Oh my word you girls are going to absolutely plutz when you read this! During your overseas trips (You saucy little devil you!) you no doubt came across the Burt’s Bees products, and totally fell in love with them (The lip balm is simply gorgeous!) Then you came back home and thought “Hang on a tick (TIK), where is Burty woo in South Africa?”

Well old Burty boy was not in South Africa, and then Woolworths spotted a money making opportunity and decided to import Burt’s Bees into South Africa and into your life.

Those of you like me, who have an intricate knowledge of the natural beauty industry (Jokes okes, what time does the game start?) will obviously know Burt’s Bees. I mean they are awesome. Those of you not in the know should feel like idiots, because every cool city kid knows Burt’s Bees! For the complete and utter plebbs of society, let’s take a look at the history of Burt’s Bees (Is it wrong that I’m excited about this little history lesson we’re about to take?)

Let’s have a look over the history of Burt’s Bees, which is now available in Cape Town, and South Africa:

How it all began in 1984 (The year before thine birth)

In 1984 in Maine, Roxanne Quimby and Burt Shavits teamed up selling candles made from the beeswax created as a by product of Burt’s honey business. At the first craft market, they sod $200 worth, and by the end of the first year sales had climbed to $20000. Their fine attention to detail was an integral part of their success. For instance, Roxanne noticed that women always turned a candle over to look at the bottom before purchasing it. Roxanne then knew that ensuring that each candle was cut to a fine finish, especially on the bottom, would signal to consumers that the candles were of the ultimate quality.

1989

Word about the candles started spreading and reached New York, where in 1989 the Zona boutique ordered hundreds of candles, and production was expanded. Forty employees were hired and a shop was set up in an abandoned bowling alley. Around this time, Roxanne happened upon a 19th century book of homemade personal care recipes and that’s when Burts Bee’s really began.

1991

In 1991, a year after they incorporated, half a million candles were being produced every year, as well as natural soaps and perfume cooked up on gas stoves. That’s when lip balm was added to the line, and to this day is the best selling product in the Burt’s Bees line.

1993

As the product line expanded and more orders came in, the company needed new premises. North Carolina was chosen because it was business and community friendly. At this time, the decision was also made to focus the entire product line on personal care.

1994

Burt’s Bees set up shop in an 18000 square foot former garment factory in Creedmoor in 1994, and the first retail store was opened in 1995 in nearby Chapel Hill. At this time, Burt’s Bees had 50 products, some of which were being distributed as far away as Japan.

1998

Annual sales had reached $8 million by this time and more than 100 items were available in the product line which were being sold in over 4000 outlets. In 1998, the travel sized natural skin care and hair care products became instant best sellers. In 1999, the first body lotions using natural milk and sugar enzymes were introduced, as well as a line of bath products made with sea ingredients.

1999

Product lines and profits had now grown and Burt’s Bees had relocated to a 105,000 square foot site in Durham and soon expanded that to 136,000 square feet.In 2002 and 2003, the first toothpaste and shampoo range was launched, as well as the Baby Bee product line.

2007

These days, Burt’s Bees are the leading manufacturer of earth friendly natural personal care products, with sales topping $250 million. Over 150 products are manufactured in categories such as face care, body care, hair care, lip care, men’s grooming, baby care and outdoor remedies.

Burt’s Bees remain committed to the environment with recycled and recyclable packaging and nature safe manufacturing processes…

I’ll end it there, but if you’d like to read up more on Burt’s Bees, and their fantastic products (Girls, I know you’re DYING to see them!) then simply click HERE for the website.

And click HERE for some interesting facts via WickedPedia

Let’s have a look at some of the products in the range which you will find adorable, and usable! Like me…I’m adorable, and you can use me. Abuse me. Thrill me babes.

Wash your toned body

Moisturise your very toned body

And we cannot forget your lips my angel (Facial)

*silence*

Note the lip balm contains lanolin (Lanolin? Like sheeps wool!)

I trust you feel more informed right now, and you feel closer to me than ever for delivering this information, right through your eyes and into your very sexual and devious mind.

It’s the least I could do in this relationship.

Oh and also, the reason I found out about Burt’s Bees is because I have had a fascination with the brand and it’s history (Read that Wikipedia link) for quite some time now, and then I was following this MILF through Woolworths at the V&A Waterfront on Sunday afternoon by myself when out the corner of my tear filled eyes, I spotted Burt’s Bees.

And so this piece was born, just as my first child will soon be born with Gisele Bundchen once she divorces that dude who does exercise or something for a living.

That is of course unless you and me have kids before that. Either way, I’m cool with it.

So to find Burt’s Bees products in Cape Town, and to find Burt’s Bees products in South Africa, then simply head down to Woolworths.

Let your fingers do the walking in the yellow…wait, that’s not Woolworths tag line.

*Oooooh look! Shiny!*

– Mind wonders off to play with the unicorn –

Sean Lloyd

Editor