Great Barrington — In such a fast-paced world, when life seems to pass us by at a million miles per hour, we often forget to focus on self-care and our own wellness. Tricia MacKenzie, founder of the recently opened Feel Good Haus apothecary, said her mission is to help people find ways to slow down and take care of themselves.
Feel Good Haus opened on Thursday, December 4, at 38 Railroad Street, the former location of JWS Art Supplies. “I got into apothecary because I had a personal journey where I realized that you can get the gift of feeling good from small and simple things,” MacKenzie told The Berkshire Edge. “It can be anything from a hot shower with eucalyptus steam that wakes you up, or a lavender bath that can relax you. It’s the simple things in life that can make you feel good, and I think that’s what we all need right now.”
Originally from Boston MacKenzie has an extensive career in marketing, working for iHeartMedia, V2 Records, Oasis Children Services LLC, and MERGE, according to her LinkedIn resume.
MacKenzie said she opened Feel Good Haus in order to share with others what has helped her with her own self-care journey. “I think spending a few minutes a day on wellness, self-care, and creating daily rituals to take care of myself has helped me,” she said. “I am looking to share what has helped me on my own self-care journey with other people. People have stress, whether it is from work, parenting, caring for their parents, or from so many other things; you need to find ways to relax.”
When asked if we generally slow down enough for moments of self-care, MacKenzie said, “definitely not.” “One of the reasons why I opened Feel Good Haus is because I’ve talked to people who needed a place to help them with their own self-care journeys,” she said. “People can come into the store, and I can help them find what they are looking for. If they are looking for extra energy, to relax, or to get some pain relief, those will be the products I will be stocking here.”
MacKenzie said she sells products from the United States, including local items from makers in Berkshire County and western Massachusetts. “I have direct relationships with all of these makers whose products I sell,” she said. “For example, I sell botanical fragrances, lotions, and body washes from makers that do not use synthetic fragrances. Let’s face it, when you walk into a CVS or Walgreens, and you see the list of ingredients on things like shampoos and deodorants, it can really hit you when the label is 30 to 40 ingredients long. At Feel Good Haus, I stock lotions and body washes where you can very clearly read the label and understand where the ingredients are coming from. I think it’s important to understand where ingredients from these types of products are coming from so you’re not rubbing a bunch of chemicals on your body in a product that you use every day.”
Now a Lenox resident, MacKenzie said she loves the Berkshire County area. “I am hoping to make a positive impact with this store,” she said. “The name of the store speaks for itself in terms of broad strokes. I sell a lot of things in the store to make you feel good.”
Located at 38 Railroad Street in Great Barrington, Feel Good Haus is open Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For more information, visit the store’s website.
