Not everybody is excited about going to work every day, but if your workspace was at Sage Stone Botanicals, you may have a totally different perspective. For owner and CEO, Alyson Florendo, and her colleague, Melissa, going to work isn’t just a job, it’s a passion.

Since the beginning of Alyson’s efforts to create her natural skincare products, her excitement for the small business she was building has continued to grow over the years. Knowing that the organic skincare products she makes are used and enjoyed by a large number of satisfied customers adds to the enjoyment in this small, women-run, beauty business.

When you look at it that way, a day in the life at Sage Stone Botanicals hardly seems like work at all. It’s powered by creativity, passion, and a desire to help people feel their best in their skin.

Follow along in this blog post to see what a day in the life at Sage Stone Botanicals looks like!

Getting to the Shop

When arriving at the shop, you can see this isn’t your typical office job where you greet your coworkers, hang up your coat, throw your lunch in the fridge, and sit down to the day’s grind. There’s something just as unique and special about the place our products are made as the products themselves.

For starters, Alyson flips on the shop lights and is instantly welcomed by the sights and smells of lotions, oils, bottles and equipment to mix up her skincare products. It’s comfortable, cozy, and familiar.

Often, her canine companion, Asher, follows her into the shop to take up his post in his comfy dog bed; ready to provide moral support and snuggles throughout the day. With that, the day begins, and the small business that is Sage Stone Botanicals comes to life.

Checking Emails

With the click of a button, the computer comes on, and other small appliances wake up along with it. Mixers are plugged in, ready to whip up products; a small coffee maker stands ready to supply fuel for the day; a heater is turned on during these chilly winter months. What’s the first thing on the to-do list today? Check emails, look for new orders, and send a reply to any customer questions.

Checking in with inventory and ordering products from our partners is another important part of the day for Alyson. Her sources for oils and other natural ingredients is a big part of what makes Sage Stone Botanicals skincare products the high quality delights that our customers have come to expect and appreciate.

Talking about the skincare products she makes, and conversing with customers who have bought them is a pleasure, and feedback is always welcome. Many people like to drop a note and tell Sage Stone Botanicals how much they enjoy the products.

Which brings us to the next step in our day - making more products!

Making Products

Taking a look at the inventory and needs of the business, Alyson and Melissa will regularly make new batches of their organic skincare products. Everything is made in small amounts to ensure the highest quality of the product and great care is taken to be sure each bottle maintains the integrity the business is known for. Making things in small batches is also a great way to ensure that there is less product waste, which falls in line with the eco-friendly views of the company.

All of our skincare products are cruelty-free and Leaping Bunny Certified. At Sage Stone Botanicals, the ingredients sourced for our skincare products are of the highest quality and are the most ethical ingredients available.

When we start the process of making a new batch of one of our products, we begin with a careful blend of natural oils and butters, such as organic aloe, organic jojoba oil, almond oil, avocado oil, and shea butter. From there, we’ll add any natural essential oils as fragrances and any additional ingredients that are unique to the product we’re making.

These small batches contain certified organic ingredients, without chemicals, sulfates, and other additives that are found in many mass market products today and can cause skin irritation for many people.

Pouring Products

Once the small batches of product are prepared, they are put into bottles or tins to set. The bottles and tins are made of aluminum specifically for skin care products, This means that they have a special coating on the inside to ensure they don't rust. They are also 100% recyclable. We use sustainable materials whenever possible to minimize our footprint. It’s important to us that our products are packaged in a way that is eco-friendly. Our products should be good for your skin and the earth.

Labeling

Finally, the labels are applied to each bottle or tin. Every label lists each ingredient so you know exactly what you’re getting in every product. They also proudly display our recognition for being cruelty-free, organic, and Leaping Bunny Certified.

Packing Orders

One of the last parts of the day is packing the orders to be sent to happy customers who can enjoy these products as much as we do. The packing process maintains our commitment to safe and earth friendly habits. Our packing filler is made of biodegradable material - the peanuts dissolve in water!

Once shipping labels are placed on boxes, it’s off to the post office to send these on their way.

At the end of the day, it’s time to turn off all appliances, lights, and lock up the workshop. We leave knowing it was another productive day well spent making products that will put a smile on our customer’s faces. This small beauty business gives so much joy to those who make the skincare products, as well as those waiting with anticipation for their package of scented bliss to arrive at their doorstep.

Thanks for joining us for a day in the life at Sage Stone Botanicals!

A Day in the Life at Sage Stone Botanicals