Today we’d like to introduce you to Bee Joy Espana
Hi Bee Joy, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Simple Alchemy Co began with a weekend stay in a converted school bus, where my now-spouse and business partner, Col, and I realized our deep connection after eight years of friendship. Our shared interests in environmental sustainability and both having highly sensitive skin led us to start this business. Frustrated by the misleading claims of large corporations, we decided to create something genuine on our own. Col had extensive knowledge and practice in cold process soapmaking, while I brought many years of creative entrepreneurial experience.
We combined our efforts and started developing our product line. Col had been holding onto the name Simple Alchemy for a while, and it felt perfect for what we wanted to achieve. We officially launched on August 1, 2018, with a handful of products and some basic branding I designed myself. Initially, we sold mostly to friends and family.
Today, Simple Alchemy Co offers 18 products with more on the way and is available in over 100 shops across the country. We’ve worked with professionals to develop a fresh brand identity, sold thousands of units, and continue to grow. It’s been an incredible journey, and we’re excited about what’s next!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Some aspects of our journey have come easily. We thrive during the research and development stages and love working together to perfect our formulas. Creating products feels natural to us. However, we face challenges in the realm of capitalism. While it’s easy for us to sell what we make because we genuinely believe in it, our heightened sense of justice, as neurodivergent individuals, makes it difficult to focus on turning a profit. If it were up to us, we’d prefer to give everything away for free or barter.
Neither Col nor I come from money, and we’ve never received a bank loan. It might sound cliché, but we truly started Simple Alchemy Co from scratch with next to nothing. We’re still here, despite the pandemic, thanks to some incredible friends who believed in us enough to support us financially. We are beyond grateful to them.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a lifelong artist and photographer with a deep passion for visual arts. If it involves creating or designing, I’m all in—unless it’s knitting. Please don’t ask me to knit. As a multi-passionate creative, I have extensive experience across various areas. I’m proficient in Adobe and Affinity programs and particularly enjoy working on brand identities and packaging. I also specialize in illustration, and have designed numerous stickers and stationery. My background includes over a decade as a professional wedding photographer, and I continue to do sessions for friends and family, along with all the product photography for Simple Alchemy Co. Additionally, I’ve designed several websites, including our current one at simplealchemyco.com.
What I’m most proud of is my ability to arrange elements organically so that they appear balanced without being symmetrical or forced. While it might seem like a small detail, this skill is crucial across all my work. Whether it’s arranging pixels on a screen, setting up a product display for a market, or styling an array of soaps for a photograph, my instinct for placement has proven to be an invaluable asset.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I don’t think so!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://simplealchemyco.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplealchemyco/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SimpleAlchemyCo/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@simplealchemyco
Image Credits
@beejoyphoto