Catching Up With Southampton’s Sara Porter

I had the pleasure of meeting Sara Porter this summer while delivering magazines in Southampton; a beautiful, little lakeside town just west of Owen Sound. Usually on these delivery missions, I happily introduce myself to whomever greets me and leave some magazines for their customers to enjoy. I tend not to meet too many business owners, nor do I often get the opportunity to speak with them at length. Such was the case when I met Sara.

Re:mind General Store was packed that day. I walked in thinking I’d quickly say hello, drop off some magazines, and head on to my next spot. I was kindly greeted by the owner, Sara Porter, as her customers milled about her shop picking up products and showing them to one another, as if to say ‘thank God they sell this here!’. We spoke briefly and realized we’re both passionate about supporting local. I never would have guessed at that time that I’d be featuring Sara on the cover of Support Local and writing this story.

Sara’s commitment to wellness is reflected in every detail of her two Southampton retail businesses; Re:mind General Store and Re:mind Spa. From the carefully curated selection of natural products to the serene spa treatments designed to melt away stress, Porter’s dedication extends beyond the walls of her storefronts, influencing the broader Southampton community in profound ways.

But why start a wellness brand?

“I started Re:mind Wellness with a simple goal in mind: to find some happiness and help others do the same,” explains Porter. “After realizing that true joy comes from doing what you love and sharing it with the world, I decided to turn my passion into a venture that brings smiles and satisfaction to my customers. I worked around chemicals for almost 20 years and was ready for a shift in my personal life to non-toxic options and wanted to provide that to the community, as well.”

Porter grew up in a family of bulk purchasers and organic options so this wasn’t a far leap for her to make and after building and operating a retreat centre, she knew her heart belonged in creating a holistic space for people to find peace and leave feeling a more relaxed and refreshed version of themselves than when they arrived.

The General Store and Eminence Spa started together in one building in 2020 but Porter split them in half in 2022, allowing both to grow into what they are today. The General Store is a central area for everything from household cleaners to skin care in refillable and customizable formats. Porter expanded into consignment clothing and has now added home decor, as well. She makes several of her own products, from bath bombs and shower steamers to candles and healing salves. Other products are sourced from small Canadian businesses. The ability to make their own items means Re:mind can do more for their customers by being able to provide them with custom labels and products for special occasions like weddings, parties or work events. Porter loves collaborating with other businesses to create their own product line and has worked with several small boutique inns, BnB’s and motels to help them be environmentally friendly while also having the unique small touches Guests love.

When asked about what the general store is all about, Porter often replies: “Well it’s a store but it’s also an immersive experience.”

Re:mind recently bottled the smell of the store as it’s the first thing people notice and always ask how they can take the smell and vibe home. To that, Porter is also branching out into Private Interior Design.

“Our Spa is a little slice of peace,” exclaims Porter. “We use (the best) Eminence Organic Skin Care in all our facials and body services and have yoga and meditation classes. It’s a beautiful little community of like minded estheticians and practitioners that want every client to leave feeling better than they arrived.”

Re:mind Spa is a Green Certified Spa as they reduce their environmental impact and inspire others to do so, too. Porter feels the importance of good skin care is “more than skin deep” as what we put on our skin absorbs into our body in seconds and has an internal effect as much as an external one. That’s what brings the two locations together.

While Porter actively promotes their non local visitors to support businesses in their communities who carry the same products, they do have an online store for everything available in the Eminence Spa and General Store.

Porter’s impact on the community is further amplified by her role as Chair of the Southampton Business Improvement Association (BIA). In this capacity, she has been a driving force behind numerous initiatives aimed at revitalizing the town’s business landscape and fostering a strong sense of community. Her efforts to promote local businesses and create a vibrant, supportive environment for both residents and visitors have enhanced Southampton’s charm.

REMIND WELLNESS
189 High St, Southampton
remindwellness.ca
(226) 930-5971