Christmas 2024 Newsletter
Looking back on 2024
As 2024 draws near to a close and Christmas is fast approaching, it's time to reflect and celebrate. Christmas 2024 is only 7 weeks away now. Time has flown by. The weather is still a bit rainy here in Sydney at the moment. Some days have been warm and we look forward to beach weather soon.
Looking back on 2024 there have been so many ups and downs. Lots of recovery during my cancer treatment left me tired and a bit off. I found time to learn and read and explore digital marketing.
2024 was a year to take stock and look ahead. The New Year 2025 will be more organised and I will prioritise health, learning and wellbeing.
Christmas 2024
How many times has Christmas crept up on you? As Christmas 2024 is so close, why not get ahead of the gift buying rush? I have been busy making some beautiful Australian made Christmas gift beeswax candles. Stock is already low and I will need to make some more.
Pure beeswax comes from Bee Chillin Honey and Bee Happy Apiaries. Each beeswax batch has its own colour. So you might wonder how this happens? In nature, there are variations in beeswax colour, due to where the bees have foraged. The best part is that both batches smell sweet from the flowers of the Australian bush. They're gorgeous.
Imagine, Christmas Day with friends and family gathered around the Christmas tree. There is the warm aroma of beeswax candles glowing on the mantlepiece. They will make a beautiful touch to your Christmas Day celebration. Get your Christmas Beeswax candles here. Be sure to explore my website to find more Christmas gifts for her or for him.
Community Engagement
Footprints Ecofestival 2024 was a fantastic day provided by Inner West Council. I met many like-minded people who enjoyed trying my botanical skincare. They loved my eco-friendly candles, textiles and ceramics too. Customers and visitors to Ecofestival appreciate local and thoughtful products.
Still to come is Roseville College Christmas Market. I’m looking forward to meeting the parents and students of Roseville College. This market is on 29th November, 2024.
Returning to Flour Mill Markets Summer Hill has been fun too. It's great to meet the locals.
I’ve met many lovely customers, listened to their feedback and shared stories. A chat is a great way to understand what people are looking for and what interests them. Their questions help me to see their perspective.
The economy has been a quite stagnant. I have noticed that some Market stalls are being less frequented by customers. The cost of living has been rising too making it hard for customers and myself. So I've been puting my efforts into learning how to improve my website and products. Reading and keeping myself up to date has been a pastime that I’ve enjoyed very much.
I have been working on many facets of my website including:
- Improving my photography (still a long way to go)!
- Website product, blog and content updates
- Regularly posting on social media
- Learning and applying email marketing strategy
- Technical updates like changes made by Google in the ever-changing World of e-Commerce
- YouTube updates
So much to do! In fact, there’s so much that I started using a planning tool. Office 365 Planner has helped me to see what’s ahead and behind me. Ticking off one thing on my list is a great feeling. And knowing that I have written it down in Planner keeps me in check. It also helps to relieve the stress of thinking about all the things that I have to do.
Eco-Friendly Innovations
As well as the Marketing aspects of Busy Bee Blossom, I’ve been working on creative updates to my products. By listening to my customers I have gained insights into how to improve my products. My dear friend Christina helps to keep me in check with my thought processes. Her keen eye is very helpful.
I have updated the formulation on some of my products like Honey Argan Lip Balm and my facial masks. I found that my lip balm needed less beeswax in the formulae to give it a nicer consistency. I also now have a beautiful, embossed label on the lid. This will make it easier to remember for your next purchase after the package has been recycled. How could I not think of this in the first place?
Camellia Ultra Hydrating Face Oil is another product with improvements made too. I have added more cosmetic grade botanical oils that help to improve the lipid layers of facial skin. The plant-based oils added include jojoba and oat seed oils.
I’m keen to make more handmade textiles too. I love to sew. It’s such a nice feeling to make a garment from start to finish. I wanted an apron for my workshop on facial massage so I made a nice denim apron. I thought about how it could fit a universal sizing, so I made the neck and waist straps adjustable. A simple design improvement can make a big difference!
Some of my favourite fashion labels have gone away from natural textiles. I find that disappointing as natural fibres look and feel so beautiful. I chose cotton denim for my apron which is versatile, cool and looks great. It’s slow fashion indeed. I went back to my school days and earlier when I learnt to embroider. I drew a calendula flower on the pocket and filled it in with colourful stitches. Looks nice too.
Customer Favourites
Customer reviews are very much appreciated. They help others to build trust in my online business and feel confident to buy a product online.
I appreciate the trouble that customers have taken and the time that they have given to write a review.
Here are some of my favourite reviews from 2024:
Behind the Scenes
Some days are for catching up in my garden. And other days are for one of the many tasks listed on my planner. Today I spent a few hours writing this blog. I should say that my occupation is as an accountant. Working on Busy Bee Blossom has stretched my creative muscle in so many ways. Continuous improvement is all I can hope to achieve!
Collaborations and Partnerships
In the future, I will collaborate with a friend who sells Monet products. We regularly catch up and chat about our online experiences. By creating a video of our skincare chats, we can provide you with some insights into our World. Stay tuned for this.
Workshops and Events
I will continue my facial massage workshops. They are a fun way for customers to enjoy relaxing with coffee and cake while letting the face mask treatment work. My masks have an improved formula that will be sure to please.
Milestones and Achievements
My Honey Argan Lip Balm was finalist in Clean and Conscious Awards 2024 in the category of lip balm. This has made me very happy. It was a great achievement and has created a better online presence and increased my visibility online. I'm very proud of this achievement.
Looking Ahead to 2025
In 2025 I will be keeping myself on track with online and product updates. I will be more organized and productive as a result.🤞
I will be making more molds and using them to create unique beeswax candle figurines. Watch this creative space.
My sewing will stretch out in new ways in 2025. I will create more handmade textiles and embellish with embroidery. Please tell me if there's something that you would like me to make that will help you in your wellbeing.
Creativity will blossom in 2025.
On my healing journey I will be more organized with meals and create more healthy and regular meals at home. As well, I will encourage my son to increase his healthy habits in 2025. Mind and body will be my priority in 2025.
Of course, I will play more guitar. Playing guitar takes me away to a happy place.🎶
Gratitude and Thank You
During 2024 I had cancer treatment. I'm hopeful that the result is good now. But I will need regular surveilance over the next 5 years. It’s been quite a challenge working through my cancer therapy. I am thankful for the treatment provided by the doctors, nurses and staff at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse. They were amazing.
My heartfelt thank you to customers and friends of Busy Bee Blossom for Christmas 2024. I hope that this newsletter brings some insight into what happens behind the scenes at Busy Bee Blossom. There's so much to it and you form part of it too.
Busy Bee Blossom was a creative wish that I wanted to complete after losing my son, Iain, in 2013.
Busy is for mindfulness and keeping myself in the present moment.
Bee is for the natural things that bring us joy in our World.
Blossom is for Iain and remembering him. He loved beeswax candles and many ideas that come to me remind me of times with Iain.
Love from Louise, Busy Bee Blossom
Last updated 7th November 2024