Who would have imagined when we launched Le Jardin in mid-Febuary 2020 what the following 12 months would have held. Lockdowns, restrictions and pandemics were the stuff of Hollywood movies and clapping for carers; inspirational fundraisers like Major Tom and ‘isolation bubbles’ weren’t even a thing.
That said, since we opened our doors and then closed them again, only to open and close them once more, we achieved a lot when it was possible to do so. We’re continuing to use lockdown constructively to expand our offering for the coming year but for now, let us take the opportunity to look back at the year just passed.
Le Jardin opened in the Linen Green with a glitzy launch event where we hosted a selection of guests, business owners and local media to experience the journey through Le Jardin introducing them to our in-house vegan, non-perfumed, and ethnobotanical range of products alongside our product partner Natura Bisse’s exclusive European skincare offerings.
The lovely folks at local distillery Symphonia Gin pitched in to ensure the night went with a bang by supplying their locally-sourced No. 2 apple flavoured gin cocktails and Moon and Back Cafe provided an indulgent spread that left attendees mouths watering and our visitors longing for more.
From the moment we opened our doors, technology has played an integral part in our treatments as we introduced several new beauty technologies to the province, namely virtual reality relaxation, led facials and oxygen therapy through Natura Bisse’s space age ‘Bubble’ treatment.
That’s not to say we haven’t taken full advantage of our local resources; Le Jardin shroom serum, detox salts, festive diffusers, and a most recently “Le Jardin spa scent body oil” all come from indigenous ingredients carefully crafted and combined by our Spa Director and on-site herbalist Orla Gallagher.
In addition to creating the natural products to be found within Le Jardin, since its launch, Orla has set up many exciting partnerships with other local businesses, including Killyman Rectory, Le Jardin’s new accommodation partner, The Loft at the Linen Green who look after Le Jardin’s decadent afternoon tea packages, local radio station Q105 through regular Le Jardin visitor and advocate DJ Cate Conway.
And it’s not been all business. When our doors have been open, it has been an absolute pleasure to reward some of our very own frontline care workers and local foster mums with luxurious, complimentary Natura Bisse facials allowing them a short period to themselves where they can relax in the tranquillity and peace of Le Jardin.
All of our staff particularly enjoyed giving a small treat to these hard-working individuals during a challenging time. As much as we aim to provide every visitor to Le Jardin the highest levels of luxury service, treatment and product for these folks, every team member pushed even harder to make sure their visit was perfect.
Adversity is said to be the mother of invention, and the tumultuous times of the past year resulted in Le Jardin having to bring our online shop, delivery and click & collect services online ahead of time, providing our patrons with a range of gifts, vouchers and products ahead of Christmas, Valentine’s and Mother’s Day.
We take great pride in offering an extensive and exclusive range of gifting options, and undoubtedly, it’s preferable to meet face to face in the spa gift shop with the ‘gifter’ to find the best option for the ‘giftee’, but like many other things Covid-19 made that impossible so refining our online offering was a must and we’ve achieved great success throughout December and since the start of 2021.
As we anxiously anticipate our doors re-opening, this time we hope permanently, we continue to look towards the future and can’t wait for the most important thing to return to Le Jardin; our fabulous guests, who have all been so understanding and supportive since we first fired up the sauna, heated the hydro tub and activated the herbal steam room.
We can’t wait to have you all back, the whole team thanks you from the bottom of our hearts, and we can’t wait to show you all what we have coming in the next 12 months.
