ABG

Olive growers create line of personal-care products

Georgann Yara
Special for The ABG | azcentral.com
Candace Celis (right) and Joey Rea (manager of Olivespa) work, January 12, 2016, in the Olivespa  studio at Queen Creek Olive Mil.

Brenda Rea moved her family to Arizona from Detroit to start the Queen Creek Olive Mill with her husband, Perry, in 1997.  It didn't take long for the desert air to take a toll on their skin.

And when the dry climate resulted in itchy skin and scaly hands, Brenda’s quest to find relief for her family ultimately resulted in Olivespa, the all-natural line of olive oil-based body products she launched at the mill in 2013.

Olivespa uses the mill’s own antioxidant-rich extra virgin olive oil in 15 products ranging from lip balms and body butters to soaps and body oils. The line includes candles and sachets for the home.

“They are really good products and once people try them, they come back for more. We use the expensive oil, no refined oils, so it has all its nutrients intact,” Rea said.

The entrepreneur and mother of five runs Olivespa with her daughter Joey, who manages the business and assists in product development.

The Reas chose Arizona for their business after researching the best places to grow olive trees.

Their children were young and Brenda wanted to use skin products that were chemical-free. She started using the mill’s olive oil as a moisturizer. It worked . In 1999, she started experimenting with body oils and salves. She gave her wares as gifts and recipients raved about them. Her creative wheels were turning.

“I kept trying and kept pushing it, how far we can go with olive oil,” Brenda said.

Joey was in the sixth grade when her mother created a lip balm, using a kit Joey had gotten for her birthday. The instructions called for vegetable oil. Joey figured olive oil would work just fine.

“I was so excited about it. I thought, oh my God, we should try this,” Joey said.

Brenda Rea continued honing her craft with her family’s olive oil as the key ingredient. After Joey graduated from high school, she lived in France for a year. During a visit from Brenda, the two women toured perfumeries, which used essential oils as the base for perfumes. Brenda found more inspiration using a similar concept for her body products.

Olivespa soap is one of the items sold at Queen Creek Olive Mill.

Brenda’s travels often provide a creative spark that leads to new products, like Olivespa’s lotion sticks – a tube that resembles a thick lip balm case but contains a mess-free lotion instead – which Brenda made after seeing a similar product in California two years ago.

Soon, Brenda was selling her homemade skincare products at the mill.  They were well received, which enabled her to officially start Olivespa as its own company three years ago. Most products range from $3.50 for lip balm to gift boxes that include body butter, soap and balms that go for $60 .

Olivespa’s sales increased 20 percent from 2014 to 2015, according to company data. During the last two weeks of December 2015, and the first week of January, sales were up 40 percent over the same time period in the previous year.

The production site is located in the retail area of the mill where visitors can see Olivespa products being made through a large window. This has increased awareness and visibility, and also encouraged discussions between the Reas and patrons about what they use on their skin.

“They love to see these things being made. We’re educating people on what they’re putting on their bodies and how it affects their health,” Brenda said.

Movement Restoration owners Brynn Martin and Trisha Haws were using Queen Creek olive oil as massage oil on clients. When they discovered the Olivespa line, they reached out to Brenda. Today, the massage therapy business uses Olivespa products and makes them available for purchase at its Scottsdale location. Brenda has also created two specific scents – a peppermint lavender and eucalyptus mint – for them.

“It’s the perfect combination of being all-natural and local. The olive oil is moisturizing and an antioxidant provider,” Martin said.

Brenda Rea, left, founded Olivespa where her daughter, Joey Rea, works as manager.

Being chemical-free is a huge plus, as are Olivespa’s principles.

“With Brenda and Joey, I love how they are true to their brand. They’re committed to the health aspect and we couldn’t have thought of a better product line to carry in our spa,” Martin said.

The Reas grow more than 7,000 olive trees on 25 of the 100 acres on which the mill and farm sit.They produce the state’s only extra virgin olive oil while their business has become an agritourism destination for locals and tourists alike. In addition to the mill, products can be found at two other Phoenix locations and in Tucson.

Since Joey joined Brenda, the mother-daughter duo has expanded the lineup to feature different scents in oils, body butters, lotion sticks and lip balms. There are also some unscented versions.

Brenda and Joey shared stories about the countless number of customers who are hooked on Olivespa and swear the products are the only source of relief and comfort for skin problems caused by dry, cold or hot conditions. Brenda talked about a man in Colorado with chronically dry skin who, after receiving her hand salve as a gift, now sends his son, who lives in the Valley, to get more.

Joey said numerous return customers have similar stories. One woman purchased lotion sticks and said it got rid of her granddaughter’s eczema. They find this feedback rewarding.

“She said it’s the only thing that works for her,” Joey said. “We get many people who come in and say, ‘This works wonders.’”

Olivespa

Where: 25062 S. Meridian Road, Queen Creek

Employees: Eight.

Interesting stat: As of 2015, there are an estimated 9.4 million women-owned businesses in the United States that generate nearly $1.5 trillion in revenue, according to the American Express OPEN State of Women-Owned Business Report. CQ

Details: 480-888-9290, olivespa.com