BCakes LLC
I was introduced to luxury soaps and lotions at a very young age by my mother, and became very interested in trying all kinds of skincare products. I also had a fascination with Honey Bees and beekeeping, and as I grew older I came to understand the disproportionate role these tiny little creatures play in the well being of entire ecosystems. As a keystone species, the health of our environment depends on the health of our Honey Bees, and vice versa.
It is one of my greatest joys in life to care for our Honey Bees. Their altruistic nature is fascinating to observe. They communicate food locations using dance. They share food with each other, and feed and groom their Queen. They care for the brood – the next generation – which requires feeding and keeping them warm.
A healthy hive smells heavenly. Bees keep the inside of a hive as clean as surgical tools. The Queen controls the behavior of the hive by emitting pheromones. To look upon a frame with all its stages of life before me, and the bees working together to perform all of the tasks necessary to the survival of the hive, is truly a religious experience. Every ingredient bees produce is non-toxic and has antibacterial and healing qualities. I am in awe of them. Honey Bees are one of Nature’s greatest gifts!
Honey is created from nectar gathered by foraging bees. It is the food of adult bees, full of nutrients and antibiotic qualities. Both healing and moisturizing, it is used in burn wards when a wound cannot be covered with bandages.
Beeswax is a fat produced by Honey Bees by glands on their abdomen. This lovely substance is used to construct cells to hold their brood and store their
food. It also helps to keep them warm in winter. Beeswax is infused with the energy of the hive, and smells naturally sweet. Beeswax candles burn longer than other waxes, and cleanse the air inside the home. A beeswax candle burns at the same spectrum as the sun.
We’ve spent years planting trees, shrubs and flowers in our garden that benefit Honey Bees, and in return these girls produce nourishing royal jelly, beeswax and honey that help keep our bodies healthy and our skin protected. BCakes products are 100% natural and plant-based, except for the Honey Bee ingredients that come straight from our backyard Honey Bee Sanctuary.
In 2005 I combined my passion for Honey Bees and environmental stewardship with my love of skincare to create products that nourish body and soul. I am always excited to buy new ingredients and “play” with them. I love feeling pampered and I want my products to make my customers feel pampered also. I want to make products that are healthy, chemical-free, and that work. I like making beautiful skin glow!
One of the biggest challenges the handmade business/market is facing is competing with national brands that spend more money on pitching their brand as “clean” and “green” when it’s actually not as healthy as they advertise it to be. “Natural” and “organic” terms are not regulated or clearly defined. Many products listed as natural or organic would not meet consumer standards. A product might be listed as natural or organic when one or more ingredients may not be pesticide free. Chemically laden ingredients, vague ingredient labels, and hidden chemicals are potential problems due to lack of regulation.
An environmentally friendly supply chain is extremely important as well. Environmentally safe packaging, land preservation, sustainable farming and animal treatment are imperative in my opinion. How can a product be worthy if it ravages our environment? The key in protecting our customers, our environment and ourselves is research. Do your homework on every single ingredient you put into a product with your label on it.
Another challenge of the handmade industry is meeting your customers face to face. The ability of a customer to try a product is where rubber hits the road. If you have a good product, the customer will want to take it home. During the
last three years amid the covid crisis, my wholesale customers were not allowing open samples beside my products on the shelves. In-store demos were not allowed. Thank goodness online sales were significantly up. I also thank my lucky stars for loyal repeat clientele.
Opportunities will abound for those who love making excellent products to present to their customers in order to care for themselves and their families. The passion they have will be clear in the products offered. I make sure that my individual products are labeled with every single ingredient contained within. Transparency is vital. You never know when someone has an allergy to something very common. I have customers that have allergies to roses, lavender, chamomile, and nuts, to name a few. People with eczema are allergic to all kinds of scents and who knows what else. I can’t use Retin A. It burns my skin. It is imperative to be truthful in labeling your products.
It is also my responsibility to foster the environment for women young and old to feel beautiful. Providing clean and healthy products that help their skin to glow gives every woman reason to feel good about themselves. I often tell people that ‘BCakes LLC is the only makeup you’ll ever need’!
Local, Cruelty-Free, Sustainable Products
BCakes is committed to using sustainable ingredients and recyclable packaging. We support local producers and fair-trade groups, and we are certified “cruelty-free” by Leaping Bunny.
Supporting Pollinators
We are committed to contributing actively to protecting life on Earth. Each product you purchase furthers this mission by allowing us to continue planting habitats that support pollinators and continued habitat restoration of the James River in Richmond, VA.
Promoting Education
We promote the benefits of Honey Bees through education of the public through our local events, and support of local beekeeping groups. Sign-up for our mailing list to stay informed about the opening of our OSR Gardens Honey Bee Sanctuary!
Self-Care is World Care
Caring for ourselves with compassion and attention through body care rituals nourishes the soul. BCakes enriches each formula with active ingredients making bath time rituals pleasant and healthy, helping us give patience and kindness to the world.
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Life is sweet; thank a Honey Bee!
