Amanda 00:02 Welcome to purpose power brand, a podcast for leaders and brands transforming business into a force for good. I'm Amanda Stassen, business and brand strategist, social justice advocate and founder of BIZU Innovation Group. I'm speaking with leaders who are proving not only just purpose drive profit, but the future of our world depends on it. If you want to grow your business, increase your brand loyalty and not get left behind in the ever-changing marketplace, this podcast is for you. Today we're talking with Vincent Sowa and David Stotesbury, co-founders at Backed by Bees , a local honey and mead business on a mission to connect people to nature. Welcome Vincent and David to the purpose power brand podcast. Thanks for joining us today.

David 00:42 Thanks, Amanda.

Amanda 00:45 Awesome. Okay. So, before I get super distracted with absolutely ridiculous fun facts about mead and ye olde, Friar Tuck, I want to get to know the people and the leaders behind the business. I'm constantly saying business is about people without people, there's no business. So, on that note, tell me with one word, what purpose powers you how would you answer the question, I’m powered by blank, and then share a little bit about how this inspires the work that you do? David, let's start with you. And then we'll go over to Vincent.

David 01:20 Oh, perfect, put me on the spot there. But always hard to kind of sum things up into one word, but kind of, I suppose thinking about everything I do, would kind of power me, I suppose would be responsibility , in the sense that, you know, from everything, from this journey along this kind of entrepreneurial path, you know, I feel definitely responsible being, you know, father to young children kind of, you know, to provide a bit of an example on what it means to, you know, have a passion and really kind of go after that and make it worthwhile and make a change, make a difference. To, you know, if it actually comes down to the brand, and what and what Vincent and myself are trying to do here, really, you know, putting purpose with profit, you know, purpose above profit. And, you know, that sort of regard, there to make a difference to, you know, we really, really look internally on what we're able to do with kind of our local environment and biodiversity and pollinators and knowing that, you know, it's not just about them, it's not just about us, it's this kind of that connection, you know, playing a role of, and being responsible for how intertwined we are, is, it's kind of what drives me to do what I do.

Amanda 02:35 Nice, nice, Vincent, how about yourself?

Vincent 02:39 Thanks, Amanda. You know, I love how you introduce that section there, because you talked about people, right. And I think for myself, I would have to say service , that is the one word that would kind of sum up, you know, the purpose that drives me and just kind of expand on that a little bit. You know, I have a background, started out a university and in kind of the military and went into the corporate world there and then came, you know, established this business, with Dave, you know, a number of years ago. But I was reading the other day that, you know, surely you have about 86,000 seconds in a day to use up and so every, every morning, you wake up, you've got to figure out what you're going to do with those, let's say 86,000 seconds. And for me, it's always been about trying to utilize those seconds in service to others. Whether it was, you know, in the military, or in the corporate world, and now with Backed by Bees, it's about trying to serve people and connect them to nature.

Amanda 03:45 Wow, service and responsibility. Those are powerful words, and really speak to the heart I think of what purpose driven leadership is all about. So thank you both for sharing that. Okay, let's dive into the bees. Backed by Bees, love the name, by the way. Tell me about the origin story. How did you guys get started? And why bees?

Vincent 04:10 Yeah, absolutely. So Dave and I met years ago, working in the corporate world, we were both in sales, and we realized pretty quickly that we shared this passion for nature, for the outdoors, for sustainability. And we started talking about bees, just randomly one day, and realized that we both had this fascination with them, and this concern about their decline. And we started thinking, you know, what could we do? How could we help? And we landed on beekeeping. So we started with just a couple of hives in Dave's backyard, more as a hobby than anything else. But then we started producing honey, and people loved it. And then we started experimenting with mead, which is honey wine, an ancient beverage, and people loved that too. And we realized, hey, maybe there's a business here. But we didn't want to just be another honey company or another mead company. We wanted to build a business that had purpose baked into its core, a business that could actually help the bees and help connect people back to nature. So that's how Backed by Bees was born.

Amanda 05:25 That's awesome. So it started with a shared passion, a concern for the bees, and then it evolved into a business with purpose. I love that. Talk a little bit more about the plight of the bees. Why are they so important? And what are the main threats that they're facing?

David 05:43 Yeah, absolutely. Bees, and pollinators in general, are incredibly important for our ecosystems and for our food systems. About one third of the food we eat relies on pollination by insects, primarily bees. So without them, our diets would be drastically different, and our ecosystems would be severely impacted. But unfortunately, bee populations have been declining dramatically over the past few decades due to a combination of factors. Pesticide use is a big one, habitat loss due to development and monoculture farming, climate change, which affects flowering times and bee health, and also diseases and pests like the Varroa mite. It's really a perfect storm of threats that they're facing.

