HIVE
HAIRCARE
Guatemala, Guatemala
"Since I was a child I always loved taking care of my hair. I used to buy products that helped me moisturize and eliminate frizz. One day I dared to experiment creating a hair oil with a key ingredient that I had on hand, pure honey."
ISSUE NO. 3 // VICTORIA ORTIZ
DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT // HIVE
Ethical. Mindful. Witty. This is one of those brands you had no idea you needed, until now.
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"Since I was a child I always loved taking care of my hair. I used to buy products that helped me moisturize and eliminate frizz. One day I dared to experiment creating a hair oil with a key ingredient that I had on hand, pure honey."
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Hive's story goes back to 2015. "My family bought a box of bees to produce pure honey to consume at home. We were amazed at the natural benefits and how delicious the honey we produced was. As time went by, the bees began to reproduce and the amount of honey increased." They had enough honey to begin selling locally to friends and acquaintances in Guatemala City.
Eventually, the honey was such a success that demand increased, and not just locally. Clients in Boston and other countries such as Egypt, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia were eager to try it.
"In 2019, during my last year of university, the Hive Honey brand was officially born and from the beginning it was clear that I wanted to make it grow."
"Hive is a 100% Guatemalan brand that seeks to innovate and provide natural alternatives to anyone who dares to enjoy the benefits obtained from pure honey. Hive seeks to raise awareness about the importance of bee conservation through its biodynamic practices and seeks to promote care for the environment by recycling and using sustainable packaging materials ."
"This is how Hive was born, with the purpose of providing natural benefits to all types of hair, from eliminating frizz, to providing hydration, shine, nutrition, softness and protection."
Meet Victoria, BSBA in Marketing & Finance from Suffolk University, creative, and the mastermind behind Hive.
"My background in finance and marketing allowed me to have order in my finances and to make good decisions regarding investors, private and venture capital firms but, predominantly, it helped me understand the world of how financial entities work"
Her interest in the benefits of pure honey and beekeeping aligned with her lifelong passion: beauty industry and haircare products, which along with her creative and artistic abilities paved the way to The Rebel, the first of many products to come.
COLLAGE BY
TOPIC EXPERIENCE
FROM VIC, TO YOU...
"Fear is the biggest limitation that exists, and I cannot stress this enough. Everything we need to create and follow our dreams is found within ourselves. As I always say, I will never do less than what I have already done. It is better to keep walking forward towards achieving those goals, or discovering new roads in the process.
If we don't believe in ourselves, who else will? I want to motivate other enterprising women and men to continue and/or start that project that they always wanted.
The road is hard, but nothing good is easy and the important thing is not to give up and to have a good attitude and a lot of patience. Many things are out of our control, but it is crucial to keep going. Don't stop. Ever.
Success begins when we believe in ourselves and what we can achieve."
EDITOR'S NOTE
If there is one thing I can already identify as probably the most invigorating moments in this entrepreneurship journey, is the feeling you get when you find a brand that is equally committed, passionate and aligned to the same goals as you are.
A turning point for me came from advice given by Vic, for which I am eternally grateful.
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TOPIC’s essence is to fall in love with the brands it represents and works with—what they stand for, their creation process, their story, and their outcomes. Fall in love with the project completely, or don’t take action at all.
I was truly invested in one brand, I worked for months coordinating a jaw-dropping collaboration with with a Costa Rican brand (that I also loved). We met multiple times, but after taking out a loan and traveling to meet her, I was ghosted. And devastated. Months later, word got out that the brand had multiple tax problems and the designer was involved in some major issues. Some things are just not meant to be.
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Vic’s words during this challenging time were transformative: “Don’t forget that some of us need you more than you need us. You are giving us a chance; you are helping us grow.” This perspective shifted my mindset, instilling a sense of gratitude and reinforcing the importance of mutual belief and support in business relationships.
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My collaboration with Vic has been consistently aligned and fulfilling from the start. It underscores the importance of investing our resources in people who believe in us, seeking balance and peace in our professional endeavors. Working with such a talented designer is an honor, and I am excited for our journey together with Hive.
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And I can’t stress this enough. MY HAIR LOOKS AMAZING.
SHOP HIVE
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