Voyage LA Feature
We were recently featured in Voyage LA! Check out the full article:
http://voyagela.com/interview/meet-akira-dann-bee-kitchen-ventura/
"Today we’d like to introduce you to Akira Dann.
Akira, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’ve always been drawn to making things. As a child, my parents really fostered this, giving me a limited budget for new ideas, driving me to the craft store, and encouraging all my projects. Throughout the years, I have filled my free time with various projects like making candles, fermenting food, brewing beer, etc. When I first heard about beeswax wraps three years ago, I immediately made some for myself. They didn’t turn out great, but I kept revising my methods until I got it right. Friends saw me using the wraps and expressed interest, so I started making more for gifts! Eventually, I hopped on Etsy, and things took off from there.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It’s always been difficult juggling my full-time job while keeping up with orders, social media, and all the other demands that go into building a small business. Having multiple passions can be hard to juggle but it’s also a gift.
Please tell us about Bee Kitchen.
At Bee Kitchen, we make and sell reusable beeswax food wrap. It’s a cotton-based sheet that is coated in a mixture of beeswax, coconut oil, and pine tree resin. They’re used as an eco-friendly replacement for plastic wrap, but reusable and washable. Plus way easier to use than plastic wrap. The best part of the job is definitely picking out beautiful block printed fabric to use! Our wraps are so much prettier than plastic. They really dress up the fridge.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I have definitely learned a lot! I would love to have started the business with more capital for hiring. To me, that means maybe waiting another year to save before launching. But at the end of the day, I like the slower growth style, as I think it will make us more stable long term. Having to go it solo also gave me a good idea of what I’m bad at and need to hire for!"