“I am so thrilled to be going into Bobby’s!”

The reaction of Beth Coldrick, Founder of BAO Skincare.

It followed confirmation that her face and body products are to be sold in Bournemouth’s revived Bobby & Co building.

BAO – pronounced ‘Bay-o’ – is among the brands described as ‘local, ethical and unique’ to be stocked in The Beauty Hall.

The first phase of the restored Bobby’s is now due to open on Thursday September 9.

Beth, who grew up by the sea in Sandbanks and attended Talbot Heath School, started to create handmade natural skincare in 2012.

It came three years after she was diagnosed with Crohns  Disease and Ulcerative  Colitis.

Both were due to the side effects of the many medications she was taking after struggling with her health for many years.

Beth started to suffer with extreme sensitive skin, a new and unpleasant experience for her.      

Using her insider knowledge of the skin’s structure and its needs – she studied for a Diploma in Natural Beauty Therapy and Nutrition in Australia in 2005 –  she started to test a plethora of different skincare products, desperate for relief from her sore skin.

Failing to find the perfect product for her, Beth started mixing plant oils, balms and butters to create natural skincare that was kind to her skin as well as the environment.

This led to the birth of BAO Skincare.

The brand provides luxurious, high-quality face and body products using only the best natural, certified vegan, and organic ingredients.

It is handmade at Beth’s studio in Southbourne.

BAO Skincare is now stocked in over 25 stockists worldwide, including in Hong Kong and Greece as well as online beauty giant Feel Unique.

Bobby’s will be its newest home.

Beth said: “The store and my brand marry perfectly with Bobby’s focusing on sustainability, ethical sourcing and promoting local independent brands.

“BAO is a brand made with love, and I can’t wait to showcase in this amazing new Bournemouth hotspot!”

Beth, who has undergone three life-changing surgeries for her inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), is regarded as a beacon of hope for those looking to start their own business while suffering from a chronic illness.

Last year she was one of four finalists in the Fashion & Beauty Entrepreneur of the Year category of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards for the South West.

Verve Properties, which is restoring the former Debenhams building in The Square, has stressed that the new Bobby’s will not be a department store, as in a single retailer offering multiple products in a single building.

Instead, the building will host a number of independent uses, events and activities, centred around sustainability, localism and community.