Bee Bella

What Bee Bella does

Bee Bella is a Wisconsin-based beekeeping company founded in 2016 that handcrafts beeswax lip balm in small batches from its headquarters in Oshkosh. The company operates as a single-product brand with a focused portfolio of 10 lip balm flavors (5 year-round and 5 seasonal limited editions), sold as individual tubes, Build-Your-Own 3-Packs, and gift box sets. All products use 100% US-sourced beeswax and Fair Trade Certified ingredients, packaged in eco-friendly bamboo tubes, and certified cruelty-free under the Leaping Bunny program. A hand cream product is on a 2026 waitlist, signaling planned category extension.

The company's core production model is a vertically integrated supply chain in which the founding beekeepers both raise the bees and manufacture the balm, enabling full traceability from hive to tube. The technology stack is intentionally low-tech on the product side (handcrafted small-batch formulation) and standard on the commercial side (Shopify-hosted e-commerce with multi-gateway payments and the Faire wholesale marketplace). Notable commercial assets include a Landfill-Free Program that lets customers return empty tubes for recycling in exchange for discount codes, custom laser-engraved bamboo tubes for corporate gifting, and purpose-built wood counter displays (Beehive, Pop-Up, Vertical) for retail placement.

Bee Bella's business model combines product-led growth through direct-to-consumer e-commerce (beebella.buzz) with a wholesale channel reaching 1,500+ independent retail shops. Retail pricing is set at $9.95 per single tube, $27.99 for a customizable 3-pack, and $44.95 for a 5-pack gift box, with free shipping on orders over $35. Wholesale pricing is $27 per 6-pack and $54 per 12-pack at MSRP $9.95 per tube, with free shipping over $250. The custom corporate channel sells engraved tubes at $5.50 each with a 96-unit minimum. Distribution is hybrid: domestic and international shipping direct from Wisconsin, Faire for wholesale acquisition, and a store locator for offline discovery.

Name

Bee Bella

Legal name

Bee Bella Inc.

Website

https://beebella.buzz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Wisconsin-based beekeeping company founded in 2016 that handcrafts beeswax lip balm from 100% US-sourced beeswax, selling direct-to-consumer online and through 1,500+ independent retail shops nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Natural Lip Care / Beeswax Lip Balm

NAICS

Apiculture (112910)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Beeswax Production & Processing (AFAEAHAB)

Keywords

• Beeswax lip balm
• Natural lip care
• Handcrafted cosmetics
• Wholesale beauty products
• Custom corporate gifts

Headquarters

HQ city

Oshkosh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Direct-to-Consumer E-commerce: Online sales through beebella.buzz with products shipped from Wisconsin. Revenue from single lip balms ($9.95), 3-packs ($27.99), and gift boxes. Free shipping over $35 drives basket size.
2. Wholesale/B2B: Sales to 1,500+ independent retail shops. Products sold in 6-packs and 12-packs plus countertop displays. Free shipping on wholesale orders over $250. Custom engraved tubes with 96-tube minimum at $5.50 each.
3. Custom Corporate Orders: Custom laser-engraved bamboo tubes with company logos for corporate gifts or promotional items. 96-tube minimum at $5.50 per tube.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Bee Bella handcrafts beeswax lip balms using 100% US-sourced beeswax and Fair Trade Certified ingredients in small batches at its Oshkosh, Wisconsin facility. The company sells lip balms in 10 flavors (single tubes at $9.95), Build Your Own 3-Packs ($27.99), and 5-Pack Variety Gift Boxes directly to consumers via beebella.buzz. The company also operates a wholesale channel serving 1,500+ independent retailers and a custom laser-engraved bamboo tube program for corporate gifting (96-tube minimum at $5.50 per tube).

