We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Cori Ana Strell. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Cori Ana below.

Cori Ana , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to start by getting your thoughts on what you are seeing as some the biggest trends emerging in your industry

Personal sustainability has fluidly found its way into our lives recently. While some adoptions, like water bottles and Tupperware, are the norm. Other more novel zero waste solutions are becoming increasingly trendier. I see a convergence of the zero waste efforts from an environmental intention merging with popular trends. For example refillable alternatives for perfumes, deodorant, and cosmetics. Bee’s Wraps (which are what I make) have existed in the health food store, and specifically, I’ve seen them at the cheese counters, for some years now. When Bee’s wraps made their way into Trader Joe’s a few years ago, that’s when I saw them become increasingly trendier. It’s just a shame they didn’t work that well ( No shade to Joe).

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I became transfixed with Zero Waste as practiced by Bea Johnson and Laura Singer when I was a sophomore at college at UC Santa Cruz. Their practices were a tangible action to channel my frustration with the climate crisis. My strict zero-waste efforts have loosened their grip over the years, but some practices are legitimately sustainable from a human behavior standpoint—for example, thrifting clothes and buying products in reusable packaging to name. I want to iterate how important it is to understand, that living a sustainable lifestyle isn’t about doing it perfectly.

I started Waxbees in 2019 during the quarantine and started making bee wraps at home and selling them to my friends and online buyers off my Waxbees website. Bee’s wraps are reusable food wrap alternatives. They are wax-coated fabric and can be used in places of plastic cling wrap, tin foil (except for heating purposes), Tupperware (Waxbees are less bulky!), and plastic bags. When I pack a lunch, I wrap my sandwich in a large 10×10 wrap or store blocks of cheese in the medium wrap in the fridge. I create Waxbees in small batches, made to order out of fun beautiful cotton textiles. My signature is producing a variety pack of 4 sizes for $25 + s/h, and I can do custom orders for no extra charge. Each wrap costs about $6-12 depending on its surface area.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

My clientele has been the majority within my social network. My goal wasn’t to take over the bee’s wrap market, there already exists Bee’s Wrap®. Instead, I wanted to contribute to the climate of small-batch products. What’s interesting about selling to my friends and family is that instead of selling to the zero waste market, I am putting these sustainable products in the hands of folks who may have otherwise never been exposed to bee’s wraps. So, I am expanding the breadth and accessibility of sustainable home products.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

I have sold at a farm stand, on my Instagram story, on Depop, on Reddit, and on my website hosted by ionos 1&1. I have received inquiries over text, in person, e-mail, and Facebook. I really try and diversify my opportunities for outreach while keeping costs low.

Contact Info:

• Website: Waxbees.online
• Instagram: Waxbeeswraps
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaxbeesbyCori
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cori-ana-strell/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6rPXX-sxZc&ab_channel=CoriAnaStrell

Image Credits
Photos by Karina @photokariina