Retail Spotlight: Wren and Wild
Photos courtesy of @juliadukephoto
We'll start by saying something simple and true: Wren and Wild is a special place. You'll find Wren and Wild nestled in the heart of Bend, Oregon: a city made for skiers, kayakers, hikers, bikers, yogis, and beyond. Not only is Wren & Wild able to offer a vast assortment of natural, environmentally sustainable, and cruelty-free beauty products, they also have a full-scale aerial yoga studio on premise. We were so excited to chat with founder, Mandy Butera.
AP: What inspired you to open your store?
MB: After spending 20+ years in the conventional cosmetic world as an executive for some great brands I decided I wanted to open my own beauty business focusing on clean beauty retail. I wanted to create a beautiful space where you could come and learn about how the environment and the products we use affect our health, and the health of our families and friends. I love sitting down with clients and showing them how to bring out their natural beauty. Helping others feel good about the skin they are in is my greatest joy. Wren and Wild is a wellness center where you can discover clean beauty, take an aerial or floor yoga class, enjoy a facial and more.
AP: What are some of your favorite Alima Pure products and why?
MB: That is like asking me to choose a favorite child. I have so many, Satin Matte Foundation because it looks amazing on all skin types. It is easily blended into the skin for a flawless finish. I love it so much I am using it in an upcoming movie shoot. The Foundation Brush feels like your softest article of clothing. Our clients love it when we apply foundation with this brush as it feels like a mini facial massage. And the eyeshadows! Currently crushing on Black Orchid.
AP: What is your favorite thing to eat or cook?
MB: Haha, I don’t cook! My husband is a chef and if he is not available then popcorn it is. Okay, and I do make a mean smoothie with our favorite Moon Juice products.
AP: What places or ideas do you find yourself daydreaming about?
MB: The Costa Brava of Spain. We traveled there a few years ago and fell in love with the people and the beauty of the coast.
AP: How do you see the notion of self-care evolving in the next few years?
MB: I believe self-care is going to become a whole mind and body experience. We have created a space where you can come in for a yoga class, receive a facial after, and shop for your favorite clean beauty products all the while sipping on a gorgeous cup of organic tea.
AP: What are some of the things your customers are most curious about?
MB: Our clients are so excited by all the indie beauty brands that are clean and cruelty-free. We are constantly educating clients on what makes the products that we carry different from conventional brands. So many people have no idea the number of chemicals that they are exposed to on a daily basis. We want to help everyone find better solutions for the health of their bodies.
AP: What is the best beauty advice you’ve received?
MB: Be yourself, be kind, and let your heart shine through.
AP: What is wonderful about Bend, Oregon?
MB: Bend is an outdoor playland! You can ski a few runs on Mt. Bachelor and then come back and paddle around on your stand-up paddleboard on the Deschutes River. It is absolutely magical here. Bend is a very health-conscious town with so many up and coming entrepreneurs in the health and wellness field.
AP: We love the Wren & Wild Women series on your blog. What makes you a wild woman?
MB: Oh, I love that series too! I love it so much we are getting ready to do another. As for my wild side, quitting my career at the age of 50 and opening my own business has been my wildest dream come true.
AP: Outside of the beauty sphere, do you have any current interests/ obsessions?
MB: Yes, my English Bulldog Booker. He is the sweetest soul who makes everyone so happy when they come to our studio.
AP: What does wellness mean to you on a day-to-day basis?
MB: Slowing down and being grateful for all that I am in this moment. #gratitude
Bend, OR is an amazing place to visit, but if you can't be there to go to an aerial yoga class, bike down a mountain, or treat yourself to a facial, you're in luck! Shop Wren & Wild online. And if you're in the Austin, TX area check out the soft opening of the second Wren & Wild location:
