks about why she chooses to shop at The Grapeseed Company for natural, organic skincare on ABC news...

Join Us at The Grapeseed Co. for a Holiday Open House this Weekend

 

SHOP, EAT, BE MERRY,

and let us take care of the gift wrapping (for free!)

Join us this weekend

for a Holiday Open House at the Shop

WHERE: 

The Grapeseed Co.

21 W. Ortega St. Santa Barbara

WHEN: 

Saturday 10:30-5pm

Sunday noon-5pm

WHAT: 

Enjoy holiday cookies, hot cocoa & tea, free gift wrap and samples with your purchase

PLUS GREAT SPECIALS ON PRODUCTS:

~ 25% off body scrubs

~ $15 and under stocking stuffer tree (all discounted gift sets exclusive for the holidays!)

~ Free Shipping to your out of town friends and family with your purchase of $49 or more!

(it will go out Monday and get there by Christmas!)

Our team can put together custom gift baskets, create personalized products at the Scent Bar, or help you with suggestions for that "tough to shop for" person on your list... Hope to see you there!

Cheers from all of us at

Last Minute Holiday Gift Ideas

  LAST MINUTE HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS: 

Are you looking for the perfect holiday gift for everyone on your list this season? Well look no further because The Grapeseed Company has a variety of gift sets for everyone on your list! ORDER BY MIDNIGHT SUNDAY 12/20 for Christmas delivery. And don't forget, we offer FREE SHIPPING with your purchase of $49 or more!

FOR HIM

Our Mojito Man Travel Set is perfect for any guy (or gal) on your list that is on the go. This set includes a 2.5 Oz. shaving prep scrub, 2.5 Oz. shave gel, 2 Oz. moisture mist, and full size bottle 2.3 Oz. aftershave balm all conveniently wrapped in a woven sheer travel bag.

FOR HER

Show your appreciation for the gals on your list with our California Dreamin' Gift Pouch. The California Dreamin' Kit combines a few of our favorite skin care products with our relaxing travel tin sized soy candle.  Let her indulge herself with these Grapeseed goodies and watch her skin radiate as she relaxes this holiday season.

FOR BABY

Our Baby G gift bag is great not only for the babies but also for moms! The Baby G gift bag includes our mild and gentle lotion and body wash; safe for delicate skin types of all ages. On top of the wash and lotion there is also a sponge loofah and your choice of unscented or lavender belly balm for moms.

FOR DOGS

Give your favorite furry friend or dog lover Dirty Dog Organics Clean Canine Kit. The kit includes your choice of 8 Oz. or 16 Oz. bottles along with either our "Itch" dog wash and conditioner or Dirty Dog Wash plus Shiny Coat Conditioner. This is the perfect gift to get your canine groomed and looking classy for this holiday season without having to head over to the groomers. 

FOR CO-WORKERS

The Grapeseed Lotion Signature 6 Pack can be used for multiple uses. Whether you want to gift the 6 pack for your favorite co-worker or friend to try out or split up these individual gifts and gift them to multiple people. Also perfect for the holiday traveling season to bring along and try all of our  favorite signature scents.

FOR THAT PERSON WHO HAS EVERYTHING...

The Red & White Wine Bar Gift set is perfect for those people on your list that you're never sure of what to get. It's an unique gift to anyone on your list especially to the wine lovers. The set includes two full sized bars of soap; Harvest Crush Syrah and Summer Crisp Chardonnay, along with our handmade soap dish all carefully wrapped in our sheer organza gift bag! 

The Grapeseed Company has a variety of unique gifts to offer anyone on your list. We also offer custom gift baskets and custom labeled and scented products at our Scent Bar. Give a memorable, consumable and unique gift this season and come shop at The Grapeseed Company online or in our store at 21 W. Ortega Street in downtown Santa Barbara, California.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Don't miss out on our last big sale of the year!

DETAILS (please read carefully!):

*20% off retail purchases only; not valid on wholesale.

*Valid now through Monday November 30,2015.

*Applies to all Grapeseed Co. stock products in store and on the website.

*Does not include: Organic Essence Deodorant, Everyday Minerals Makeup, Custom Scent Bar items or Gift Certificates. 

USE CODE:

GIVINGTHANKS

online, or mention you are a newsletter subscriber in-store! 

 

 GREAT GIFT IDEAS

For everyone on your list.....

California Dreamin' Gift Pouch

Includes: Cali Vine decadently rich face cream, sweet lips, pinot dreams whipped body butter & surf travel candle in a reusable hemp pouch.

RECEIVE A FREE SURPRISE GIFT

with a purchase of $25 or more when you 

shop in our Santa Barbara store 

Friday 11/27 or Saturday 11/28

LOCAL FRIENDS PLEASE SEE OUR EXTENDED HOLIDAY STORE HOURS BELOW:

HOLIDAY EXTENDED STORE HOURS

(STARTING DECEMBER 1,2015)

OPEN 

MONDAY - FRIDAY 10:30AM-6PM

Fall Favorites at The Grapeseed Company

Fall is Officially in Season!

 

Our fall favorites and Seasonal products are the perfect way to prep your skin for the change in weather! Grab a bottle of our Cali Harvest Serum, Pumpkin Pie Soap, or create your own Autumn inspired product to celebrate the season.

Cali Harvest Serum $30

The 2.3oz Cali Harvest Serum contains flax seed, cherry kernel oils, and organic pumpkin seed leaving the skin rejuvenated and replenished. Our serums are all oil based and have been infused with herbs and flowers for 30 days. Cali Harvest Serum is recommended for all skin types and ideal for this fall weather! Also available in a 1.2oz travel size for $18.

Seasonal Pumpkin Pie Soap $10

Our seasonal pumpkin pie seasonal Santa Barbara soap is perfect to kickoff the fall season. The dashes of pumpkin, vanilla, clove, oats, and cinnamon added to make this soap will remind you that the holidays are just around the corner. Pumpkin is rich in vitamin A and beta carotene while avocado, grapeseed & coconut moisturize as they gently cleanse your skin. 

Create Your Own Autumn Inspired Organic Bath & Body Products

Or, create your own custom fall scented product at our Scent Bar in the downtown Santa Barbara store, or the Virtual Scent Bar online! Create your own lotion, body wash, mist, bath salts, beard oil and more online or in our store. 

  

Check out some of our autumn inspired scents like:
Cranberry Spice, Clove, Cranberry, Honey Ginger Fig, Vanilla Fig, Atlas Cedar, Pumpkin Pie, Vanilla Chai, and Vineyard

 

visit our Apothecary Scent Bar at the flagship store in downtown Santa Barbara, California
{21 W. Ortega St. Santa Barbara, CA}