Vancouver is home to a multitude of small and unique businesses.
Those looking to buy local can browse a variety of shops, including Black-owned brands, loungewear, hand creams, the Italian aesthetic, and other small businesses like Hunny B.
Hunny B is a bee-powered skincare brand founded in 2019 by Brianna Neely.
The Vancouverite started the brand as a passion project, making natural beeswax lip balms and gifting them to friends and family. Since then, the brand evolved into a small business beloved by many locals.
"I cannot nurture both myself and this business."
Nearly three years later, the business is closing up shop.
"After much debate and a lot of really tough conversations with myself, my close friends, and family, I've realized I cannot nurture both myself and this business anymore," Neely writes on Instagram.
She tells Vancouver Is Awesome that she had to choose between her health and her business.
"I was diagnosed with TMJ over 10 years ago and my condition has become chronic and worsened to the point where the pain is no longer manageable over 50 per cent of the time," she explains.
'It's okay to struggle'
Neely struggled with her mental health since a young age. When she started Hunny B, she wanted the brand to "be that big sister figure that told you it's okay to struggle and do things in your own time," she explains.
Despite her personal values, Neely found herself falling into routines rooted in hustle culture, working too hard and burning out.
"When you don't have a team to support you it can be hard to set boundaries," she says, adding that she spent a year trying to "push through" only to realize that she couldn't keep going.
"As much as I love Hunny B, I cannot give it my time and energy if I don't have anything left to give, nor do I have anything to give my friends, family, or most importantly, myself," she says.
The business will officially close on March 1.
A collection of little milestones
After announcing her difficult decision, Neely received an outpouring of kindness and support. "I'm truly in awe," she shares.
The business owner shares that she will never forget the moment she received her new skincare products after a year of development, formulation, and revisions, and the feeling of pride and accomplishment that came over her.
She describes running a business as a collection of little milestones.
In the meantime, Neely is focusing on healing her mind and body and prioritizing rest and self-care.
'Putting ourselves first is never a mistake'
In recent months, Vancouver has seen a number of other small businesses close too.
Among them was the Vancouver Fashion Truck which shut its doors only a few weeks before Hunny B.
"It's hard to see other businesses closing their doors," shares Neely. "Whether it is due to financial challenges or a similar story to mine, I have so much respect and admiration for business owners who have had to make this tough decision. It’s not only tough to admit it to yourself that your business or your body or mind is struggling, but then to share that with the community can come with challenges."
The small business owner hopes that more people decide to take ownership of their health and lives. "I believe that putting ourselves first is never a mistake."