Product overview

Bee Bella is a Wisconsin-based beekeeping company that handcrafts all-natural beeswax lip balm products. Founded in 2016, the company operates as a single-product brand with a focused portfolio of lip balms across multiple flavor varieties. The core product line consists of beeswax lip balms available in 10 distinct flavors (5 year-round and 5 seasonal Limited editions), sold as individual tubes ($9.95 each), Build Your Own 3-Packs ($27.99), and gift box sets. The company also offers a growing wholesale channel including bulk cases, display fixtures, and custom corporate engraving services (96-tube minimum). A hand cream product is planned for future launch. All products use 100% US-sourced beeswax and Fair Trade certified ingredients, handcrafted in small batches in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Honeydew Melon Beeswax Lip Balm Limited seasonal beeswax lip balm with light, refreshing sweetness inspired by fresh-cut melon. Features 100% US-sourced beeswax, argan oil, and jojoba oil for up to 8 hours of moisture. Sold individually at $9.95.
• Lavender Vanilla Beeswax Lip Balm Year-round beeswax lip balm delivering a calming, soothing sensation using 100% US-sourced beeswax, Fair Trade certified cocoa butter, lavender essential oil, and argan oil. Sold individually at $9.95.
• Pomegranate Mango Beeswax Lip Balm Year-round tropical beeswax lip balm delivering a fruity sensation using 100% US-sourced beeswax, Fair Trade certified cocoa butter, mango seed butter, and argan oil. Sold individually at $9.95.
• Peppermint Beeswax Lip Balm Year-round beeswax lip balm delivering an invigorating cooling sensation using 100% US-sourced beeswax, Fair Trade certified cocoa butter, and pure peppermint essential oil. Sold individually at $9.95.
• Door County Cherry Beeswax Lip Balm Year-round beeswax lip balm delivering a sweet, Wisconsin-inspired sensation using 100% US-sourced beeswax, Fair Trade certified cocoa butter, jojoba oil, and argan oil. Sold individually at $9.95.
• Vanilla Bean Beeswax Lip Balm Year-round beeswax lip balm delivering a smooth, sweet sensation using 100% US-sourced beeswax, Fair Trade certified cocoa butter, jojoba oil, and sunflower seed oil. Sold individually at $9.95.
• Unflavored Beeswax Lip Balm Year-round fragrance-free beeswax lip balm with pure, simple lip care using beeswax, argan oil, and jojoba for 8 hours of moisture. Sold individually at $9.95.
• Orange Cranberry Beeswax Lip Balm Limited seasonal beeswax lip balm delivering a bold, juicy burst of sun-ripened citrus with tart cranberry notes, inspired by Wisconsin's cranberry harvest tradition. Sold individually at $9.95.
• Pumpkin Spice Beeswax Lip Balm Limited seasonal beeswax lip balm delivering a warm, seasonal sensation using 100% US-sourced beeswax, Fair Trade certified cocoa butter, pumpkin oil, and clove oil. Sold individually at $9.95.
• Candy Cane Beeswax Lip Balm Limited seasonal beeswax lip balm delivering a festive, invigorating sensation using 100% US-sourced beeswax, Fair Trade certified cocoa butter, and peppermint essential oil. Sold individually at $9.95.
• Lip Balm Beehive Trio (Build Your Own 3-Pack) Customizable 3-pack bundle allowing customers to mix and match any 3 flavors into their own trio, gift-boxed at $27.99.
• Variety 5 Pack Lip Balm Gift Box Five full-size tubes of year-round flavors (Door County Cherry, Pomegranate Mango, Vanilla Bean, Peppermint, and Lavender Vanilla) in a gift-ready box priced at $44.95 (originally $49.95).
• Holiday Variety 5 Pack Lip Balm Gift Box Seasonal gift box with five holiday-themed flavors including Lavender Vanilla, Door County Cherry, Pumpkin Spice, Candy Cane, and Vanilla Bean beeswax lip balms.
• Custom Engraved Tubes Custom lip balm tubes with laser-engraved logos or text on bamboo tubes. 96-tube minimum order, priced at $5.50 per tube. Designed for corporate gifting, employee appreciation, promotional items, and event favors.
• Wholesale Lip Balm Cases Wholesale bulk ordering of lip balm cases available in 6-pack ($27.00) and 12-pack ($54.00) sizes per flavor, with MSRP of $9.95 per tube. Designed for independent retailers.
• Wholesale Counter Displays Boutique wood counter displays including Pop-Up (holds 12 or 24 tubes), Beehive (holds 24 tubes), and Vertical (holds 12 tubes) display options for retail placement at independent retailers.
• Lip Balm 12 Hole Counter Bundle Turnkey wholesale bundle including a boutique wood counter display plus 24 lip balms (6 each of Peppermint, Lavender Vanilla, Vanilla Bean, and Pomegranate Mango) plus free testers. Designed for new retail accounts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 8 hours of moisturization per application
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• KivaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMicrofinance organization. Bee Bella supports Kiva as part of their giving back initiatives, providing small loans to entrepreneurs worldwide.
• University of Minnesota Bee LabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHoney bee research funding. A portion of Bee Bella profits support honey bee research at the University of Minnesota Bee Lab.
• The Ocean CleanupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit developing technologies to rid oceans of plastic. Bee Bella supports ocean cleanup efforts as part of their environmental commitment.
• Arbor Day FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTree planting organization. Bee Bella supports tree planting initiatives for environmental restoration.
• FairecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholesale marketplace. Bee Bella products are available through Faire at faire.com/direct/beebella, enabling independent retailers to easily stock their products.
• ShopifycoreTechnology or IntegrationE-commerce platform hosting Bee Bella's online store at beebella.buzz. Provides payment processing, inventory management, and international shipping capabilities.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hurraw! Balm: Hurraw! is a specialty natural lip balm brand known for vegan and beeswax-based balm formulations. Both companies compete for the same premium natural lip care buyer with strong indie/wholesale distribution and brand-led storytelling around ingredient purity.
• Eco Lips: Eco Lips is an organic, fair-trade certified lip balm brand headquartered in Iowa with a similar Midwest natural-products positioning. Both brands compete in the organic lip balm space, sell wholesale to indie retailers, and emphasize fair-trade ingredient sourcing and small-batch production.
• Burt's Bees: Burt's Bees is the most direct competitor — a natural personal care brand built on beeswax-based lip balm and adjacent skincare. Both companies center their brand story on natural, US-sourced beeswax and small-batch origins, and compete for the same health-conscious consumer in lip care and emerging body care.
• Badger Balm: Badger Balm is a small-batch, family-run natural balm company producing beeswax-based lip balms, body balms, and skincare. Both brands share the small-batch handcrafted ethos, US production footprint, and a focus on natural and organic ingredients with strong certification credentials.

