Country Beauty: An Interview with FarmHouse Fresh

If you’ve ever received a great, professional spa treatment, you know just how relaxing and rejuvenating it can be.  When unique products from FarmHouse Fresh® (FHF), one of our Spa & Salon’s preferred vendors, are used in a spa treatment, another enjoyable dimension is added to the experience.  We recently had the opportunity to chat with Delia McLinden, sales director for FHF, about what makes their products so memorable and unique. We invite you to follow along with our conversation below to learn more about what FarmHouse Fresh can do for you.

Our Spa & Salon carries a wide variety of FarmHouse Fresh products.

Garden of the Gods Club (GGC): What is FarmHouse Fresh all about?

Delia McLinden (DM): FarmHouse Fresh was founded in Frisco, Texas, by Shannon McLinden. Her goal is to create upscale, natural bath and body products that are lovingly packaged with a touch of country humor. Our products delight spa guests with lively, seasonal spa treatments and a gorgeous, vintage-inspired retail collection carried at luxury spas, hotels, and five-star destination resorts.

FHF’s wholesome collection is made from 90-99% natural and naturally-derived ingredients. Each product is made in the USA and is free of parabens, sulfates, and mineral oil. More than half of our products are formulated to be gluten-free, vegan, or both. Our decorative boxes use vegetable-based inks, and our adorable glass retail packaging is often reused as flower vases and more.

GGC: Why do customers love FHF?

DM: Our bath and body products spring from a very whimsical, child-like place. We’re thrilled that our customers indulge us as we create wholesome products with a light-hearted touch that brings smiles. We infuse a touch of our country humor into everything, starting with product names like “Whoopie! Shea Butter Hand Cream,” a body butter that is scented like Whoopie Pie dessert; “Splendid Dirt,” a pore-minimizing mud mask; and “Fluffy Bunny,” a delicate hand cream that you can cuddle up with. We also use fresh ingredients from U.S. farms like organic pumpkin puree from Oregon, Kentucky whiskey, and natural mud clays from Illinois. Customers also like that our products are 90-99% natural and that they are free of parabens and sulfates. The textures, fragrances, and beautiful vintage-style packaging bring delight with every use, and people love to give our products as gifts.

GGC: How long have you been making your product?

DM: We were catapulted to success in 2007 with our first product launch–a set of fine-grain body scrubs that Oprah selected for her O-List, saying that they smelled so good that she wanted to serve them over berries. Since then, our collection has expanded to include lotions, candles, bath soaks, face masks, and more.

GGC: You pride yourselves on producing American-made products. Why are American consumers finding it important to “buy American?”

DM: We think that it feels good to buy a product made in the USA, because you know that your money is directly impacting someone’s paycheck in the U.S. With so many Americans out of work, purchasing “Made in America” brands creates collective momentum to help fuel a big comeback in employment. As designers and manufacturers, we see immediate impacts in our local community. The couriers transporting our materials thank us for keeping them busy; our seamstresses enjoy full-time work, and they hire assistants to cut and prep; and our printers buy equipment to keep up with our demand. FHF is a living example of how “buying American” affects real change. It makes us feel good.

GGC: How has the “made in America” movement impacted your sales?

DM: This movement has not only increased our sales, but it’s also boosted our pride in what we craft. We bring country charm to every aspect of what we create, and our customers really appreciate the details when selecting gifts for gift-giving. We have received a lot of requests for “made in Texas” display signs, and our retailers are doing a fabulous job of using our signs as part of “made in America” spaces in their stores. Buying products made in America will always have a place because it feels good to help those around you, and as long as companies like ours continue to stay on trend with design, function, and soul, we can continue being a gift of choice for years to come. Made locally, from scratch, is always cool in our book!

GGC: Can you recommend any FHF products for common beauty ailments?

DM: For rough, dry, and cracked heels, we recommend using the Honey Heel Glaze. After scrubbing feet, apply a thick layer of the honey heel glaze. Rub it in, put on socks, and go to sleep. Do this nightly! For dry, red, knuckles and hands, we recommend using FarmHouse Fresh Shea Butter Hand Creams. Fluffy Bunny, Whoopie! Shea Butter Cream, Hello Yellow, or Front Porch Punch are great for after washing your hands or exposure to water. For oily, problem skin use FarmHouse Fresh Spendid Dirt Pumpkin Mud Mask.

Recipients of FarmHouse Fresh spa treatments come away saying things like, “A FarmHouse Fresh spa treatment is nothing like you’ve ever experienced. It feels and smells amazing,” and, “This smells good enough to eat!”  If you would like to experience a FarmHouse Fresh spa treatment or simply try out some of these “good-enough-to-eat” products, we encourage you to pay a visit to our Spa & Salon. During the month of August, we’re offering a tropical Bahama Mama pedicure that incorporates several FarmHouse Fresh ingredients.  Come by during “happy hours” (4-7 pm) on Wednesdays, Thursdays, or Fridays this August to get 25% off this service, plus a complimentary Bahama Mama cocktail to sip while being pampered.  To schedule your appointment, please contact our Spa concierge at 719.520.4980 or ggcspa@ggclub.com.