In the 1970s, Roxanne Quimby was trying to live a simpler life – one that rejected the pursuit of material comforts. She moved to Maine, built a cabin in the woods, and lived off the grid. By the mid-80s, she met a recluse beekeeper named Burt Shavitz and offered to help him tend to his bees.
As partners, Roxanne and Burt soon began selling their "Pure Maine Honey" at local markets, which evolved into candles made out of beeswax, and eventually lip balm and skin care products.
Today, Burt's Bees can be found in thousands of grocery stores and drugstores around the U.S.
2:15 - Intro
4:04 - Art school on the west coast
5:55 - Buying land in Maine
8:55 - Living cheaply and becoming a single mom
12:41 - Meeting Burt Shavitz
14:42 - Working with bees
16:40 - Selling honey at farmer’s markets
18:43 - Transitioning to candles
21:32 - A big break
23:32 - Hiring a 14 year-old accountant
24:30 - Managing a business
26:13 - Burt’s reaction to the growth
31:11 - Lip balm
33:38 - Art vs. materialism
35:25 - Managing people
36:22 - Relocating to North Carolina
39:00 - Designing the logo
40:55 - Burt retires and the relationship goes south
42:50 - Exponential growth
44:00 - Leaving the company and becoming very wealthy
45:44 - Land conservation
47:03 - Burt passes away
48:30 - Dealing with criticism and giving away money
50:00 - Seeing Burt’s Bees in public
50:40 - Luck vs. hard work
Zona Boutique
