Wilton residents Rachel Smith and Sarah LaGreca have taken very different paths on their way to becoming entrepreneurs, but both were motivated by deeply personal experiences. Smith’s passion for tea led her to launch a loose-leaf tea company, while LaGreca’s experience in the skincare industry and as a mother to a young daughter inspired her to create a new skincare line for girls.
Willow & Bloom
Inspired by fond memories of a willow tree outside her childhood home on Catalpa Rd., Wilton native Rachel Smith has turned her passion for tea into a new venture — the Willow & Bloom Apothecary Tea Company, a line of organic, loose-leaf teas.
Smith’s path to the tea business began with her personal health journey and wellness goals.
“I started creating my own loose-leaf blends at home, experimenting with different herbs, teas and botanicals to create something that was both enjoyable and purposeful,” Smith said.
Smith first began selling her teas last year at Wilton landmark Heibeck’s Stand, where she worked as a teenager and first met her husband Skylar Smith, of Heibeck family lineage. She now manages the stand’s operations and lives just a short walk away.
After seeing a positive response to the teas from Heibeck’s customers, co-workers, friends and family, Smith saw a business opportunity beyond the stand.
“It’s only been a short time, but it’s been really fun so far. It’s been a cool, creative process,” she said. “It’s been really nice bringing great tea to Heibeck’s and hopefully more people in the future.”
Smith says the benefits of drinking tea derive not only from the ingredients, but from the experience itself — especially with loose leaf teas and what she calls “the art of steeping.” Smith encourages lighting a candle, burning incense or meditating, for example, to enhance the ritual of preparing tea and the experience of drinking it.
“I want my teas to taste beautiful first and foremost, while also creating an experience beyond simply having a cup of tea,” she continued. “I love the idea of creating blends that make those ordinary moments feel a little more special.”
Smith says the essence of Willow & Bloom is “rooted in nature, steeped in nostalgia.”
“When I create a blend, I’m always thinking about more than just the flavor. I want each tea to evoke a feeling, a memory or a specific moment in time,” she said. “My hope is that when someone drinks one of my teas, it transports them somewhere.”
A new fall collection aims to do just that.
“I’m really, really, really excited about this [fall collection],” Smith said. “I’m very proud of the blends.”
- Harvest Breeze: “draws on memories of apple picking, fresh apple cider and crisp golden leaves”
- Pumpkin Patch Chai: “inspired by sunny afternoons at the pumpkin patch and the ritual of searching for the perfect pumpkin”
- Elderwood: “designed to evoke a quiet walk through the woods on a rainy autumn day”
Smith recognizes that many consumers are unfamiliar with how to prepare teas themselves, and plans to help educate them with how-to videos and social media posts. She recommends a kettle and a fine mesh diffuser to start.
Willow & Bloom teas are available through its website. Smith is also exploring local farmers’ markets and potential retail outlets.
SkinBerry Beauty
The idea for SkinBerry began when Wilton resident Sarah LaGreca noticed her pre-teen daughter and circle of friends had become keenly interested in their skincare, beyond just daily hygiene. They were eagerly trying skincare products and even “bonding” over their experiences.
However, those products were generally made for adults. As a skincare industry veteran, LaGreca saw a business opportunity, with a gap in the marketplace for products specifically designed for young, developing skin.
After two years of product development, testing and planning, LaGreca officially launched the SkinBerry line just last month, with products designed specifically for what she calls “the delicate transition that skin is in” from the ages of roughly 8 to 16 years.
“So much is happening within those years,” LaGreca said. “Of course, hormonal impacts, changes in their skin, changes in their life that impacts their skin.”
The initial product line includes a foaming cleanser, moisturizing gel-cream and hydration mask, all uniquely formulated with ingredients derived from a “signature berry blend”.
LaGreca also saw an opportunity to rethink how skincare should be presented to young consumers. Much of the beauty industry, she said, uses language centered on correcting perceived problems.
“So much of skincare now is about fixing,” she said. “You’re finding solutions to things. You’re solving some issue that’s going on. That type of language just isn’t supportive. It’s not confidence-building.”
Instead, the core belief behind SkinBerry is that everyone is “born glowing.”
“We’re creating a brand that celebrates and acknowledges that they were born glowing,” LaGreca said. “Our skincare is just meant to support and nourish their glow.”
LaGreca wants the brand to boost young people as they develop their identities and confidence.
“They’re really conquering and showing up in such courageous ways,” she said, whether in school, activities and other endeavors.
The name SkinBerry has dual meanings for LaGreca. It’s an overt reference to the ingredients that make the products unique — but on a more personal level, “Berry” is also her daughter’s middle name, as well as her grandmother’s maiden name.
SkinBerry sells directly to consumers through its website. LaGreca expects to expand to Amazon and TikTok Shop as the rollout continues.
