Zambeezi

What Zambeezi does

Zambeezi (legal entity: Sambah Naturals, Inc., a Wyoming corporation) is a Boulder, Colorado-based personal care product manufacturer specializing in organic, Fair Trade lip balms, body balms, and handcrafted soaps. The company was founded in 2008 by André, a Lebanese-American organic farmer, and Barry Illunga, a Zambian pastor, following a meeting at a conference in South Africa. Core products are formulated with organic beeswax, honey, and essential oils sourced from the Miombo forest region of Northwest Zambia, including partnerships with named beekeepers such as Vincent Chianda and Mongongo Oil supplier Kalahari Oils. The company has been an active Fair Trade Federation member since 2007, and reinvests profits into community development projects including schools, clinics, and wells in partnership with local Zambian churches. The team operates with 1-10 employees, including Josh as Director of Marketing and Sales.

The product line consists of organic beeswax lip balms in seven flavors (Lemongrass, Tangerine, Wild Rose, Sweet Basil, Suncare, Honeybalm, and the June 2025 launch Simplybalm for scent-sensitive users), body balms in five variants, and handcrafted soap bars in eight varieties. Products are sold individually ($7 soap, $18 body balm tube), in multi-packs (3-pack at $12, 4-pack, 6-pack at $21), and in bulk 24-tube cartons at $72. The proprietary formulation relies on organic beeswax from Zambia for moisture-locking and Vitamin A delivery, organic honey as a natural humectant and antibacterial agent, Mongongo Oil (rich in linoleic acid and Vitamin E) for skin hydration, and zinc oxide in the Suncare variant for SPF-15 equivalent UV protection. Soaps use saponified sunflower oil and palm kernel oil as base ingredients. Packaging features a distinctive oval tube design that prevents rolling.

Revenue is generated through three channels: direct-to-consumer e-commerce via the company's Shopify storefront (with free US shipping over $50 and a flat $15 rate to Canada), wholesale distribution through Faire.com and Mable (MeetMable.com) marketplaces targeting independent retailers, and a US physical retail partner network accessible via store locator. The company targets two primary customer segments: conscious consumers who prioritize organic, ethical, and Fair Trade personal care, and retail partners (boutiques, health food stores, fair trade markets) seeking differentiated story-driven products. The company has not raised disclosed funding and reports no revenue figures, operating as an independently held private business since inception.

Name

Zambeezi

Legal name

Sambah Naturals, Inc.

Website

https://zambeezi.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Zambeezi is a Boulder, Colorado-based personal care manufacturer that produces organic, Fair Trade lip balms, body balms, and handcrafted soaps using beeswax and ingredients sourced from Zambian beekeepers and farmers, selling to ethical-conscious consumers through DTC e-commerce and wholesale channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Organic Personal Care

NAICS

Soap and Cleaning Compound Manufacturing (32561)

SIC

Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844)

akta.pro primary industry

Value-Added Bee Products Manufacturing (Candles, Cosmetics, Supplements, Mead Ingredients) (AFAEAHAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Hand Soap & Hand Wash (CRABAEAC)

Keywords

• Organic lip balm
• Fair trade body care
• Beeswax soap bars
• Natural personal care
• Ethical skincare products

Headquarters

HQ city

Boulder

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Direct E-commerce Sales: Direct-to-consumer online sales through their Shopify storefront, offering lip balms, body balms, and soap bars. Products sold in various pack sizes from individual items to bulk cartons.
2. Wholesale Distribution: Wholesale sales through Faire.com and Mable marketplace platforms, enabling retailers to purchase products for resale. Contact-based wholesale pricing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Zambeezi manufactures and sells organic, Fair Trade beeswax-based personal care products including lip balms in seven flavors, body balms in five variants, and handcrafted soap bars in eight varieties. All products are made with organic beeswax, honey, and essential oils sourced from Zambian beekeepers and farmers in the Miombo forest region of Northwest Zambia. The product range is sold individually, in multi-pack bundles, and in bulk 24-tube cartons through the company's Shopify storefront and wholesale partners.

