Business that sells Fairy Dust and other plant-based products opening on the east side

What does a moving company have to do with a high-end soap business?

Nothing, except Randy and LeeAnn Omstead hope to transition from one to the other.

The Omsteads are opening Magnolia Soap and Bath Co. in November in the Village at Greenwich at the northeast corner of 21st and Greenwich.

The two hope to eventually make the store their full-time jobs.

They’ve been in the moving business for 30 years. They have Kansas Movers and are contractors for full-service moving companies.

“We’re looking to eventually get out of it,” Randy Omstead said. “We just wanted to find something new.”

Initially, they looked at existing Wichita businesses to buy.

“That’s not as easy as it seems.”

He said they decided “we didn’t want to buy someone else’s headaches.”

Then the two started looking at potential franchises, and Mississippi-based Magnolia kept coming up.

“It seems like a fun business to open,” Omstead said.

He said the franchise has a plant-based line of health, beauty and home products.

“We’ll be hand crafting all our products there in the store,” Omstead said.

He said the Christian-based business started with a mom who wanted to find alternative products for her child with sensitive skin.

Laundry detergent is the chain’s best-selling product, Omstead said.

There also are bath bombs, bubbles and shower products such as oil, steamers and shampoo and conditioner bars.

Omstead said the company likes to be as sustainable as possible, so it saves as the crumbs from the bath bombs it makes to create a product called Fairy Dust.

There also are pet products, such as shampoo, and items for the home, such as candles.

“These are high-end products,” Omstead said.

He said that’s why he and his wife chose to locate at the Village at Greenwich, which is in an area with high-end demographics.

The store will open sometime in November and have a grand opening in early December.

Omstead said the store will sponsor a different charity every month.

“We’re super excited about getting involved with the community.”