Sustainable beauty e-commerce brand unveils “inspiring” new Durham HQ

Ethical beauty brand West Barn Co. has revealed its brand new 11,000 sq ft headquarters at Belmont Industrial Estate, Durham.

The family-run brand, which became known for its Soap Brows product that “broke the internet” now creates a wide range of beauty products and ships to over 60 countries worldwide from the Durham base, housing just under 30 team members.

Launched in 2016, mother-daughter duo Donna and Kimberley wanted to create a beauty range that “empowers individuality” by creating cruelty-free, vegan-friendly, sustainable beauty products that “enhance natural beauty and increase self-confidence”.

After outgrowing their previous office and manufacturing space, it was time for a new home for the brand and they took on the industrial space at Belmont, comprising three individual units to be brought together under one roof.

The brand has invested significantly into the new space and entrusted Ben Johnson Interiors, a specialist commercial interiors firm, to create the space and design, build and supply furniture.

The new HQ boasts a photography studio, product Lab, packaging area, workspace, wellness area and their newly-launched West Barn Co. Clinic, a fully-fledged beauty clinic offering a selection of beauty treatments, carried out by both experts within the brand, as well as local therapists specially-selected by Kimberley and the team.

Kimberley Cattin said: “We are all so thrilled with our new HQ and could not have brought this vision to life without the team at Ben Johnson. Every aspect of the concept complements the West Barn Co. ethos and our values, and their input on making the best use of our space whilst creating a fun environment to work in has been invaluable.

“I’m excited to call this new place our home and look forward to many successful years in it as we return to a shared workspace and West Barn Co. continues to grow!”

Emma Dodsley, director at Ben Johnson Interiors, added: “It’s been a privilege to work on the new West Barn Co. HQ and the end result is a really inspiring project that shows what’s really possible in traditionally industrial spaces.

“Kimberley had a clear vision and objectives throughout the project and it’s really rewarding to see it brought to life and to have received such brilliant feedback from the whole team.”