Small Business Rebranding
Preferred learners
- Anywhere
- Academic experience or paid work
Categories
Skills
Project scope
- What is the main goal for this project?
-
As we continue to grow and evolve, our original plans don't quite fit with where we're heading next. We're exploring options for restructuring and rebranding. Here are a few of the tasks we're looking to accomplish as part of this project:
- Rename to reflect our new direction
- Come up with a new branding strategy including logo, updated packaging, updated website, updated social media/newsletter strategy
- Develop a strategy and plan for new product launches, blog posting, social media and newsletter schedule, podcast, and more
- Update our packaging to reflect the quality of our products
At the end of this project, we're looking forward to growing our reach with a more international friendly brand reflecting the quality of our products.
Personal Background
I grew up in rural southern Alberta where I worked on the family farm as well as at a local apiary. Working at the apiary helped me get over my fear of bees (kind of). Yes, I was afraid of bees when I started working with them. I came to Calgary for university.
During my studies, I volunteered to make rolled beeswax candles. I loved it so much, I found a beeswax sheet supplier so I could make more. The result was way too many candles to burn in a reasonable amount of time. When I started selling the candles on Kijiji, I found many people had a hard time finding beeswax sheets. Something so simple shouldn’t be so hard to find and access! Thus, I started carrying beeswax sheets.
Fast forward a couple years. I decided to try my hand at running a business. I knew I could put my software engineering to use to help people find what they needed online! From there, things expanded. I started offering supplies including solid beeswax, wicks, and more. I started to teach workshops. I also had fun experimenting and grew the product line.
I love sharing my knowledge of bees and beeswax with others. It’s important to respect the process from the hive to the finished product. It’s not a huge leap to bring art and science together, and I love highlighting the interdependence.
There are two things that make my day. First, I love the excitement of a customer who has finally found what they’ve been looking for. Second, it’s priceless to teach someone to make a candle and see how proud they are of their creation. It’s especially satisfying when they tell me how non-artistic they are to start.
Since coming to Calgary, I have been able to explore many new areas of interest including yoga. I’ve also gained better access to the fine and performing arts. Music is a huge part of my life and I teach and play flute as often as possible as a soloist and in ensembles.
- What is the main goal for this project?
-
As we continue to grow and evolve, our original plans don't quite fit with where we're heading next. We're exploring options for restructuring and rebranding. Here are a few of the tasks we're looking to accomplish as part of this project:
- Rename to reflect our new direction
- Come up with a new branding strategy including logo, updated packaging, updated website, updated social media/newsletter strategy
- Develop a strategy and plan for new product launches, blog posting, social media and newsletter schedule, podcast, and more
- Update our packaging to reflect the quality of our products
At the end of this project, we're looking forward to growing our reach with a more international friendly brand reflecting the quality of our products.
Personal Background
I grew up in rural southern Alberta where I worked on the family farm as well as at a local apiary. Working at the apiary helped me get over my fear of bees (kind of). Yes, I was afraid of bees when I started working with them. I came to Calgary for university.
During my studies, I volunteered to make rolled beeswax candles. I loved it so much, I found a beeswax sheet supplier so I could make more. The result was way too many candles to burn in a reasonable amount of time. When I started selling the candles on Kijiji, I found many people had a hard time finding beeswax sheets. Something so simple shouldn’t be so hard to find and access! Thus, I started carrying beeswax sheets.
Fast forward a couple years. I decided to try my hand at running a business. I knew I could put my software engineering to use to help people find what they needed online! From there, things expanded. I started offering supplies including solid beeswax, wicks, and more. I started to teach workshops. I also had fun experimenting and grew the product line.
I love sharing my knowledge of bees and beeswax with others. It’s important to respect the process from the hive to the finished product. It’s not a huge leap to bring art and science together, and I love highlighting the interdependence.
There are two things that make my day. First, I love the excitement of a customer who has finally found what they’ve been looking for. Second, it’s priceless to teach someone to make a candle and see how proud they are of their creation. It’s especially satisfying when they tell me how non-artistic they are to start.
Since coming to Calgary, I have been able to explore many new areas of interest including yoga. I’ve also gained better access to the fine and performing arts. Music is a huge part of my life and I teach and play flute as often as possible as a soloist and in ensembles.
- What tasks will learners need to complete to achieve the project goal?
-
No deliverables exist for this project.
- How will you support learners in completing the project?
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We value the contribution of everyone who works with us, and we don't want to stifle your creativity! Our mentorship and supervision style tends to be hands off valuing individual contributions and new ideas. However, we are always available to answer questions and provide guidance as needed. Ideally, we love working with people who are not afraid to jump in to get things done while asking questions as needed. At the beginning of our relationship, we like to have a meeting to determine what you'd like to get out of the project and see how you like to work. From there, we can schedule regular checkin meetings (if you like a set schedule) or agree to meet as needed depending on your work style.
About the company
- https://yycwax.com
- 0 - 1 employees
- Retail, Agriculture, Consumer goods & services
YYC Beeswax is a Calgary-based company offering a range of ready-made small batch beeswax products and educational opportunities.
We exist to (re)connect people with their creativity and the beauty of nature. Growing up in rural Alberta, our founder was fortunate to live close to nature and observe the beauty of the Alberta prairies. As YYC Beeswax grows and evolves, we are getting closer and closer to balancing the availability of art in the city and the rural beauty of nature. Every product we make and each time we educate, we aim to merge these two.
YYC Beeswax offers a variety of products with one rule – every product must contain something harvested from a beehive or themed accordingly. From candles to our extremely popular lip balm and food wraps to DIY supplies, you can tell we have fun creating. In addition to offering products, we also run workshops in which we make candles and teach our participants a bit about bees.