$10,000 IN SKINCARE PRODUCTS AND EQUIPMENT STOLEN

APPROXIMATELY $10,000 IN SKINCARE PRODUCTS AND EQUIPMENT STOLEN

Over the weekend, on December 3rd, RubyViolet Skincare, a woman-owned, highly-personalized esthetics boutique with an almost 20-year history in Portland, was broken into and robbed of all of her skincare products. Located on NE Alberta St. in NE Portland, in a historic building that was built in the 1920s, RubyViolet Skincare was preparing to celebrate its One Year Anniversary of returning to NE Alberta in January 2023. Owned by Sarah Szper, Sarah estimates that approximately $10,000 worth of products and facial equipment were stolen from RubyViolet Skincare. She has an itemized list of everything that she has ever purchased (which was all stolen) and she is submitting that list to her insurance, but it hasn’t been determined yet if, or how much, insurance will reimburse her.

THE RUBYVIOLET SKINCARE APPROACH

Sarah specializes in providing non-invasive, anti-aging treatments using natural and organic products for clients all along their skincare journey. Providing a holistic approach to skincare, Sarah nurtures the whole self by offering a sacred space to heal both the body and spirit. Sarah customizes every facial to her client’s specific needs, using highly-effective and highly-personalized techniques at the time of treatment, while simultaneously supporting the client with the comfort of traditional relaxation methods. Sarah was recently featured on KOIN TV’s EverydayNorthwest. Over the past several years, Sarah invested in 1) the line of professional products on her back bar that she uses on clients during treatments, 2) the retail products that she offers for sale to clients, and 3) the skincare equipment that she uses during facials. The brands she carries include Phytomer, the French skincare pioneer in marine biotechnology, and Dermalogica. All of it was stolen. Products from Phytomer and Dermalogica cost an average of $90 to $140 each/per product. The person that stole these items will now sell them on Amazon or Ebay.

THE BREAK IN

The historic building where RubyViolet is located is in a secure building that requires a business owner to “buzz in” a client. Once a client is buzzed in, RubyViolet has two additional locked doors required for entry. None of the doors were broken or busted into; instead, they were unlocked with a master key. As Sarah works with police and her landlord to navigate this, she has learned that someone gained access to the master key to the building. Another business in the building was also targeted, using the master key to enter that business as well. In addition to the approximate $10,000 worth of professional and retail products, plus equipment that was stolen, Sarah and her husband are currently installing all new locks and a Ring security system. No video was captured.

THE ASK FOR HELP

After spending six years on N.E. Alberta from 2004 to 2010, RubyViolet Skincare moved to a couple of different locations throughout Portland and returned to N.E. Alberta in January 2022, after originally opening on the street 18 years ago. Sarah feels like RubyViolet blossomed on Alberta Street just as the Alberta Street Business District began to flourish. Celebrating her Grand Re-Opening on NE Alberta this year felt like an incredible homecoming and a full-circle moment in Sarah’s RubyViolet journey. And as she approaches the One Year Anniversary of her Grand Re-Opening, and after spending the past year rebuilding her business after Covid, this horrifying break-in occurs, and she is heartbroken.

Thank you for any support you can provide – it means the world to Sarah. Sarah is in the business of giving and caring for others; asking for help is not in her nature. We deeply and greatly appreciate your support as Sarah works to rebuild her beautiful esthetics boutique from scratch after years of investment was stolen in one night.