# Burt's Bees: Roxanne Quimby (2019)

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2021-08-23
- Length: 50m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-08-23-burts-bees-roxanne-quimby-2019

## Summary

Roxanne Quimby, co-founder of Burt's Bees, recounts how she transformed a roadside honey stand in Maine into a major natural personal care brand. She details the pivot from candles to lip balm, the strategic decision to use Burt Shavitz's portrait on packaging to counter gender exploitation in beauty marketing, and the operational challenges of scaling production from a schoolhouse to a North Carolina factory. 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/2021-08-23-burts-bees-roxanne-quimby-2019#t=0) Introduction: Roxanne Quimby and Burt's Bees
- [5:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-08-23-burts-bees-roxanne-quimby-2019#t=307) Quimby's Back-to-the-Land Roots and Meeting Burt Shavitz
- [17:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-08-23-burts-bees-roxanne-quimby-2019#t=1030) Early Product Development: Honey, Candles, and Failures
- [28:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-08-23-burts-bees-roxanne-quimby-2019#t=1739) Scaling Production and the Move to North Carolina
- [37:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-08-23-burts-bees-roxanne-quimby-2019#t=2276) Brand Strategy: Packaging, Lip Balm, and Marketing
- [43:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-08-23-burts-bees-roxanne-quimby-2019#t=2598) 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)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

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

## Mentioned

- Burt's Bees (company)
- U.S. Bank (company)
- Zona (company)
- Elizabeth Arden (company)
- Revlon (company)
- The Body Shop (company)
- Clorox (company)
- CVS (company)
- Walmart (company)
- 7-Eleven (company)
- Whole Foods (company)
- Pure Maine Honey (product)
- Lip Balm (product)
- Teddy Bear Candle (product)
- Boot Food (product)

## 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: 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)
- [Founders Feature: Lucy Dana of One Trick Pony](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-11-21-founders-feature-lucy-dana-of-one-trick-pony) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

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