Amanda 06:35 Wow, that's sobering. One third of our food relies on pollinators. That's huge. So, how does Backed by Bees address these issues? What's your business model look like?

Vincent 06:48 So our business model is really built around supporting pollinators and biodiversity. We manage our own apiaries, so we have direct control over the health and well-being of our bees. We practice sustainable beekeeping methods, avoiding harsh chemicals and focusing on natural hive management. But beyond our own hives, a big part of our model is partnering with corporations and landowners to install and manage beehives on their properties. This helps increase pollinator populations in different areas, and it also provides a way for these companies to engage in meaningful ESG initiatives and biodiversity efforts. We call it our 'Hive Host' program. And then, of course, we use the honey from our hives and our partner hives to create our products – raw honey, infused honeys, and our craft meads. The revenue from these products allows us to continue our work, expand our apiaries, and support more pollinators.

Amanda 07:50 Okay, so it's this virtuous cycle, right? You support the bees, the bees produce honey, you sell honey products, and the revenue goes back into supporting more bees and educating people. That's fantastic. Talk a little bit more about that Hive Host program. How does that work? And what are the benefits for the companies involved?

David 08:12 Yeah, the Hive Host program is something we're really excited about. Essentially, a company sponsors one or more beehives, which we then install and manage on their property, or sometimes at one of our apiary locations if they don't have suitable space. We take care of everything – the hive setup, the ongoing maintenance, inspections, honey extraction. The host company gets regular updates on their hives, they often get a share of the honey harvest branded for them, which makes great corporate gifts or employee perks. But the bigger benefits are really around their ESG goals. Hosting hives demonstrates a tangible commitment to biodiversity, sustainability, and environmental stewardship. It provides great content for their sustainability reports, engages their employees, enhances their brand reputation, and helps them connect with nature right on their doorstep. We've had companies host hives on rooftops in urban areas, on large corporate campuses, even at manufacturing plants. It's incredibly versatile.

Amanda 09:20 That's brilliant. It's like bringing nature right into the corporate world and giving companies a concrete way to make a positive environmental impact. That's really innovative.

Vincent 09:32 Yeah, we think so too. And it's been really well received. Companies are increasingly looking for ways to go beyond just reducing their negative footprint and actually contribute positively to the environment. And supporting pollinators is such a powerful way to do that.

Amanda 09:48 Absolutely. You know, you mentioned ESG, Environmental, Social, and Governance factors. And that's becoming such a huge focus for businesses and investors. How does Backed by Bees fit into that broader ESG landscape?

David 10:05 We see ourselves fitting very squarely within the 'E' and the 'S' of ESG. On the environmental side, our core mission is biodiversity enhancement through pollinator support. That directly addresses environmental concerns. We help companies measure and report on their positive biodiversity impact through the hives they host. On the social side, we're focused on education and connection. We run workshops, do presentations, engage employees at our host sites, all aimed at educating people about the importance of pollinators and connecting them to nature. We believe that fostering that connection is crucial for long-term environmental stewardship. We also prioritize sourcing locally whenever possible and supporting our local community.

Amanda 10:53 That makes perfect sense. So you're not just an environmental company, you're also a social impact company through that education and connection piece. That's really powerful. Let's talk about mead for a minute, because I admitted I'm intrigued. What exactly is mead? And why did you decide to incorporate that into your product line?

Vincent 11:18 Mead is essentially honey wine. It's one of the oldest alcoholic beverages known to humankind, predating both wine and beer. It's made by fermenting honey with water, and you can add fruits, spices, grains, or hops to create different flavors and styles. We decided to get into mead for a few reasons. Firstly, it's a direct value-add product from our core resource, honey. It allows us to showcase the unique flavors of different honeys based on the floral sources the bees visited. Secondly, it connects back to history and tradition, which we find fascinating. And thirdly, craft mead is having a resurgence, similar to craft beer a couple of decades ago. There's a growing market of consumers looking for unique, locally sourced, artisanal beverages. So it felt like a natural fit for us, combining our love for bees and honey with a craft beverage that has a rich history and a growing modern appeal.

Amanda 12:25 Okay, honey wine. Got it. And ancient! That's fascinating. So you're bringing back this historical beverage but with a modern, local, sustainable twist.

David 12:37 Exactly. And we focus on using our own raw honey, local fruits whenever possible, and really letting the quality of the ingredients shine through. We make session meads, which are lower in alcohol and carbonated, kind of like a cider or beer, as well as more traditional, higher-alcohol meads.

Amanda 12:55 Very cool. Okay, shifting back to the purpose aspect. We talk a lot on this podcast about how purpose drives business success. How has having a clear purpose, connecting people to nature through bees, impacted Backed by Bees growth and success?

