When it comes to joining a sustainable lifestyle, it is always better to start with small steps. After all, it involves a bit of researching on the best eco-products. But the truth is that we sometimes don’t have so much time on our hands to find the quality and effective eco-options.
That is when Ocean and Bee can help you out in this task by working with the latest luxury and boutique brands. Whether you want to cut down on your plastic waste, be a little bit greener in the home, and are unsure where to start Read now the interview with one of its founders Hannah.
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Midlands Traveller: Tell me a little bit about your background in business.
Hannah: We launched Ocean & Bee in September 2021 after months of research and preparation. We are both working mums who really wanted to live a greener lifestyle and were aware of the increasing trend toward greenwashing.
We both love the ease and joy of a subscription box arriving at the door but found the extra waste jarring and were finding it increasingly time-consuming to check whether businesses were delivering on eco promises.
We knew we weren’t alone in not having the time to read through huge ingredients lists. So, we wanted to make it easy to find all the eco essentials under one roof and so Ocean & Bee was born!
MT: How did you come up with the idea of a business like yours?
H: We both loved the idea of eco subscription boxes, and that’s how it started but now we’re excited that the store is expanding beyond subscription and gift boxes to include all sorts of luxuries and eco essentials.
MT: What is the main inspiration for your boxes?
H: We love discovering like-minded independent businesses who are passionate about what they produce and genuinely care about the planet, who are driven by passion, not profit.
Curating our products and finding new makers at our favourite business meetings! Our inspiration really does come from these amazing makers and their beautiful products.
MT: Tell me about Ocean & Bee’s mission?
H: We want to give our customers a way to shop ethically that doesn’t compromise on quality or luxury. We want to make buying ethically hassle-free – make it easier to shop mindfully with products that don’t compromise on luxury or quality.
MT: What is unique about your business?
H: I think what makes our business unique is how we showcase small, independent makers, and of course, everything we stock is vegan, free from single-use plastics and palm oil.
MT: What is your kind of clientele?
H: Our customers are like us – busy, hardworking, and who care about the planet and what ends up in the earth and oceans.
They want to spend their hard-earned money with small businesses for whom their patronage means the world, instead of faceless corporations.
MT: What are the challenges of a business like yours?
H: The main challenge for us is the time! There’s so much that goes into running a business and trying to juggle family life and our day jobs is a challenge. We love Ocean & Bee though, so it really is worth it.
MT: What are the rewards of providing a service like yours?
H: It’s so rewarding when you see your hard work paying off, watching people visit and purchase from our store, watching our followers grow and word of mouth spread.
It’s also incredibly rewarding to contribute to a greener economy and inspire people to buy better.
MT: What advice would you give to someone thinking about starting a business like yours?
H: I think the main thing people need to fight against is their own self-doubts. People tend to have so many amazing ideas that never see the light of day.
Maybe it’s because of a lack of confidence, or just a feeling that it’s not for you. If you really want to make something happen, just take that first small step and make the idea in your head become reality.
The internet is full of tools that can help you. There’s a blog or YouTube video for pretty much everything you can think of! You don’t need to be an expert. We have learned so much this year and we are still learning.
MT: What are the next steps to Ocean & Bee?
H: We want to continue to find new makers, and expand our product line. Eventually, we would like our shop to have all of life’s essentials under one roof.
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