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International Women's Day

By Honey Belle

Happy International Women's Day!

We're taking a trip down memory lane to 2012 - when our Founder Iris Cherng's Mother Dr. Tina Hou introduced Iris to her natural home-made remedies.

2012-2013 Dr. Tina Hou begins making her first tinctures, oils, and creams. She would use these natural remedies on her sensitive skin, and she would make massage oils and ointment creams for her patients. She shares with her daughter Iris the power of natural, simple recipes on the skin. Iris seeks her mom's expertise on these natural remedies as she seeks for natural products for her own sensitive skin. In the summer of 2013, Iris was finishing her last year of university and comes home for summer break. She was going through a challenging self-discovery period. She seeks skincare as a form of healing, and her self-care journey begins. She asks her mom to show her how to make her "Dr. Hou's Formula" products, began studying aromatherapy and essential oils, and got to work in the kitchen. During that summer, Iris has a burst of inspiration. She has a vision of a world where people can heal themselves through self-care. That summer Honey Belle was born.2014-2015 Upon finishing her 4 years at undergrad, Iris moves back home with a burning desire of wanting to continue this wellness company. But like any "good asian girl" she felt like she needed to get a job. She mentions, 'I wasn't traditionally taught to go after my dreams.' I was supposed to 'work hard, go to school, and get a good job.' But I am so thankful my mom encouraged me. During her lunch hour, days off, and weekends, Iris would spend time on Honey Belle: studying ingredients, testing recipes in the kitchen, building her product line, sourcing components, and finding ways to share about her mission. Iris starts doing pop-up events, farmers markets, and artisan and craft shows. She recruits her boyfriend Calvin to help her set up the booth and assist with anything she needed help with. Seeing a great response at the events with returning customers coming back for more, her and her boyfriend set out a plan to get the business incorporated to take things on a more serious level. Iris moves out of her mom's kitchen and into her first studio warehouse where she starts to take production and fulfillment on a whole new level.2016-2020 Iris starts to focus on pop-up events. She hires her first production assistant and an event sales team to build her community and customers in the Southern California and Northern California regions. Iris begins to sell her products at local yoga studios, gift shops, fashion boutiques, and independent grocery stores. She expands her team in Southern California - building a micro factory with in-house manufacturing, shipping, sales, and marketing departments. She starts selling her products nationwide and even internationally - selling her products at retailers like Forever 21, Riley Rose, Francesca's, Rue 21, PacSun, Tilly's, Charming Charlies, Neiman Marcus, Urban Outfitters, Ulta, Kohl's, Uncommon Goods, Target, Anthropologie, CVS and to Europe and Asia via iHerb and Feelunique (now Sephora UK).2021-2023 Amidst the pandemic, Iris downsizes the company operations as Honey Belle struggles to survive through financial hardship. After many challenges and adjusting through the 'new normal', Iris remains resilient. She begins to work with a few family-owned production factories and a woman-owned fulfillment warehouse to support Honey Belle's business operations. Iris still works closely with her mom Dr. Tina Hou who is now an advisor, shareholder, and angel investor in the company. Building for the future! Iris continues to seek ways to improve the Honey Belle product line, available offerings, and customer experience. Iris continues to seek ways to build women up, is an active supporter in the female business community, and continues to keep her vision of a more self-loving world strong. Thank you for taking a trip down memory lane with us! We're looking forward to continue building women up and sharing female stories.

Thank you for taking a trip down memory lane with us!

Inspired? Share our story and mission to uplift and remind women to never give up on their dreams 💛

#HappyInternationalWomensDay #WomensHistoryMonth #WomenMakingHistory #HERstory

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