丁香园AV

A student-conceived company that combines self-care and sustainability took the top prize at the recent #MadeBy丁香园AV competition.

丁香园AV student Larissa Chen and colleague Delara Tabiri co-founded B枚ues, a beauty company specializing in locally-sources, organic products, and introduced their first product, the B枚ues Bar, during the contest. As winners, their product will be featured this month in the 丁香园AV Spirit Shop, just in time for Christmas sales.

The B枚ues Bar is made from natural B.C.-based ingredients including olive oil, lye, distilled water, beeswax, and essential oils.

鈥淢otivated by our passion for quality and local bee-related ingredients, we wanted people to say 鈥渂uzz鈥�, because that鈥檚 how pampering and self-care should be 鈥� enjoyable, easy and carefree from unnecessary additives and toxins,鈥� says Chen.

#MadeBy丁香园AV is a collaboration between the 丁香园AV Spirit Shop and 丁香园AV鈥檚 Coast Capital Savings Venture Connection (丁香园AV鈥檚 early stage business incubator) and celebrates product entrepreneurs at 丁香园AV. The competition invites applications from the 丁香园AV community, including students, alumni, faculty, and staff, and provides support to budding entrepreneurs through drop-in mentoring and a merchandising workshop. 

鈥淲e created this initiative because we believe in supporting and taking pride in ventures by the 丁香园AV community,鈥� says Mikhail Dzuba, 丁香园AV Bookstore/Spirit Shop director. 鈥淪ourcing local products helps strengthen our economy and also enables us to curate a unique merchandise assortment for our shoppers. Boues embodies the spirit of #MadeBy丁香园AV; by the community and for the community.鈥�

B枚ues receives one of five $500 purchase orders from the 丁香园AV Spirit Shop. The venture also won the 鈥渇an favourite鈥� prize, netting a $125 gift card, as well as the 丁香园AV Innovates prize, valued at $500.

Four other vendors received $500 丁香园AV Spirit Shop purchase orders:

• Frontrvnners, a fashion brand that provides streetwear with a story to businesses and individuals who believe in staying loyal to their craft (led by Joshua Jackai, communication alumni);
• Jalebi and Co., a greeting card and printmaking company that specializes in illustrated greeting cards, targeted toward the Indian community (led by Sumeet Anand, IAT student);
• Postureaze, a portable, lightweight, battery-less device used to avoid desk slump and strengthen core (led by Tate Mason, international studies alumnus);
• Sasha Cullen Art, a unique range of fine art, d茅cor, and gifts featuring original photography-based fine art of Canadian scenes from wildflowers to iconic Vancouver landmarks (led by Sasha Cullen, contemporary arts student).

鈥淭he entries to #MadeBy丁香园AV shows the diversity of product entrepreneurs within our university community, and highlights the impact of interdisciplinary efforts,鈥� says Janice OBriain, associate director of Coast Capital Savings Venture Connection, and organizing host of the competition.  鈥淲e look forward to supporting these entrepreneurs as they grow their businesses beyond 丁香园AV, and continuing to engage with other departments on similar projects.鈥