Right at Home

The Homebody Collective, which recently opened in downtown Wilmington, offers a trifecta of services (apothecary, facial spa, and yoga studio) to match its trio of owners, KELLY CONWAY and her two daughters, HAYLEE and BELLA.

The mother-daughter(s) trio first became aware of Wilmington as its doppelganger, Tree Hill. While living in Cary, Kelly and her daughters would watch the Wilmington-filmed show One Tree Hill together and eventually started to visit the real-life town that served as the backdrop of the 2000s teen drama.

Haylee shares that when they would visit, they would admire the downtown shops and often kicked around the idea of someday moving here and opening their own. An idea that Bella, around 8-years-old at the time, took very seriously and would even sneak phone calls to realtors in an attempt to make the dream a reality.

“This town became a little escape for the three of us,” Kelly says. “And the thought of us owning a business together has been alive for many, many years.”

In 2017, Kelly and Bella moved to town while Haylee, who went to college in New York for fashion design, officially arrived in 2020. With all three living in Wilmington, half the vision was in place.

Bella, who according to her mom has always had an “entrepreneurial spirit,” has been a licensed esthetician for the past few years and on the lookout for a space to serve clients. Meanwhile, all three women began practicing yoga more seriously and both Kelly and Bella became certified teachers, while Haylee has been working at Modern Legend as the buyer for the clothing section.

“I really learned all the basics of small business, but also what Wilmington needs,” Haylee explains.

“Our thought process when the three of us would talk,” Bella adds, “was bringing wellness downtown. And we wanted this space to be a home away from home.”

The Homebody Collective accomplishes just that with its homey aesthetic (yes, even a cozy couch so customers can sit and stay a while) and meticulously selected skincare, beauty care, and wellness products. The team specifically sought out products that use natural ingredients from (mostly local and female-owned) brands that also fall on the more holistic side of the beauty industry.

The yoga studio at The Homebody Collective is candle-lit and mirrorless, which is a conscious choice the group made to encourage future yogis to turn inward. Vinyasa flow, gentle yoga, guided meditations, and breathwork classes are all offered throughout the week.

The collective essentially serves as a one-stop for fulfilling the self-care needs of locals and tourists in the area.

“There was nothing like this downtown,” Haylee says. “We have always loved Wilmington and wanted to give something positive back to the community.”

As for working together as a family, all three women are in agreement that it is a practically inevitable evolution for them.

“They’re my best friends,” Kelly says. “The three of us have always been a package deal so opening a business together feels like a very natural progression.”

“We are such a unit,” Bella adds. “I never thought this wasn’t going to happen.”

To view more of photographer Terah Hoobler’s work, go to terahhoobler.com.

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