# Burt's Bees: Roxanne Quimby

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2019-02-18
- Length: 58m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-02-18-burts-bees-roxanne-quimby

## Summary

Roxanne Quimby, co-founder of Burt's Bees, explains how she transformed a roadside honey stand in rural Maine into a major natural personal care brand. She details the pivot from candles to lip balm and skincare, the strategic decision to use Burt Shavitz’s face on packaging to counter gender exploitation in beauty marketing, and the operational challenges of scaling production and relocating to North Carolina. Quimby also discusses her eventual exit from the company, her partnership with Shavitz, and her subsequent philanthropy focused on land conservation.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-02-18-burts-bees-roxanne-quimby#t=0) Introduction: Roxanne Quimby and Burt's Bees
- [3:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-02-18-burts-bees-roxanne-quimby#t=204) From Art School to Off-Grid Living in Maine
- [13:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-02-18-burts-bees-roxanne-quimby#t=839) Meeting Burt Shavitz and Starting the Business
- [24:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-02-18-burts-bees-roxanne-quimby#t=1449) Scaling Production and the Move to North Carolina
- [33:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-02-18-burts-bees-roxanne-quimby#t=1998) Product Pivot: From Candles to Lip Balm and Skincare
- [40:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-02-18-burts-bees-roxanne-quimby#t=2440) Packaging Strategy and Brand Identity
- [46:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-02-18-burts-bees-roxanne-quimby#t=2785) Exit, Philanthropy, and Reflections on Success

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch, early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Burt's Bees (company)
- Burt Shavitz (other)
- Roxanne Quimby (other)
- Zona (company)
- Elizabeth Arden (company)
- Revlon (company)
- The Body Shop (company)
- Clorox (company)
- Dig (product)
- Tinder (product)
- Bumble (product)
- CVS (company)
- Walmart (company)
- 7-Eleven (company)
- Whole Foods (company)
- Forbes (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Founder Feature: Liv Truesdell of FROST Buttercream](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-12-12-founder-feature-liv-truesdell-of-frost-buttercream) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Zoe Levin of Bim Bam Boo](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-03-21-founder-feature-zoe-levin-of-bim-bam-boo) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [019: Organic haircare products with Susana Stewart & Caroline Maina of Fro Butter](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-09-20-019-organic-haircare-products-with-susana-stewart-caroline-maina-of-fro-butter) (Product Startup)
- [Founder Feature: Veena Krishnan and Whitney McElwain of Daybird](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-08-10-founder-feature-veena-krishnan-and-whitney-mcelwain-of-daybird) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Becca Wright of Piedmont Pennies](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-01-17-founder-feature-becca-wright-of-piedmont-pennies) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

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