One of my favourite things to do is design products. My career began in 2004 with a wee stationery company that eventually grew into Charlie Pickles.
What I love about product design is that it is not just about making a thing. It is about imagining how someone will feel when they open it, use it, share it, and keep it. The real magic is in those tiny moments of surprise and delight, the little "ah-ha" details that make someone smile or feel a bit more special. That is the part I am always chasing.
It is one thing to put some items together and call it a kit. But when you really think about how someone will experience that kit, from the moment they first see it to the moment they use the very last piece, something changes. If you can step into their shoes, feel their excitement, and design for that secret, joyful moment, that is where the magic happens.
Which brings me to a little secret element I have added to a few of our kits. I have never really explained it before, but you will find it tucked inside our Spa Kits.
Our spa kits actually started out as loot bag themes. I noticed that lots of kids were having spa parties, sleepovers, and weekend hangouts. They would pop by to pick up a face mask or two to use together. Having a spa night with friends is such a fun, cozy way to spend time, so the Spa Loot Bag was born.
The loot bags were a hit and kept selling out. On paper, they were doing perfectly fine. But as I was building these kits, I could feel they were missing a tiny layer of magic. Someone might have said, "They are selling fine as they are," and they would be right. But I knew there was something extra I could add without raising the cost, something that would turn a good kit into a memorable experience.
So I designed a simple, playful postcard where kids can practice their nail polish colours or colour in the nails with crayons. It is not the star of the kit. It is a quiet little extra that ties everything together and turns a few spa items into a moment of creativity, connection, and fun.
To me, that is what great product design really is. Not just what goes in the box, but how it feels to the person opening it. Not just what they get, but the little spark they are left with.
But shortly after, I had another idea: what if I designed a special “spa” page on our website that you could only access with a secret QR code inside the kit? A hidden doorway into the Charlie Pickles world. That idea sent me straight down a rabbit hole of excitement.
Here is how I imagined it being used. If a child was having a party, they could scan the QR code and instantly access a library of relaxation music to play in the background. Suddenly you have a group of friends hanging out, doing face masks, painting nails, and listening to calm, cozy music while they use their Charlie Pickles Spa Kits.
But I also designed it with quiet nights in mind. Maybe it is just one person at home, winding down after a big day. A little spa moment, some self-care, and soft music playing in the background. Because a wind down routine is not quite complete without something lovely to listen to.
You can find your access pass to our Charlie Pickles Spa page tucked inside any of our Spa Kits.
xo
Lindsay
