The future location of Sevansa in downtown Harrisburg.
A downtown storefront will get a clean start as a new business moves in.
Harrisburg-based Sevansa, which specializes in handmade and all-natural soap, plans to open its first brick-and-mortar shop at 210 Walnut St. on Dec. 19.
For the past year, owner Vanessa Somerset-Potter has sold her unique vegan bars at the PA Open Air Farmers Market at the PA Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg and online. As her customer base grew, she decided to open a place of her own.
“I really felt like I wanted to create a space where people could find natural products, but also natural homemade home goods,” she said. “I also wanted to showcase local artisans. I just wanted a way to uplift the Harrisburg community while promoting sustainability.”
Sevansa owner Vanessa Somerset-Potter at the PA Open Air Farmers Market.
At the store, customers will be able to find Sevansa’s botanical soap bars in scents like lavender and clary sage, lemongrass and grapefruit and patchouli and geranium. All of the bars are crafted to be gentle on the skin and don’t use tree nut oils, which can be allergens. Somerset-Potter also plans to sell new clean-burning candles that she’s been in the process of creating.
Additionally, the shop will feature sustainable goods from local makers, such as ceramics, food items and other gifts.
“I feel like Harrisburg can be a bit underrated and I’ve found some lovely hidden gems in the Harrisburg area. I would love for my shop to be one of them,” she said.
While Somerset-Potter, who also works as a nurse, began elevating her business to the next level in the past year, she’s been creating her soap bars for the past decade and began experimenting even as a teen.
“I just always loved making things. That was just the way I was,” she said. “I decided I’m going to try using some natural oils and butters and make some products at the age of 19 in my parents’ kitchen.”
Sevansa botanical soap bars
Coming from a Caribbean cultural background, using natural botanicals was always important to Somerset-Potter’s family and influenced her passion for all-natural products. Not only do her products fill a need she had for a soap that would be gentle on her sensitive skin, but her business also allows her to do her part in caring for the earth with the ingredients and products she chooses to use.
“I feel like we need to do our best to keep these natural spaces beautiful and clean,” she said.
Somerset-Potter said that she’s grateful for the loyal customer base she has built in the region and looks forward to meeting new neighbors as well.
“I just want it to be a friendly, welcoming, warm space, a comforting space where people can come and just shop for unique little gifts,” she said. “I hope they’re pleasantly surprised by the products offered.”
Sevansa will be located at 210 Walnut St., Harrisburg, and will be open from Thursday through Saturday, from 12 to 6 p.m. For more information, visit their website.
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