A chance discovery of a small luxury boutique in Paris selling bathroom gifts has led a team of entrepreneurs to set up their own version in Bermuda.

Business partners George Swan and Debralee Perrin were on holiday in the French capital when they came across the shop which sold gift baskets and decided to buy a few of the items as Christmas presents and ship them home.

The gifts were well received and so they decided to set up in business. The result is Pampered, in Victoria Place, which sells bathroom products.

"We offer 49 different soaps by the pound and 36 bath bombs making our selection larger than the international businesses that offer similar products," said Ms Perrin.

"Additionally, our own Pampered line is completely organic catering to customers who enjoy all natural products and living an eco-friendly lifestyle.

"The other lines that we offer are only sold at Neiman Marcus and Barneys. You will also notice that we are very competitively priced. Furthermore, our products cost either the same as in the US or are no more than $3.75 over the US price, making your shopping experience much more convenient and intimate when compared to purchasing overseas or online."

The newly-opened store, which follows the environmentally-friendly theme of its location at Victoria Place with mainly organic soaps, offers products for men and women and for the home, as well as perfume, body lotion, body butter, body wash, hand cream, hand wash, bath salts and anti-aging products.

It also stocks biox intensive age treatment/serum, eye serum/cream, thermal masks, facial scrubs, cologne, after shave balm, deodorant, shampoo, face wash, hair pomade, soap, bath bombs, bath accessories, customisable baskets, candles, potpourri, organic dog care and even bug repellent.

In the future, the shop plans to provide beauty therapist services such as massages, facials, waxing, pedicure and manicure services.

In keeping with its 'green' surrounds and to help shoppers save money in these tough economic times, Pampered sells many of its natural products lin recyclable and sturdy apothecary jars to encourage people to reuse them, with customers who subscribe getting $2.50 off the cost of potpourri, body scrub, espon salt or lotion.

The shop, which is open from Monday to Saturday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., will be run by Mr. Swan and Ms Perrin, as well as store manager Kristy Woodside. A new beauty therapist is expected to join soon.

The two business partners both come from an insurance background, with Mr. Swan working in the industry for five years before becoming an entrepreneur, and Ms Perrin, who is still in insurance, returning to her retail roots, having worked at the House of Style clothing store in Somerset Village when she was at high school.

According to Ms Perrin, one of the biggest challenges the pair faced in setting up in business during the economic downturn, has been finding a source of lending from the banks, but they saw the opportunity to build something and see it develop when the economy picks up again. "If you wait for better economic times to come around, you will find yourself in much more competitive market place," she said.

"Sometimes you just need to have faith in your idea and take that leap into the unknown."

Not content with just one store, Mr. Swan and Ms Perrin also plan to set up another shop in Dockyard and are waiting for a space to become available in the Clock Tower.

"We feel that Dockyard is now the new Hamilton," said Ms Perrin. "We're eager to bring our concept and products to the west."

Meanwhile, the pair has donated several gift sets for an event in October to raise awareness of breast cancer, with the proceeds going to the Bermuda Cancer Health C