Emerging players

• Babo Botanicals: Babo Botanicals is a smaller natural personal care brand focused on plant-based skincare, body care, and lip products. It is comparable as an emerging natural personal care company selling through indie and specialty channels with clean ingredient positioning.
• Bees & Trees Soap Co. Bees & Trees is a small artisanal brand making beeswax-based soaps and balms from apiary-sourced ingredients. It is comparable to Bee Bella as a beekeeper-founded, beeswax-led small-batch personal care company with similar wholesale and DTC distribution patterns.
• Soapy Smiths: Soapy Smiths is a small-batch handcrafted natural body and lip care brand. Both companies operate small-batch handcraft production, sell wholesale to indie retailers, and emphasize natural ingredients and gift-friendly packaging.

Broad incumbents

• Carmex: Carmex is a long-established medicated lip balm brand distributed nationally in mass retail. It competes in the same lip care category as Bee Bella and represents the mainstream, medicated end of the spectrum against Bee Bella's natural positioning.
• Dr. Bronner's: Dr. Bronner's is a large natural personal care company known for its castile soaps and expanding lip and body care portfolio. Both brands share organic, fair-trade, and US-made certifications and a mission-driven brand narrative aimed at the health-conscious consumer.
• EOS (Evolution of Smooth): EOS is a mass-market lip balm brand owned by a larger personal care company and distributed nationally in mass retail. While not a small-batch player, EOS is a leading competitor for the same consumer lip balm occasion, especially among younger consumers, and sets pricing expectations in the category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BeeBellaBuzz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bee-bella

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Bee Bella