Bath & Body Works

Preteen Paradise or Snooty Soaps?

Last Christmas, my preteen's favorite present was a gift card to Bath & Body Works. A generous aunt loaded her up with $50 to splurge on sweet-smelling lotions and soaps. Who knew baths and showers could be so much fun, or so expensive?

In the past, parents would cajole kids into bathing with basic shampoo, soap and water. Then the kids would be sent to school, uphill in the snow both ways. 

All that has changed, and Bath & Body Works started it.

A Fragrant Fad

Aromatherapy is in, and folks of all ages are getting their bodies squeaky clean, along with their wallets! Cleanliness is a lot more enjoyable these days than it used to be, but the aromatic pleasure certainly comes with a price tag!

For the most part, products for children echo adult-oriented counterparts: shampoo, body wash, lotion, bath salts, antibacterial hand-gel, body mist, cologne colorful sponges, loofahs, and more. In addition, kids can find crayon soaps, finger-paint bath gel, and animal-shaped soaps. Fragrances may include fruits, flowers, candies, popcorn, bubble-gum, and a host of other favorites.

Geared for Growth

Since 1990, when Leslie Wexner opened the first Bath & Body Works in New Albany, Ohio, consumers of all ages have been crazy for upscale soaps, bubble baths, and other fragrant bath items.

Several years ago, Bath & Body Works (the largest US retailer of designer bath products) devoted an entire section of each store (about 1/3 of the available floor space) to items for children. Kids will pay $4.50 for flavored lip balm and $12 for scented body splash, without batting a glitter-mascara-covered eyelash.

Bath & Body Works even began hosting birthday parties in their stores, where kids can sample a variety of products and assemble their own take-home party gift bags.

Gee, who needs to build a stuffed bunny, when you can slather yourself with green clover/aloe strawberry/lemonade or cinnamon/pumpkin body lotion? After all, it's anti-bacterial!

Upper-Crust Cleanliness