Vincent 13:15 Purpose has been absolutely central to everything. It's not just a marketing angle for us; it's the reason we exist. And I think that authenticity resonates with people – with our customers, with our corporate partners, with our own team. Having that clear 'why' guides our decision-making. It helps us attract employees who are passionate about our mission, not just looking for a job. It helps us build strong relationships with our Hive Hosts because they see we're genuinely committed to making a difference. And it connects with consumers who are increasingly looking to support brands that align with their values. When people buy our honey or mead, they know they're not just getting a quality product; they're also contributing to pollinator health and biodiversity. That purpose gives us a competitive edge and fuels our passion every day.

Amanda 14:14 Yeah, that alignment between purpose, product, and people seems crucial. You mentioned attracting passionate employees. Tell me a bit more about your team culture. You used the word 'hive' earlier when talking about people. How does that bee analogy play out internally?

David 14:35 That's a great question. We definitely embrace the hive mentality. A beehive is this incredible example of collaboration, communication, and working together for the common good of the colony. Everyone has a role, and the success of the hive depends on everyone doing their part. We try to foster that same sense of teamwork, shared purpose, and mutual support within our company. We encourage open communication, learning from each other, and celebrating collective successes. We're a small team, so everyone wears multiple hats, just like bees performing different tasks throughout their lives. And ultimately, we're all working towards that shared goal of supporting pollinators and connecting people to nature. We want our workplace to be a place where people feel valued, connected, and part of something meaningful, just like a bee in a thriving hive.

Amanda 15:35 I love that analogy. Building a business like a thriving hive. That's fantastic. So, looking ahead, what's the vision for Backed by Bees? Where do you see the company going in the next five to ten years?

Vincent 15:50 Our vision is really to scale our impact. We want to significantly increase the number of hives we manage, both through expanding our own apiaries and growing our Hive Host program across Ontario and potentially beyond. More hives mean more pollinators supported, more habitat created, and more opportunities to educate and connect people. We also want to continue innovating with our products, finding new ways to showcase the amazing diversity of honey and create unique, high-quality meads and other bee-related products. And we want to deepen our educational outreach, finding more ways to share the story of pollinators and inspire people to take action in their own backyards and communities. Ultimately, we want Backed by Bees to be a recognized leader in purposeful business, demonstrating how you can build a successful company that genuinely gives back more to nature than it takes.

Amanda 16:52 That's a powerful vision. Scaling impact through more hives, innovative products, and deeper education. It sounds like you guys are well on your way. Okay, before we wrap up, in every episode, we like to leave our listeners with two practical purpose tips that they can apply today to power up their business and brand. What two tips would you share, maybe one from each of you?

David 17:20 Okay, I'll take the first one. My tip would be: Start with your why, but don't wait for perfection to act. Find that core purpose that drives you, the positive impact you want to make. But then, start taking small, concrete steps towards it. Don't get paralyzed trying to figure everything out perfectly. Learn by doing, iterate, and let your purpose guide your actions along the way. Even small actions, done consistently, add up to significant impact.

Vincent 17:50 And my tip would be: Look for the connections. Purpose isn't just about one thing; it's often about how different things intersect. How does your business connect to your employees, your customers, your community, the environment? Explore those connections and look for opportunities to create positive feedback loops, where doing good in one area reinforces doing good in another. Think holistically, like an ecosystem, and find ways to build mutually beneficial relationships that support your purpose.

Amanda 18:26 Fantastic tips. Start with why but act imperfectly, and look for the connections. Thank you both so much. This has been an incredibly insightful conversation. Where can people connect with you, learn more about Backed by Bees, and of course, buy some honey and mead?

David 18:45 Our website is the best place: backedbybees.com. You can find information about our story, our Hive Host program, our products, and where to buy them. We're also active on social media, primarily Instagram and Facebook, @backedbybees.

Amanda 19:03 Awesome. We'll link those in the show notes. Vincent, David, thank you again for joining us today, for sharing your passion, your purpose, and the incredible story of Backed by Bees. Thank you for literally backing the bees and helping make the world a better place.

Vincent 19:20 Thanks so much for having us, Amanda. It was a pleasure.

David 19:23 Yeah, thank you. Great conversation.

Amanda 19:26 Thanks for listening to the purpose power brand Podcast. I'm Amanda Stassen. If you liked what you heard, be sure to share and subscribe on your favorite podcast player. We'd also love to hear what resonated with you. Or if you have a guest suggestion, drop us a line at info at the bizu.co. Special thanks to Mark Salam for original music and lead podcasting for production. Lastly, if you're ready to purpose power, your brand to grow, win and impact at scale. Let's talk visit www.bizu.co That's www.bizu.co. Bye for now.