De Gruchys

The Tan Brush is now exclusive in De Gruchy’s, St Helier, Jersey

As we made our way to the airport, excited about our trip to De Gruchy’s department store; we checked if the passports and tickets were precisely where they should be, believe me, there is always a drama, We chatted about how we imagined Jersey to be. Neither of us knew the island, but tales of their infamous ice cream sprang to mind, so we were excited by the few days ahead.

The flight was a mere 65 minutes, quicker than a jaunt to Dublin, and very comfortable and relaxed. We floated over crystal blue waters, golden beaches, and green fields as we came into land. The sun shone and sparkled as we disembarked, and the smell of warm air greeted us like an old friend as we made our way to the bus terminal.

As we drove into St Helier with a birds-eye view from the top deck, there was a distinct feeling of summer as the sea air crept through the windows. We were advised to take the bus to see more of the island. The journey was quick, and we arrived outside the Royal Yacht Hotel in no time.

The island appears to be very charming, we thought, as we clambered down the stairs and pulled our luggage out of the hold. This should suit the Tan Brush very well!

We dropped our bags at the hotel and walked to the centre of St Helier through Victorian and Georgian terraces. The narrow streets were adorned with exquisite homes, individual in style and colour, and we imagined who lived within their walls as we walked up the hill. The sun beat so intensely it was hard not to double back and head to the beach, but we had work to do and first on the agenda was the De Gruchys Department store in the heart of the town.

Cool air met us as we stepped in from the searing 32-degree heat. For two Northern Irish girls, that’s damn hot, blistering even, so the drop in temperature was heavenly.

We aren’t used to sunshine; our summer season lasts two or three weeks on average, so by nature, our skin tone is pale with a hint of blue, as Billy Connelly would say, and a few freckles are thrown in for good measure.

We need a little help to enhance the vibrancy our skin deserves. Ridiculous as that sounds, but most Celtic women will identify. We freely admit to feeling much better with a golden hue.

Most of us will self-tan weekly; a few will apply self-tan for extra confidence on special occasions, but we all know that we look more attractive and certainly feel better with a tan; it’s almost like having a little shimmer from the inside.

So as we walked into the store, passing the stylish Tom Ford, Lancome, Clinique and Dior counters, there she was, displayed on a podium all by herself!

I still can’t get used to seeing The Tan Brush, our creation, sitting on a shelf in Department stores. It fills me with so much pride that I have to pinch myself.

We spent the day talking to the women and girls of Jersey, introducing ourselves and telling them the Lady GaGa, crisps and glass of wine story. After all, it’s the truth. We weren’t experts in the tanning industry; we had an idea and saw a niche in the tanning market.

However, we have become experts in the Self-Tanning application over the past four years; nobody does it better. Adding Netflix, alcohol, and honky dory crisps give credibility to our story; it’s real and probably how most brilliant dreams and ideas are conceived. However, our vision has become a reality. She’s here, and The Tan Brush now has her own shelf in De Gruchy’s.

We spent a few days embracing a little of everyone else’s work-life balance. Dreamy! Working in the morning, day-tripping in the afternoon. Jersey has an incredible pace of life; I can see the attraction, especially when the sun is shining. With just over 100,00 in population, it’s quiet and relaxing but at the same time has a real sense of serious business, style and class.

As we made our way back to the airport, we boarded the plane with slight reluctance; we were only there a few days, but in that time, a great deal was achieved, and we both felt a sense of gratitude. Thank you to all at De Gruchys for making us feel welcome. I think Jersey will always have a place in our hearts, and it only happens to be a hop, skip and a jump away.