Meet Sweet Bee Sisters: An All Natural Skin Care Business

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sweet Bee Sisters and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sweet Bee Sisters, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
Our parents started beekeeping in 2009 as a hobby. After our first honey harvest, we noticed that we had a bunch of left over beeswax that we didn’t want to throw away. During that same time, our mom had heard about a Christmas marketplace just for kids at the Young Americans Center for Financial Education. She saw an opportunity for her young kids to start a business and have a new experience. We all started researching what you can make out of beeswax and we came across lip balm. We loved the idea of making lip balm, so we bought all of the supplies we needed, including tubes, caps, labels, and the necessary oils. We experimented for a couple weeks with our recipe and by the end of it, we had made enough peppermint lip balms to sell at the Christmas marketplace. We were successful (or at least successful for 5, 7, and 9 year olds) after the marketplace, so we continued the business and expanded our product line over the next few years. 

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
There are a lot of things that set us apart from other businesses similar to ours. We are three sisters who own an all-natural skin care business and we started when we were just 5, 7, and 9 years-old. I think our age and our story is what helped us get to where we are today. There are lots of kids out there who start businesses but they either don’t have a story behind it or they don’t preserver through the tough times. I’m not saying that we have the most exciting story or that we’ve always made the right decisions to get through the hard parts of business, but I am saying that helps. People want to hear about why kids started a business and why they are passionate about what they do. People want to support kids because they know that kids are our future. People want to be inspired by kids who have done amazing things and who have experienced hardships to get to where they are. The thing is, kids will need the support of adults and mentors in order to actually continue what they started. So many times, we thought about quitting the business because of school or sports, but every time, we had people come alongside us and encourage us to keep going. And I am so glad they did! We would not be here today if we didn’t receive the support that we did. I want the world to know to encourage the kids in your life to be creative and to chase after their passions and their dreams. If I’m being honest, Sweet Bee Sisters isn’t a very special brand. There are many other brands similar to it out there. It’s the story and the heart behind the business that matters! I’m so excited that I am able to use the platform that Sweet Bee Sisters has given me, to encourage other young people to start businesses. I want kids all over the world to be empowered to do great things! So, don’t look down on your kids because they have really great ideas! All they need is a little encouragement to keep going.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Colorado is arguably the best state in the country. It has some of the most diverse terrain of any of the other states, including plains out east, the city-life of Denver, and the Rocky Mountains. I am a Colorado native and I love my state. If you’re looking for a fun time in Denver, I would recommend going out to eat somewhere near 16th Street Mall and enjoying all of the people and movement of city life. If you’re visiting in the summer, a Rockies game at Coors Field is always a must! To finish off the evening, my favorite thing to do is go to Little Man Ice Cream and enjoy their delicious Mexican Chocolate ice cream. If you’re looking for more of the adventure side of Colorado, there are hundreds of hiking, biking, and climbing trails all over the mountains. Many of them are accessible within a 45-minute drive of downtown Denver. Of course, the mountains have vastly different offerings during the different seasons. If you’re coming in the summer, there are concerts at Red Rocks Amphitheater, beautiful parks, and hours of exploration through the mountains. If you’re coming in the winter, I would recommend taking a day or two to ski or snowboard. The ski resorts of Colorado are some of the best ones you’ll ever find. Also, if the weather holds out, you could be skiing on the 4th of July some years! Fall trips to Colorado are some of the most beautiful vacations you’ll ever have. The aspens changing colors can often times be seen from space! If thats not on your bucket list yet, it should be!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Our business has only survived this long because of the support we have received from others. The Young Americans Center for Financial Education has been a constant supported of our business since the beginning. Each person on their staff has always been so encouraging of not only the growth of our business but also the growth of each of us individually. They have taught us how to handle money and how to interact with customers. They also help to create a wonderful network of people and look for every opportunity that will help us succeed in business. Most importantly, they always treated us with respect and showed us that kids can know just as much about business as someone three times their age. There was never a time in our relationship with the Young Americans Center, where they didn’t believe in us. The other people who always encouraged and believed in us was our parents. We probably would have quit the business by now had it not been for the support of our loving mom and dad. They’re always ready to give ideas and help out wherever it’s needed. Whether that be driving us around town for events, helping in the production process, or simply being there for us to talk to. I don’t take all the help we’ve received lightly, and I hope that each person who has guided us along the way, knows that they are needed and appreciated.

Website: sweetbeesisters.com
Instagram: @sweetbeesisters
Linkedin: Sweet Bee Sisters
Twitter: @sweetbeesisters
Facebook: @sweetbeesisters

Image Credits
J. Santala Photography MALKA Media