Meet Tessa Gamble | Bee Product Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tessa Gamble and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tessa, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My brother, Oliver Gamble, and I, Tessa Gamble, started the Gamble Family Apiary in the fall of 2020. Together, and as a family, we have been keeping bees for 8 years. The Gamble Family Apiary, as a business, came to fruition after I created some body care products as gifts for the rest of the family. I created a lip balm and a lotion bar out of the bees wax harvested from our hives. As a family of entrepreneurial thinkers, everyone decided that we need manufacture more of the product and start selling it.

My brother and I viewed this as an opportunity for our family to continue to spend time together, create a small business, that one day maybe a younger family member may become interested in. The time spent together working the bees, harvesting honey, manufacturing products, and even selling has been truly invaluable. The Gamble family values family time above all else. There are 3 generations working on the business.

It has been interesting to see how each of our strengths has played an important role in making the GFA as successful as we have been. I have created all the original recipes, created the labels and logos, and done much of the organization of the actual business. Oliver could sell ice to an Eskimo, he is an amazing sales man, and has gotten our products in dozens of retail outlets. Our parents, John and Suzanne, are an invaluable source of knowledge and business experience. Oliver’s wife, Heather, and my fiancé, Jeff, have been work horses through this whole process, always willing to help, along with the youngest generation.

I never thought that the GFA would become as successful as it has, honestly it baffles me when I think about it. Starting from a very small production of family gifts, to having our products in dozens of retail outlets.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The Gamble Family Apiary is a small local business in Durango, Colorado. We strive to provide the highest quality bee products. Our locally handcrafted products contain limited ingredients. Our honey is local and raw, providing a natural sweetener as well as health benefits.

The bee keeping business is challenging, managing a wild insect to produce products for you can be very challenging. Working with the bees is my favorite part of the business. I enjoy the science behind apiculture, and learning something new each time you open a hive. Over the years my brother and I have become an excellent team when working the hives, we can work efficiently and in tandem.

We enjoy teaching bee keeping and love to have new people who are interested come and look in a bee hive. My now fiancé, Jeff, had never been around bees, but has taken a interest in the bees, after a season of watching he is now very hands on with the hives. One of the best things to see is a small child in a bee suit, fascinated with the bees, getting their gloved hands on the frames, and holding the bees, it is a magical moment.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Durango has so many fun adventures. Obviously, if we had a friend coming to town, and they had any interest, we would have them put on a bee suit and have live bee handling experience. Durango has an amazing food scene, after a stroll around the downtown area, some window shopping, we would stop for a delicious meal at one of our favorite local restaurants. A hike in the backcountry, a drive through the mountains, a soak in the hot springs, a float down the Animas river, or a fishing excursion are all other wonderful options. There is a reason why Durango is a tourist destination, there is plenty of fun to be had for everyone! It is always fun to spot our products on the shelfs of the local stores on our adventures around Southwest Colorado and the Four Corners.

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?
The whole Gamble Family Apiary team deserves all of the credit for this business being so successful, we are a true team and all pitch in to make it happen.

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gamblefamilyapiary

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100072294224063

Other: gamblefamilyapiary@gmail.com