Honeybee Gardens Review

I've said it before and will DEFINITELY say it again. I LOVE makeup and I love playing around with makeup. Especially eye shadow! I had the opportunity to review for Honeybee Gardens and I like the products they were kind enough to send me!

They sent off the Eye Liner in Belgian Chocolate and the Eye Shadows in Moondust and Martini

I don't LOVE these products, but I do like them!

The Eye Shadows are loose (no protector in there) so when you stick your brush in there it goes EVERYWHERE! It goes on smoothly, but falls to your cheeks, so you get some extra sparkle But it does stay on nicely, and doesn't crease!

The eye liner is very smooth and I really like it. I opted for something besides black for a change and it really makes a difference. It's nice and subtle and isn't like WOW here I am! Black is better for night outings and dates. Brown is perfect for every day use!

True origins of Honeybee Gardens

I started my business, Honeybee Gardens - manufacturer of all natural herbal bath and body care products, in August of 1995. I was 27 years old, and working for an architectural firm. I was also back in college working on an MBA. And I wasn't happy. It had finally sunken-in that I was not born wealthy, I would have to be working for at least the next 35 years of my life, so I'd better do something that gives me some joy.

As with many businesses, my company was created out of a simple need. I married my husband, Randy, not long after graduating from college in 1990. As newlyweds, you begin to learn things about the other person because you now live with them. I soon discovered something about Randy - he hated shaving. His face would become red and irritated with the first swipe of a razor. I used to buy him expensive aftershaves and shaving potions, but nothing seemed to work (some even aggravated the problem). I had been growing and studying herbs for years, and decided to test some of that knowledge in order to save my husband's face. It took time. Randy, acting as guinea pig, sampled formulas on almost a daily basis. One was too gentle. One wasn't as soothing. With each trial, the results were documented. More research ensued. Finally, one day, he proclaimed, "This is it!", and our Herbal Aftershave was born.

But starting a business was not my intention. For years my husband coaxed me to share this wonderful formula with the public. By now, I was making moisturizers, powders and other preparations in addition to the aftershave. I just didn't think this little hobby of mine could take the place of my good paycheck, benefits, etc. But corporate life left much to be desired. After working eight hours a day in sterile, sickly, artificially-lit environments, I routinely retreated to my herb gardens for solace. Nightly, I retired to my library to learn more about these glorious useful plants. It was so soothing to view the lovely pictures of heavenly gardens, while feeding my desire for knowledge. Having an herbal business would be the perfect marriage of my acquired business skills, desire for independence, and love of gardening. Financially though, it just didn't seem like a possibility.

And then it happened. After a particularly exhausting day, my husband looked at me and said, "You're spending all this time working to build and maintain other people's businesses, when you could be building your own." He was right. The next day I called my lawyer and had him start the paperwork. Honeybee Gardens was born.

The first mail order catalog was designed on my home computer, printed on an ink jet printer, and contained only six products. I placed word ads in herb magazines. And requests for my catalogs started coming. After only one year in business, Honeybee Gardens began to receive attention and recognition from well-known authors and herbalists. (Let me note, that at this point, I still had my part time job with the architectural firm). The Summer '96 catalog introduced over 25 new products, and HBG was featured in the local newspaper (ya know, the one I used to work for!). By 1997, things were starting to get serious. I knew that in order to take the next step, I had to make an investment. My husband gave me money from his retirement fund (with the words, "Why invest in some big company, when I can invest in yours"). I hired graphic artists to create the Honeybee Gardens logo and implemented professional labeling of my products. A professional catalog, letterhead and business cards were introduced, and credit card acceptance began. I knew my time at the other firm was limited. 1998 brought a web site, national distribution by two major natural product distributors, a design award for my logo, articles in trade publications and an herbal cookbook, expansion of contract manufacturing, private label services and finally full-time employment for me by my own company. By 1999 things were starting to go pretty well. We participated in our first international trade show and landed a huge private label contract with a well-known company. We were also picked up by another national distributor and began distribution in Canada. By the year 2000, we signed on a group of sales reps for the New England area who did a spectacular job, highlighted by getting us more distribution and getting our products into natural grocery chains such as Whole Foods Markets. Also, we picked up more private label work. Perhaps most exciting was a contract at the end of the year with American Airlines to do their in-flight amenities! And on July 1, 2001, Honeybee Gardens  became a corporation. We are gaining market share in the natural body care business, and have a thriving private label practice called Distinctive Identities, Inc., doing large projects for well-known corporate clients. Our work has given the Honeybee Gardens brand world wide exposure.

It wasn't easy...and it's still not easy. I work, literally, from morning 'til night. I can't tell you how many times my husband wakes up at 2:00 a.m., walks into my home office, and peels my face off the keyboard. I miss the twice yearly vacations my husband and I used to take - I just can't be away from HBG that long. That daily jog I used to do with my friends after work - gone. Since my work days are no longer "8 to 5", I find it difficult to just stop working and drive out to meet them. So I bought a treadmill. My husband accuses me of being a workaholic, and I've resolved to address that issue. I plan to exercise regularly, pry myself away from my telephone and computer at least twice a day, delegate responsibility to my employees, and endeavor to have at least one conversation a day that is NOT business related. But there are rewards too. My animals love that I can take them to work with me when they're in the mood. Nobody cares what I'm wearing to work, or if I have make-up on because it's my company and I want everyone to be comfortable. And I'm creating my OWN destiny. It feels so good to finally have my products - which were originally formulated in my KITCHEN - right up there next to those well-known brands....to have people write letters to me thanking me for creating products which are 100% natural and don't cause skin irritation or pollute the environment....to have the possibility of having enough money to make a difference in my community in some way (to give back). When I sit down and think about it, it's really a dream come true.

 

*Disclaimer* I received these products directly from the Company for Review. I was not paid to try out these products!*