Jennifer Ferguson is no stranger to retail pop-up stores. The longtime Longmont resident first opened Bricks on Main Street in October 2020 as a temporary location to keep downtown shopping vibrant and fun. The store quickly grew to house more than 40 local vendors, and Ferguson knew she was onto something. Ferguson and her daughter, Kennedie Ferguson, have now partnered to open a new pop-up retail experience, focusing on bath and body products.
Beth’s Bath Shoppe features a wide variety of different soaps, bath bombs, loofahs, shower curtains, soaks and scrubs. Located in the heart of downtown Longmont in the building which used to house La Vita Bella at 471 Main St., the shop plans to remain open through the holidays and mother-daughter duo hope to use the space for much more than retail sales.
“We want people to know that we will have activities, music, crafts, tasting experiences and classes happening in the store, as well. We set aside room for local nonprofits and school groups to use for gift wrapping fundraisers and things like that,” Jennifer Ferguson said.
Jennifer Ferguson has long been a passionate advocate for Longmont business and development. She divides her time between several different businesses, including Wonder Tours which provides guided food tours. She has been involved with Longmont Startup Week, Longmont Restaurant Week and Visit Longmont.
“There is a compounding effect with local shopping. Providing retail experiences in one location benefits other stores nearby, and keeps money in the local community,” Jennifer Ferfuson said.
Beth’s Bath Shoppe is an extension of her broader goals to keep the downtown area thriving. She is testing the multi-use concept for the space, hoping that it will attract customers looking for more than a traditional retail experience. The store hosts about a dozen different vendors, selling everything from jewelry to organic produce.
Scott Cook, CEO of the Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce, attended the ribbon-cutting for Beth’s Bath Shoppe on Thursda.
“Jennifer is really a champion of the community. She wants to see other small businesses succeed, and this store is another extension of that. She’s giving people the space to get their own start,” he said.
Kennedie Ferguson is excited to see where the concept ends up.
“The great thing about retail is that it is always evolving. We are both a retail store and a place for creatives to come together,” she explained.
The Fergusons hope that Beth’s Bath Shoppe will give entrepreneurs and artisans the opportunity to sell their products without the expense of operating a storefront.
