Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Craig. Lauren shares her story with us below:
Humble hive Homemade is a one-woman-owned and operated business run out of Lauren’s own home. Lauren began making homemade cosmetics & personal care items when she found out she was pregnant with her first child. She became disillusioned with the products she had been using for herself and her family. The more she looked into the ingredients utilized, the more determined she became to craft a better option. Everything we put on our bodies is absorbed by our bodies, and so Lauren went out in search of a safer solution. Slowly but surely, she developed recipes for each product, and soon, friends began asking to purchase the items she was making. Lauren is incredibly passionate about offering others toxin-free, sustainable products that people can feel good about using. She wants to share the high-quality products she’s been making for her family for years with others in the most sustainable, healthy manner for our environment.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t been a smooth road, but because it was a road fueled by passion, it’s at least been ridiculously enjoyable. I received my formal training and education in the field of Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Thus, the world of crafting personal care products and cosmetics was outside of my wheelhouse initially. However, my passion for creating a healthier option for myself and my family fueled all the research and work needed to create effective, beautiful, truly healthy products, both for our bodies and for our environment.
As a one-woman-owned and operated business, I put in countless hours to find the most sustainable, nourishing ingredients and zero-waste packaging. When I began this journey, zero-waste and toxin-free products were still quite a “new” thing, and so it’s been fun sharing what I’ve learned with my customers throughout the years, and it’s been great to see the demand increasing for truly sustainable body care products!
As you know, we’re big fans of Humble hive Homemade. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
At Humble hive Homemade, I work, as one woman, to craft toxin-free cosmetics and personal care items in small batches, with great care. Everything is handmade with organic & fair-trade ingredients and is packaged in zero-waste containers (reusable or compostable). I purchase ingredients that are harvested sustainably and ethically and use everything in its raw form whenever possible, tempering butters myself before adding them to my creations. These are standards that can only be achieved with individual care and dedication. I believe the fact that I operate as a sole woman, owned and operated company sets me apart from larger corporations because I’m not “in it” for profit, greed, and gain. I’m “in” the personal care and cosmetic industry because I believe in my products and believe that we can collectively “do better” for our environment.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you, and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
I have learned to be kinder, more understanding, and to lead with love. When the pandemic hit, I was no longer able to vend at in-person farmers’ markets and maker events. This was economically difficult for both my business and for my morale. Instead of succumbing to negativity, I began writing personal messages of love on the boxes of each and every order that came in through my online store. Doing so helped shift my perspective from one of fear to one of gratitude for each and every customer who continued to support my business. While we’re not “out of the woods” yet with the pandemic, things have certainly resumed some sense of normalcy. However, I continue to write messages of love and positivity on each and every package that goes out each day. It’s a gentle reminder to be grateful for my business and for each of my customers.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://humblehivehomemade.com/
- Instagram: @HumblehiveHomemade
- Facebook: @HumblehiveHomemade
Image Credits :
@iwantbdphotgraphy
