A family-run business selling handmade bath bombs, soaps, candles and wax melts has opened its first shop on Freeman Street – and is hoping to become the ‘Lush’ of Grimsby.
Situated at 19 Freeman Street, Bath Bomb Mania opened to the public last month after running a stall on Grimsby’s Top Town Market for the last two years, stocking an array of intricate handmade items.
The venture all began in 2022 when owner Ryan Dales’ mum, Susan, began making her own bath bombs using hobby kits out of “boredom”, with the pair then deciding to go into business together. Susan then started making her own wax melts, which “flew off the shelves”, prompting her to branch out into making soaps, candles and an array of other items.
READ MORE:
Following the success of the market stall, the family have now set up shop on Freeman Street offering a huge range of products, and Ryan hopes to become Grimsby’s answer to the iconic bath bomb and cosmetic shop, Lush.
Speaking to Grimsby Live, Ryan said: “A lot of people have noticed the new shop and come in and had a good look, and a few of our regulars from the market have come over as well. At the minute I just want to be the Lush of Grimsby.
“But with Lush, you’re paying for the name. With our scented candles, you’ve got loads of different ones that you’d never see Yankee Candles selling, like our skull candles. And it’s the same with that, people are paying for the name.
“Our bath bombs and candles are just as good, if not better – and a lot cheaper. I’ve gone around the whole of Grimsby and Cleethorpes to look at similar products and we’re by far the cheapest.
“In the future we’re thinking of stocking a lot more gothic-style things, because a lot of our customers who come and buy the jewellery, bath bombs and incense tend to like a lot of that stuff. We’ve got spell candles, crystals, tarot cards and smudge sticks, so we’ve already got some of that type of stuff in here. In the next week we’ve got some clothing and ornamental items coming.
“With our gift bags and boxes, you can pick one that’s already made up or make up your own. If customers give us a price range and an idea of the fragrances they’d like in there, we can make a box costing anything from £10 to £50, which would be a full hamper basket.”
Speaking about how her hobby turned into a business, Susan said: “My husband retired and I’m actually his carer, and we just got bored. I tried a candle-making kit just for a hobby, and it’s all stemmed from there. I made a few candles for Ryan, and then I tried making wax melts. They flew off the shelves.
“Then I bought a soap-making kit so I tried a bit of that, and then everyone was requesting the soap sponges. Then I bought a resin-making kit – so it’s all started just from trying out these little kits as a hobby. Because I’m a spiritualist as well, I suggested stocking things like tarot cards and crystals, and then the requests for gothic items came in.
“It’s a nice feeling knowing that a hobby has turned into this. People who are visiting family in the area have bought some of our items and taken them back home with them. You sit at home and you think, my products are everywhere. But I always say to anybody I speak to, if they want anything new or different, I will look into it. The only aroma I haven’t done yet is petrol – I did get a request for that, believe it or not.”
Bath Bomb Mania is open seven days a week, from 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5pm on Saturdays and 10am to 4pm on Sundays. You can like the shop on Facebook by clicking here.