Students' organic beauty company takes top honour in #MadeBySFU contest
A student-conceived company that combines self-care and sustainability took the top prize at the recent #MadeBySFU competition.
SFU student Larissa Chen and colleague Delara Tabiri co-founded Böues, a beauty company specializing in locally-sources, organic products, and introduced their first product, the Böues Bar, during the contest. As winners, their product will be featured this month in the SFU Spirit Shop, just in time for Christmas sales.
The Böues Bar is made from natural B.C.-based ingredients including olive oil, lye, distilled water, beeswax, and essential oils.
“Motivated by our passion for quality and local bee-related ingredients, we wanted people to say “buzz”, because that’s how pampering and self-care should be – enjoyable, easy and carefree from unnecessary additives and toxins,” says Chen.
#MadeBySFU is a collaboration between the SFU Spirit Shop and SFU’s Coast Capital Savings Venture Connection (SFU’s early stage business incubator) and celebrates product entrepreneurs at SFU. The competition invites applications from the SFU community, including students, alumni, faculty, and staff, and provides support to budding entrepreneurs through drop-in mentoring and a merchandising workshop.
“We created this initiative because we believe in supporting and taking pride in ventures by the SFU community,” says Mikhail Dzuba, SFU Bookstore/Spirit Shop director. “Sourcing local products helps strengthen our economy and also enables us to curate a unique merchandise assortment for our shoppers. Boues embodies the spirit of #MadeBySFU; by the community and for the community.”
Böues receives one of five $500 purchase orders from the SFU Spirit Shop. The venture also won the “fan favourite” prize, netting a $125 gift card, as well as the SFU Innovates prize, valued at $500.
Four other vendors received $500 SFU Spirit Shop purchase orders:
- Frontrvnners, a fashion brand that provides streetwear with a story to businesses and individuals who believe in staying loyal to their craft (led by Joshua Jackai, communication alumni);
- Jalebi and Co., a greeting card and printmaking company that specializes in illustrated greeting cards, targeted toward the Indian community (led by Sumeet Anand, IAT student);
- Postureaze, a portable, lightweight, battery-less device used to avoid desk slump and strengthen core (led by Tate Mason, international studies alumnus);
- Sasha Cullen Art, a unique range of fine art, décor, and gifts featuring original photography-based fine art of Canadian scenes from wildflowers to iconic Vancouver landmarks (led by Sasha Cullen, contemporary arts student).
“The entries to #MadeBySFU shows the diversity of product entrepreneurs within our university community, and highlights the impact of interdisciplinary efforts,” says Janice OBriain, associate director of Coast Capital Savings Venture Connection, and organizing host of the competition. “We look forward to supporting these entrepreneurs as they grow their businesses beyond SFU, and continuing to engage with other departments on similar projects.”