Welcome to my first blog…hopefully the first of many. Ok, let’s start by addressing the elephant in the room…who or what the heck is Sugarbush!?
I’m well aware that when I finally settled on the name for my little venture, it was going to cause a stir but not for everyone because of my amazing products. In fact, I can distinctly remember the moment this realisation hit. I was out for dinner with friends and was discussing names with them, testing their reactions for which ones resonated. I had saved this one name back because it was “the one”…a bit like meeting that special someone that you know you’re going to spend the rest of your life with. It fit. So, when I announced this final offering round the table, the last thing I expected was for my favourite name to be met with amusement. It wasn’t until one of them asked me “Won’t people think your stuff is for their bush?” that I realised where their minds had gone! That moment stopped me in my tracks and for months after that, I went round and round in circles trying to find another “one”, clearly to no avail because here we are. Perhaps I was just too stubborn to change it?!
You see, my mind didn’t go there because Sugarbush represents something unique and special to me. When I think of Sugarbush, I think of sunset oranges and vibrant pinks that typify the King Protea flower. The genus Protea derives from the name of the Greek god Proteus, who was able to change between many forms. I like the idea that we can all transform in some way, perhaps even just in the way we think about what we put on our skin. You can see some of the products I use on myself and my family here. The nectar of the protea attracts sunbirds, sugarbirds and numerous insects, hence the name sugarbush. Its significance to me is the land in which it grows…South Africa, my mother country. There is a saying that you can take the girl out of Africa but you can’t take Africa out of the girl…how very true that is. I was 13 when we moved to the UK and while I don’t often get back there, it is forever in my heart.
Of course, with each step that I take on my business journey, I’ve encountered obstacles and hurdles to overcome. The name was just the start and I’ve since realised…it’s all one big, steep learning curve. But, I chose the protea for a reason – the flower represents strength, courage, diversity and resilience. I can’t image a better talisman to guide me through this exciting adventure. I’m glad you’ve joined me and I can’t wait to see where it goes from here.