Product overview

Zambeezi is an ethically sourced, Fair Trade, organic body care company specializing in beeswax-based lip balm and handcrafted soap products. The core product line consists of Organic Beeswax Lip Balm in seven flavors (Lemongrass, Tangerine, Wild Rose, Sweet Basil, Suncare, Honeybalm, and Simplybalm), Body Balm in five variants, and Handcrafted Beeswax Soap in eight varieties. Products are sold individually, in multi-packs (3-pack, 4-pack, 6-pack), and in bulk cartons of 24 tubes. All products feature ingredients sourced from Zambian beekeepers and farmers, with beeswax, honey, lemongrass oil, rosemary oil, and mongongo oil originating from Zambia. The company operates as a Fair Trade Federation member since 2007.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Zambeezi Organic Beeswax Lip Balm Organic, Fair Trade beeswax lip balm available in seven flavors (Lemongrass, Tangerine, Wild Rose, Sweet Basil, Suncare, Honeybalm, and Simplybalm), made with organic beeswax, coconut oil, sunflower oil, jojoba oil, and mongongo oil sourced from Zambia. Packaged in distinctive oval tubes that do not roll off flat surfaces. Sold individually, in 3-pack, 4-pack, 6-pack bundles, and in bulk 24-tube cartons.
• Zambeezi Body Balm Organic, Fair Trade beeswax body balm for moisturizing dry, cracked skin, available in five variants: Lemongrass, Sweet Basil, Wild Rose, Tangerine, and Simplybalm. Formulated with the same Zambian-sourced beeswax, honey, mongongo oil, and essential oil blend as the lip balm line, sold in tubes via the Shopify storefront and wholesale channels.
• Zambeezi Handcrafted Beeswax Soap Handcrafted all-natural soap bars made in Zambia with saponified sunflower oil, saponified palm kernel oil, organic beeswax, and locally sourced essential oils. Available in eight varieties: Lemongrass, Spearmint, Tea Tree, Charcoal Tea Tree, Lavender, Cassia, Clove, and Sweet Basil. Sold individually at $7 per bar on the Shopify storefront and through wholesale/retail partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• 253+ customer testimonials demonstrating high satisfaction and loyalty
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Fair Trade FederationcoreOthersActive member since 2007. The Fair Trade Federation is a trade association of US and Canadian fair trade businesses where membership represents an entire organization meeting high fair trade standards.
• Local Churches in ZambiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZambeezi uses company profits to partner with local churches for community development projects including building schools, clinics, drilling wells and other projects serving needs identified by communities.
• Kalahari OilscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZambian partner ethically producing organic Fair Trade Mongongo Oil used in Zambeezi products.
• Zambian Beekeepers and FarmerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Zambian beekeepers including Vincent Chianda and farmers like Mary Munene, Kahona Brown, Nkuuli Ilunga, and Barry Ilunga Jr for sourcing organic honey, beeswax, and essential oils.
• Vincent ChiandacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZambian beekeeper featured in company story, discussing beekeeping practices and honey/beeswax harvest methods with company founder.
• Mable (MeetMable.com)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholesale marketplace platform where Zambeezi products are available for retailers to purchase. Offers $100 off first order incentive for new accounts.
• Faire.commajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholesale marketplace platform where Zambeezi products are available for retailers to purchase for resale.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Badger Balm: Small, mission-driven US organic personal care company with a similar hero beeswax lip balm portfolio, comparable team size, and overlapping natural-foods and DTC distribution.
• Sundial Brands / SheaMoisture: Mission-led, ethically sourced body care brand (soap, lotions, balms) serving conscious consumers; comparable product mix and positioning though at far greater scale.
• Dr. Bronner's: Family-owned, organic, fair-trade-certified personal care brand (soaps, balms) with a comparable ethical sourcing narrative and small-batch heritage, though much larger in scale.
• Alaffia: Fair trade personal care company sourcing shea and other ingredients from West African cooperatives; highly comparable business model (US-based, African-sourced ingredients, fair trade mission, body care product range).
• EO Products: Small US natural personal care brand offering soaps, lotions, and balms through similar natural and specialty retail channels.

Broad incumbents

• Burt's Bees: Owned by Clorox, Burt's Bees is the leading natural beeswax-based lip balm and personal care brand and the most direct large-scale reference for Zambeezi's product category and channel set (mass retail, DTC, wholesale).
• Tom's of Maine: Colgate-Palmolive-owned natural personal care brand covering soap, lip care, and deodorant — represents the broad-incumbent competitive ceiling for natural-positioned peers.

Others

• Faire: Wholesale marketplace platform on which Zambeezi is listed; an enabling ecosystem participant rather than a competitor, useful as a comparable for channel reach and indie-brand distribution.

Emerging players

• Plaine Products: Small, mission-driven natural personal care company selling refillable, eco-friendly body care via DTC; comparable size and sustainability narrative, though different product format.
• Meow Meow Tweet: Small vegan/natural personal care brand (balms, soaps) with a comparable values-led, small-team operating profile and DTC-plus-wholesale model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Zambeezi
• Facebookfacebook.com/zambeeziorganics
• Instagraminstagram.com/zambeeziorganics
• Pinterestpinterest.com/zambeezi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zambeezi

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Zambeezi