As Vancouverites, we’re trained to love the outdoors and raised to know what we’re consuming and how we’re treating our bodies. Bath and Body products, even candles are filled with harmful chemicals that can result in doing much worse to your body than good. Bee & Bear’s Handmade has offered a helping hand and a range of products that are good for body mind and soul. Portobello West had the chance to speak with Britney Cunningham the creative force behind Bee & Bear’s Handmade.
Britney founded Bee & Bear’s Handmade in 2013, formulating candles, soap and lip care products from her basement in Langley, BC. “I was previously working for a wholesale supply company for bath and body ingredients and in doing so met a lot of small time crafters and independent business owners. They all seemed thrilled to be in full creative control of the work they were doing, and the pure delight they expressed to me when they experienced success was very inspiring. I had always loved to craft at home, and enjoyed making goodies for others. I had received encouragement from friends and family to sell the products I was making, and it eventually evolved into the idea of running my own little business.” With that spark, Britney began brainstorming and had set a course in exactly what she wanted to achieve. “I knew that I wanted to make products with a very vintage, woodsy feel that would embody West Coast Canadian comfort which has been the inspiration for the look and scents of many of my products. The natural goodness of beeswax and honey appealed to me, so I decided to use them as a base in many things I decided to make, which in-part inspired the “Bee” in the name, which is also a nickname I was given a long time ago. Bears just seemed to fit the cabin-chic appeal I was going for and had a nice ring to it. Thus, Bee & Bear’s was born.” says Britney
“Aside from the wholesale supplier I was working for at the time, I have had many other experiences in retail and especially in the bath and body sector. I saw ingredients I didn’t agree with being put into products which were also being misrepresented to glamorize “all natural” and use those words for strictly marketing purposes.” Britney took her experiences and knowledge from working in a warehouse as well as a retail environment to discover exactly what customers were looking for. Utilizing this information and putting it toward making the best in quality of product she could. “From this, I gained a respect for natural ingredients and truthful marketing. Having said this, I would never claim that all of my products are 100% ALL natural but they are pretty darn close (with the exception of a mixed natural/and synthetic fragrance) and I certainly feel good about choosing ingredients myself that I do believe are safe to have and use. I also believe that in hand-making products, you’re really putting your whole heart and soul (not to mention sweat and tears) into the final product. In my opinion, that is the ultimate value in buying local, handmade goods. You can’t buy something commercially that is so honest.”
Bee & Bear’s supplies everything from tinted lip balm to exfoliating soap and is a great gift for a friend or loved one with its simple yet homemade inspired packaging. It’s truly worth it to think about what you’re using on your skin and body and it looks great displayed on your bathroom counter top. Bee & Bear’s Handmade has taken this into consideration and has made a range of products that look lovely and smell and feel lovely too.
Bee & Bear’s Handmade with Britney will be attending this weeks Holiday Market organized by Portobello West on December 7th and 8th. Britney is not only excited about the market, but also the chance to share her clearly amazing products with all the customers and holiday goers. “I am so excited to be part of Portobello West’s Holiday Market because I love the excitement of Christmas in the city. Living further out in the Fraser Valley, it’s always so exciting to make a trip downtown and see everything so lit up and festive for the holiday season. I’m so thrilled to take part in one of Vancouver’s biggest local shopping attractions. Seeing the products of other local artisans and meeting people who can share experiences is always the best part of selling at markets, and it will all be enhanced by the magic of the Christmas season.”
Whether it is a gift to spread the love to a friend or family member, or a treat after a long cold day at work, Bee & Bear’s Handmade has got you covered, with products made with love, care and a little slice of home.
SHOP Bee & Bear’s Handmade on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/BeeAndBearsHandmade
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PIN Bee & Bear’s Handmade on Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/bfree91/bee-bear-s-handmade/