By Admin, BuyLocalBG.com, BuyLocalBg@gmail.com/
Wednesday, September 16th, 2015 1:00 PM CST
Get to know Staley Bruni, Owner of Just a Daisy!
1. Tell us a little about you. Where are you from, what are your hobbies and where did you start your career that led to the business?
I’m a wife and mother to three girls, a Knoxville native but home for my girls is BG, therefore, my roots are firmly planted here. To be honest, I truly love this city and given the chance to move, I would turn it down. I am a former social worker turned high school educator. Teaching is definitely one of my passions and I love my real job, but there has always been this insatiable creative interest inside of me too. This business started in a roundabout way, much like many of my projects…not a lot of forethought, just scattered ideas kind of thrown together like organized chaos. First of all, I had an interest in holistic healing and essential oils, mostly because I am highly sensitive to smells and get horrible headaches from most perfumes and scents that are offered in retail stores. Then there was my slight obsession with coconut oil… so many uses, so good for you, I just couldn’t do without it in my beauty routine! Then I ran across a few articles on the benefits of local beeswax and allergies—I am allergic to virtually everything from pet dander to grass, mold, ragweed, wasps, you name it! And all this randomness led to a business that I run out of my kitchen using a make-shift double broiler and a couple of cooking utensils. It is very bare bones and old school, but that’s the way I like it.
2. What is your earliest memory of your work, what got you interested in it?
My interest came from looking for natural, organic wonderfully scented products that I could use safely and without any headaches or allergic reactions. My earliest memory of my work would be Christmastime. Like I said, there is a bit of a creative monster inside of me that aches to make everything by hand. It is usually counterproductive and actually takes way more time, effort and money but none-the-less, I am drawn to this! I decided to make skin balm to give as gifts for some friends and family members. Who doesn’t need/want this in the wintertime?! After the first batch of lavender skin balm, I was hooked. My house smelled amazing and the whole process was just so cathartic in the midst of all of the rush and frenzy of the holidays. I actually enjoyed the process of making the gifts as much as I enjoyed giving them. It wasn’t until I started receiving some feedback from family members that I realized that this might actually be a marketable product. I then took to researching other products to make with beeswax and the science behind the air purifying effects of it, and this led to the idea of making beeswax candles. Making these candles sounds simple enough if you read the pins on Pinterest, but I assure this was not the case for me. I found this task so difficult that I accidentally stumbled upon my next product–the wax melts! (Aka: wickless candles) Undaunted, I was determined to master the art or science of wicking a beeswax candle and in time I did. I am finally happy with the way they burn evenly and the scent that fills the room. This was a process, but I have three products that I am very proud of and hope to add a couple more in the near future.
3. What is your favorite thing you sell?
It’s hard to pick a favorite product, but I have to go with the skin balm. My skin literally craves it and I don’t want to live without it. My favorite scent is what I call unscented, meaning I didn’t add any essential oil to it. It still has a scent that reminds me of the beach and I love it! But lavender and lemongrass are also scents that I love. I plan to experiment with new scents for the holidays, and my promise is to only use therapeutic grade essential oils. I also have to admit that I love the challenge and precision involved in hand-pouring the beeswax candles. There really is a special touch needed for this and when I pour the perfect candle, the sense of satisfaction is nice.
4. Who are your influences in life and your work?
First and foremost, my inspiration comes from my girls. My ultimate goal in life is to show them how to be strong, independent beings and for them to know that they are loved unconditionally by me no matter which paths they choose in life. I am inspired by people who I see follow their heart, take risks and continue to grow and challenge themselves no matter their age. It could be a celebrity or a random person running down the street, I am influenced by people who do not live in fear or let others control their destiny. In terms of product inspiration, the product in my home that is my absolute favorite is Dr. Bronner’s 18-in-1 Hemp Lavender Pure-Castile Soap. The story behind this business is fascinating to me and the commitment they have to only use environmentally friendly ingredients is so inspiring and important. They have proven that any business can be more responsible with where/how they obtain their ingredients. I use only certified organic ingredients and make certain that any ingredient I use is processed in an environmentally sustainable way.
5. Tell us about your business name and how you came up with it.
As Meg Ryan’s character said in You’ve Got Mail, “They’re just so friendly. Don’t you think daisies are the friendliest flower?” Daisies are my favorite flower and they sure cheer me up, so much so that I named my business after them! But it’s more than daisies; it’s about inspiring others to figure out what makes them happy and hang on to it when times are tough. When I print infused with peace & happiness, love & laughter, joy & whimsy, bravery & courage on the label of my products, I mean really it. I hope that my customers somehow feel this when they light the candle or wax melts or smooth the balm on their skin. I hope it makes them happy…you know the whole mind/body connection and power of positive thinking.
6. If you had to choose a last meal, what would you eat?
Easy! My mom’s pork chops, mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli. Best meal ever but it only works if she makes it!
7. How important is local business collaboration to you?
I am a total newbie to this, but I think that local business collaboration is essential to success. I have had the privilege of working with a couple of wonderful local beekeepers. My business and products would be non-existent without the collaboration of these people. Tom Young is my go to “bee guy”. He is always there for me in a pinch when I run out of wax. If he doesn’t have it on hand then he will call around locally and find some for me. His knowledge of and passion for bees is contagious in a good way! Elizabeth Forbes with Four Bees Honey is also a wonderful resource. I especially love to use her beeswax because it comes from the Bowling Green High School beehive. That is where I teach, so it is especially cool and local to me!
8. What event in Bowling Green (or Charity) are you involved with?
While I haven’t been at this for long, a few months at best, I was able to donate a basket of items for a Charity Ball that benefited the fight to end child abuse. Being a former social worker, this is a cause that is very dear to my heart. I plan to continue to help local charities in any way that I can. As a runner, I have participated in many races here locally that benefit great causes–The Medical Center 10K, the BG Half Marathon, the run for Autism and the Low Country Trail Run. As a business owner, I hope to be able to help in many different ways. Giving back to the community is very important to me. 9. What do you see for the future of your business in Bowling Green and serving South Central Kentucky? In the near future, I hope to have a booth at the Community Farmer’s Market. That is the goal I am working towards now. I also hope to add a couple of products and scents before the holidays. My hope is that Just a Daisy will become a unique gift service for customers. I plan to offer free, local delivery and develop a few gift bundle options for fast, easy shopping and gift giving for any occasion. 10. What other locally owned businesses in town do you enjoy shopping, eating or patronizing Some local spots that I love are Nats, Spencer’s Coffee, The Bistro, Griff’s Deli and Digs on the River. I haven’t had the chance to get to The White Squirrel yet but that is next on my list! My favorite local business is Vette City Crossfit—it’s more than gym(box), it’s more like a community of people trying to be as healthy as possible together. I really enjoy spending my money locally because I know where it is going and who it is helping. I also love how the whole buy local initiative seems to really be taking off here in BG. It’s a win/win for everyone.
To find out more about Just A Daisy follow them on facebook and instagram!
