The Trade Show Floor, prior to set up.

Thanks Family for working! And thanks to my Mama and Papa for their house, some furniture, letting me make a mess, and for their meticulousness!

Alley (the world's best booth b*tch) getting it done.

The booth, the team...

Up until now, BijaBody’s growth has been entirely grass-roots. There isn’t a single facet that I haven’t personally been involved with, from every dotted i to nearly every order shipped. There’s been several mistakes along the way, which have proven phenomenal learning opportunities. The growing pains have certainly tested me, but the growing wonders have left me ecstatic.

We launched our Tea Blends in January of 2011, in a tiny local market. Our body products were launched in November 2011, and both have started their beloved spread. You have no idea how giddy I am every time I slather myself with BijaBody, or make my multiple daily cups of tea knowing that these precious products are hanging out in other people’s homes, and have become part of other people’s daily health + beauty rituals.

Our line is perfectly curated right now, each product meticulously crafted. I’m sure we’ll grow, and I’m sure there’ll come a time when someone else dots an i and I have to accept it because I’m too busy crossing a T. But I hope that our growth is just as lovingly curated as our humble beginnings.

I love the magic of products. I love the mixture of craft, art and science that comes together to create what I feel is a bit of magic in our lives. With all my heart I love it, and want nothing more of my professional life than to create gorgeous products and support healthy economic opportunities.

Perhaps this feels a bit personal and melancholy. But here’s the thing, this weekend was BijaBody's coming out of sorts. We had our first trade show booth at the International Esthetics, Salon and Spa conference in Las Vegas. It’s a big deal. And Scary as heck. It’s like putting my child out into the big world and hoping other people like him/her. Hoping that Buyers like it. Because we have goals, big goals, and for them to manifest, the buyers have to approve. That’s simply how the world works in commerce/philanthropy. If buyers like it, they put it into their stores, then hopefully you adore it and buy it, and we get a couple bucks. Here’s what I can promise you: I am not greedy. I don’t need big houses or fancy cars (and my ’04 Pontiac Vibe still has at least 100k miles on it!) I have two driving forces in my aim for success: RootedinBeauty, which aims to create agricultural cooperatives for women in impoverished regions of the world (Read More Here), and I want nothing more than to create gorgeus health + beauty products. I LOVE doing it. Love. Someone came by our booth and asked what "private label" company we used, assuming we purchased generic product and applied our label. I nearly shunned him in the snarkiest of way. Private label? umm, no. Perfectly formulated...yes.

So, here’s a little personal note from me to you, who’ve been here with us these last several months, watched our growth, blogged about us and continue to support us (a special shout out to the concierge ladies at the Montage Laguna Beach! You girls are doing a pretty good job spreading the word in SoCal!)

Our tradeshow booth is almost entirely waste free. The only “new” things purchased were some gorgeous glass bulbs and the frames we used for our signs, which will remain with the booth for many shows to come. Everything else was scavenged and upcycled. Even the paint came from a second hand building supply store! Thanks to everyone who has helped build and create it. Wish us luck! And if you you were one of the many who came by the booth this weekend and fell in love with the line, we're so glad you found us! We were tucked in such a funky little corner (Note to IECSC, bad placement. And that was definitely not the front entrance we were told it was!)

And thank you. Sincerely. Wish we'd taken more pictures, but we were busy slathering people with products and handing out cups of Beauty Tea (in ceramic thumb cups by PotsbyAmy instead of disposables!)

xo, Melissa