We were greeted with a friendly hello when we walked in, which I appreciated. One of the staff…read moremembers asked if we'd been there before, and my daughter happily chimed in, "Yes! This is our second time here." It was a lovely start--but unfortunately, that was where the warmth stopped. The rest of the visit felt cold and uncomfortable, especially for a store that seems geared toward families, children, and pets.
The bath bombs themselves are great--they smell amazing, look fun, and my kids love them. But the staff experience was a huge letdown. My son politely asked to use the bathroom, and no one responded to him. Only when I stepped in did we get an answer. It felt dismissive and, frankly, pretty rude.
There are also "do not touch" signs everywhere, which makes it really hard for kids to engage with the products. At one point, my son accidentally dropped a bath bomb we were planning to purchase. I immediately informed management that we intended to purchase it, and we did. In response, the manager told me I needed to help my children get things off the shelf--implying that the accident could've been avoided if I had intervened. I understand wanting to keep displays in good condition, but this just made the experience feel even more unwelcoming and tense.
It's especially frustrating because this shop is just a few minutes from my home. But honestly? I'd rather make the hour-long drive to Lush. There, the staff are kind, engaged, and actually enjoy interacting with kids. They make the experience fun and inclusive, which makes all the difference.
I really enjoy the products, which makes it all the more disappointing that the customer service doesn't match the same quality. Maybe I'll try visiting a different location and hope that experience is much better.
This store has potential--but the customer service needs serious improvement. Until that happens, we won't be back.
Ex: The owners response and tone to my honest review is not only condescending it's emotionally charged, retaliatory, and disproportionate. I'm disappointed but not surprised by the continued defensiveness from the owner of Magnolia Soap and Bath Co. After leaving an honest and respectful review based on my experience as a paying customer, I received a direct response that was not only accusatory but also personally targeted--naming me and criticizing my children in a way that felt retaliatory and unnecessary.
Rather than acknowledge or address my concerns with any professionalism, the owner has now doubled down, claiming their response is "valid." This only reinforces my belief that respectful customer feedback is not welcome here, and that public shaming is being used as a tool to silence criticism.
For any families considering visiting this location: I encourage you to read both the original review and the owner's responses carefully. Customer service should be grounded in professionalism, empathy, and accountability--not personal attacks.
I stand by my review, and I hope this business reflects more carefully in the future on how it responds to customer experiences.
