Toms River Craft Businesses Seek to Enhance Scents and Flavors

Along with the , some new retail additions to Toms River’s downtown area are looking for plenty of business and success in 2012; Autumn Meadow Trading Company and Sweet Tush, a Gourmet Bath & Body Bakery and Boutique.

Located on Washington Street in the downtown area, just off Main Street and connected to the building which formerly housed the Java Joint, both businesses (who are also next-door neighbors) are in the process of refurbishing and preparing for their respective grand openings after the new year begins.

Maris DeMott, longtime Toms River resident and proprietor of Autumn Meadow Trading Company, explained that the company has been open for 2 years, but that the retail store downtown was opened in a strictly fundamental sense of the word back on Nov. 18.

“We are planning our grand opening for sometime in January,” DeMott explained.

DeMott related that having grown up in Toms River, she considered Washington Street her “home” downtown area, and thought there wasn’t a better place to locate her business.

“It’s a cute area, it just needs some sprucing up,” DeMott said.

That sprucing up could come from Autumn Meadow Trading Company, who features products designed to bring a pleasant fragrance to wherever they are kept, including hand-crafted tumbler jars, votives, potpourri, tarts, novelty candles, candle accessories and gift sets.

“Everything in our signature line was made completely from components obtained in the United States,” DeMott noted.

DeMott concluded that the she was looking forward to “growing” her business and “flourishing” in the downtown area of Toms River.

Similarly, Dana Pulsinelli, owner of Sweet Tush looks for a busy year in 2012.

“We are a Gourmet Bath & Body Bakery and Boutique offering a vast array of natural handmade bath & body products including our world famous Cupcakes Bath Bombs,” Pulsinelli said.

If you’re wondering what in the world a cupcake bath bomb is, let Pulsinelli explain.

“Our (non-edible) cupcakes are made up of a few simple ingredients, along with the most luxurious of essential oils for aromatherapy and to soften the skin, lock in moisture, reduce puffiness and remove toxins and grime from your skin leaving you sugary sweet. The cupcakes fizz when you drop them in water and create a most luxurious bath experience,” Pulsinelli detailed.

The owner added that her store location will showcase an Organic Soap Station, where customers can select deliciously-scented organic soap loaves that look very similar to fresh-made fudge, and have hand-cut and wrapped for take-out.

“Next we'll have our Sorbet Bar. Here, you will be able to order your own custom-blended Sugar or Salt Body Scrub, and watch while it's whipped up fresh just for you! Customers will be able to sample and purchase our entire line of Body Scrubs, Body Icing, Bath Sugars and other Bath & Body Treats,” Pulsinelli noted.

Pulsinelli continued by saying that the store’s boutique items will include all ‘Made In the USA’ products such as t-shirts, handbags, hair & travel accessories, cosmetics and hand-made Diaper Cakes for babies, as well. Though closed for renovations at the moment, the owner is thrilled to debut in the heart of Toms River.

“We are so excited to bring our business to downtown,” Pulsinelli said.

DeMott added, “Our next-door neighbor business is a great complement to us; I think we’ll make a good team.”

To contact Autumn Meadow Trading Company, call 1-888-722-0403 or visit www.autumnmeadow.com.

To contact Sweet Tush, call 732-604-4320, or visit www.sweettush.com.