| About The Thymes
The Thymes got its start from one woman's love of nature, passion for art and sheer ingenuity. Once planted, the seed has blossomed into a healthy company built on team commitment and truly extraordinary products.
But that seed was sowed almost by accident. In 1982, Leslie Ross Lentz, the company's founder, was a consumer just like any of us, wanting to better understand the ingredients listed on the backs of beauty products. Unlike most of us, however, she started performing a little "kitchen chemistry" and concocted a myriad of fragrant, beautiful products from naturally derived ingredients.
With about $1,500 worth of savings and the business knowledge she gained from running an art gallery, Leslie converted her former gallery space into a shelf-filled showroom, where she displayed her innovations: bath salts, potpourri, herbal wreaths, sachets and herbed vinegar, all in handmade gift wrap. She invited her former gallery clients to a sale, and they packed the showroom, snatching up everything on display.
Not long after, a manufacturer's representative approached Leslie. Ecstatic, she readied a wholesale list, set of samples and prices only to face bitter disappointment. The rep decided not to handle her products. After a good cry, Leslie picked herself up, washed her face, collected her samples and went to a new shopping area to see if she could sell them herself. In a matter of hours, she sold two retailers $1,000 worth of products. Thus, The Thymes was born.
Leslie's solitary go of it didn't last long. Soon after, another manufacturer's representative took The Thymes products to the New York City Gift Show. With $30,000 worth of orders, Leslie realized she couldn't handle it all alone. Who better to join her as company president than her best friend, Stephanie Shopa? Side by side in Leslie's basement, they formed soaps by hand, scented wooden acorns and wrapped packages, racing to see who could finish first.
After years of self-funded growth and profitability, the company quickly outgrew Leslie's basement. Today, The Thymes stands at over 100 employees and operates numerous departments, including graphics, research and development, sales and marketing, all under one roof in a historic warehouse building in Minneapolis.
And although the company and marketplace keep changing, one thing remains constant: our personal vision. Since the beginning, each new collection has sprung from the same inspiration: a personal one. By sharing your needs and concerns, you are Leslie's motivation.
In turn, we hope you can sense through every handmade detail that these products are designed with you in mind, and that in some small way your life is made better because of The Thymes. |
