Wrap Up 2024

2024: The Year of the New Studio and Outlet Store!

For years, I had been searching for the perfect location, not realizing it was just around the corner from my own home. How did I discover it? Thanks to some online customers who had recently moved to Uxbridge. They showed up at my house, thinking it was a physical store! They were so apologetic, but I assured them they weren’t the first and likely wouldn’t be the last. As we chatted, I explained that I’d been looking for a space to move production, which was currently housed in a converted Granny Flat on my employee’s property—15 minutes away and up a set of very steep stairs. Shipping was still managed from my home, which meant hauling finished products back to my basement, packing orders, and then stacking them in my living room until they were ready to be shipped out.

I shared my vision of the ideal studio: no stairs, spacious enough for both production and shipping, and maybe even a small outlet store. That’s when the husband spoke up, “I know a place just around the corner. It even has a ramp going down.”

I immediately knew he must be talking about the former Hobby Horse Pub. I had only been there once, but my husband shared a few scotches there with friends. We went to see it the very next day, and as soon as I walked in, I knew it was perfect!

Within days, we signed a three-year lease and began planning the big move. Did I have second thoughts? Absolutely. There’s a certain freedom that comes with running a business exclusively online. But I also knew that more and more customers were seeking an in-store experience. The new space would allow me to meet that demand while introducing in-store soap refills—a frequent request from my eco-conscious customers.

I can’t help but feel some manifestation was at work because, as soon as we signed the lease, the number of “Do you have a store?” inquiries quadrupled.

My wall-painting skills improved dramatically, and Facebook Marketplace quickly became my new obsession as I hunted for furniture and commercial appliances for the new space.

Moving day turned out to be the hottest two days of the summer, but thankfully, we had the Urban Alternatives crew—my husband’s full-time gig—to help with the heavy lifting. Huge thanks to the boys for their hard work! 

We soft-launched in September, with the Grand Opening on October 5th and 6th. It was a huge success, with a line forming each day! That weekend, we also debuted our highly anticipated Hydrating Shampoo.

Since then, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many of my online customers in person, along with countless new ones who stopped by out of curiosity and decided to shop.

It’s time to Thrive in 2025! Our goal is to expand into the Hotel Amenities market, and we’re excited to make it happen.

Do you know a boutique hotel that would be a perfect fit for House of T•L? We’d love to hear from you—let us know!