Blog Post #7 #MillikinSMW17

This blog post is all about an organization and my examination of its story.

For this blog post, I’ve chosen to examine Burt’s Bees. If you’re not familiar, Burt’s Bees makes skin care and beauty products, the most popular being lip balm. Most of the company’s products are made using beeswax or other natural ingredients. Their mission is focused on environmental sustainability and the company focuses on “The Greater Good.” On their website, Burt’s Bees describes themselves as:

…basically a bunch of hands-on, tree-hugging, greased elbow do-gooders. It’s kind of what makes our company special. We think the bees would agree.

In our text, Ann Handley presents ten questions to creating a company’s story. I’ll try and answer them for Burt’s Bees.

1. What is unique about our business? The one thing that I find most unique about Burt’s Bees is their marketing of their sustainability and conservation efforts.
2. What is interesting about how our business was founded? About the founder? Burt’s Bees was founded in 1984 by Roxanne Quimby, an artist, and Burt Shavitz, who sold honey on the side of the road. They met, hit it off, and began making candles together.
3. What problem is our company trying to solve? There are many problems that Burt’s Bees is trying to solve. They want to serve their costumers health and beauty needs and they want to look out for the environment.
4. What inspired our business? Initially, I believe Roxanne and Burt made the candles just for fun! As demand increased, they realized they could make a living off their business.
5. What aha! moments has our company had? In 2008, founder Burt Shavitz was featured in a PSA about Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), which is the sudden death of a colony of bees. With their large platform, Burt’s Bees hoped to make the public aware of a very important issue. Since then, the company has been very involved in the campaign to “Save the Bees.”
6. How has our business evolved? Over the years, Burt’s Bees product line has expanded; the company began as a candle company. In 1991, they began selling lip balm. Since then, the company has added soap, lotion, hair products, make-up, and acne solutions.
7. How do we feel about our business, our costumers, ourselves? As a business, I think Burt’s Bees feels that they are responsible for their environmental impact.
8. What’s an unobvious way to tell our story? Can we look to analogy instead of example? Burt’s Bees tells their story from the lens of a small business. Although it is a very large company and their products are sold in Walmarts and Targets across the country, when you buy a Burt’s Bees product, it feels like you’re buying it from a local vendor.
9. What do we consider normal and boring that other folks would think is cool? Beeswax is one of main ingredients in most of Burt’s Bees products. Beeswax is a natural moisturizer for both skin and hair. People would think that Burt’s Bees’s collection and use of beeswax is very cool and are drawn to their products.
10. How will our company change the world? Burt’s Bees’s focus on “The Greater Good” is how they will change world. The company focuses on sustainable packaging and in their production strives to conserve energy and water.

With a mom and pop shop feel and the power of a multi-million dollar company, Burt’s Bees is dedicated to serving “The Greater Good.” To do this, Burt’s Bees creates great products and is always searching for new ways to give back to the community and environment. Their ingredients, such as beeswax, provide nature’s best nourishment for your lips, skin, and hair.

If you don’t know Burt’s Bees, check them out. You can’t go wrong with the original lip balm!