Burt's Bees
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Personal care |
| Founded | 1984 in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, United States |
| Founder | Burt Shavitz, Roxanne Quimby |
| Headquarters | Durham, North Carolina , United States |
Area served | United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Germany, Hong Kong, Taiwan, New Zealand |
Key people | Mariah Eckhardt (VP & General Manager) |
| Products | Natural and environmentally sustainable personal care products including health, beauty, hygiene items |
| Owner | Clorox |
Number of employees | 420 (2005) |
Burt's Bees is a globally recognized American personal care brand and operates as a subsidiary of Clorox. Established in 1984 in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine by entrepreneurs Burt Shavitz and Roxanne Quimby, the company specializes in natural and environmentally sustainable personal care products. Its diverse range includes offerings for health, beauty, hygiene, and personal care, available in major markets such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Germany, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and New Zealand.
The company’s headquarters are located in Durham, North Carolina. As of 2005, Burt's Bees employed around 420 people and recorded revenues of approximately US$250 million in 2006. The firm distinguishes itself within the competitive personal care sector through its commitment to sustainable ingredients and eco-friendly branding. Under the guidance of VP & General Manager Mariah Eckhardt, Burt's Bees continues to broaden its international presence and strengthen its position in the natural products market.
1984–1989: Founding
Burt's Bees began in the 1980s in Maine when co-founder Roxanne Quimby started crafting candles using leftover beeswax from Burt Shavitz's beekeeping activities. The company’s initial base was a rented one-room schoolhouse costing $150 per year. Sales quickly grew from $200 at a local craft fair to $20,000 by the end of that first year. Originally focused on honey sales, the business gradually transitioned toward personal care products incorporating honey and beeswax, including items like furniture polish and edible spreads.
In 1989, after receiving a substantial order from a New York boutique, Burt's Bees expanded its production capacity by hiring 40 workers and relocating to a former bowling alley. The discovery of Shavitz’s beekeeping recipes by Quimby played a key role in steering the company toward personal care product development.
1990s: Incorporation and diversification
The company officially incorporated in 1991 with a product lineup featuring candles, natural soaps, perfumes, and lip balm—the latter becoming its flagship item.
In 1994, Burt's Bees moved its operations to North Carolina. Following organizational changes that included Quimby purchasing Shavitz’s one-third ownership stake in 1999 for roughly $130,000 in property assets, the company narrowed its focus exclusively to personal care products. Production was centralized in an 18,000 square-foot former garment factory located in Creedmoor by 1995, where automation was introduced to boost manufacturing efficiency. The first retail outlet opened in Chapel Hill offering around 50 natural personal care items; meanwhile, distribution expanded internationally to markets such as Japan.
By 1998, Burt's Bees had developed a portfolio exceeding 100 natural personal care products available at some 4,000 retail locations with sales surpassing $8 million. Its products were featured by national retailers like Whole Foods Market as well as chains including Cracker Barrel. The product range extended to include travel-sized skin and hair care solutions. In 1999, the company relocated to Durham within North Carolina’s Research Triangle region and launched an online platform to support nationwide sales distribution.
2000–2006: Product Expansion and AEA Investment
During the period from 2002 to 2003, Burt's Bees broadened its range by introducing its inaugural toothpaste and shampoo products, alongside the well-received Baby Bee line catering to infant care. Co-founder Quimby directed profits towards conserving forestland in Maine, establishing a collaboration with The Nature Conservancy dedicated to environmental preservation.
In 2004, private equity firm AEA Investors purchased an 80% ownership share in Burt's Bees for $173 million. Quimby maintained a 20% stake and continued to serve on the board. As part of this deal, co-founder Shavitz received compensation amounting to $4 million.
2007–Present: Acquisition by Clorox
By 2007, Burt's Bees had developed a product catalog exceeding 197 items distributed internationally. That same year, The Clorox Company acquired Burt's Bees for about $925 million, incorporating it into its global portfolio while preserving the brand’s unique identity.
In February 2011, CEO John Replogle left to take the helm at Seventh Generation Inc. Nick Vlahos, an experienced Clorox executive with a 15-year tenure, was named vice president and general manager of Burt's Bees. Vlahos later assumed the role of CEO at the Honest Company in 2017. By 2014, Clorox had significantly increased marketing efforts for Burt's Bees, especially in the lip care segment, which fueled sales growth despite price adjustments.
Co-founder Shavitz passed away in July 2015 at the age of 80. In 2017, Burt's Bees ventured into cosmetics by launching a comprehensive makeup collection featuring products such as foundation and mascara.
As of March 2018, Burt's Bees lip balm had achieved substantial market presence, reportedly selling one unit globally every second.
In 2022, the company initiated a multi-year collaboration with rePurpose Global to support recycling infrastructure projects aimed at reducing ocean plastic pollution.
In January 2024, Burt's Bees partnered with Hidden Valley Ranch to introduce limited-edition lip balm flavors inspired by ranch dressing varieties. This launch was a response to enthusiastic consumer engagement generated by an April Fool’s Day social media campaign.
Documentary Film
In August 2014, Jody Shapiro released Burt's Buzz, a documentary exploring the company’s history and the business relationships among its founders.
See also
- Beezin', a fad involving Burt’s Bees lip balm