2023 Holiday Gift Guide

Blog – by Becca Williams

2022 Holiday Gift Guide ✨

There's nothing we love more than sharing with you the things we love — especially when they're made by small businesses like us, and/or are made ethically and sustainably. This (and every) holiday season, the best gifts support makers who pour their hearts into their products that are always made with love, and that help the planet along the way.

Blog – by Becca Williams

What We've Learned, One Year In: Tips for Starting a New Business

Hi friends! In April, we came up on one year of running our lil' business, so we thought it was good time to share some of the things we have learned along the way. We are in no way experts, but we've definitely learned a lot over the past 16 months, and we thought we could share our (limited lol) wisdom! 1. Support other small businesses ☺️ We know everyone always says to network, and we don't want to sound like a broken record... but for real. The small business friends we have made have truly been the biggest highlight of our experience running a business, and this is the biggest piece of advice we could give to others. From sharing advice and tips & tricks, doing product swaps, running giveaways, supporting each other on social media, testing each others products, and chatting over DMs, we have made lifelong friends this year with fellow small business owners. Nobody else out there is going to understand what you're going through as much as other business owners! 2. Start your social media channels early - it's all about community! 💃 One of the things we were most excited about when starting Alben Lane was our social media channels. Becca works full time as a social media manager for a local company, so we already knew a little bit to get started. We launched our social media pages almost 5 months before we actually launched our candles, which seems a little long... But, what it allowed us to do was take our time with building an engaged audience before we even had anything to sell! We were able to build a little hype around our launch because we were posting sneak peaks, product shots, and getting people excited. Plus, this is where we met so many other local business friends! 3. Use Quickbooks - and track everything 💸 We know this might seem completely obvious to anyone who knows anything about accounting and that side of running a business, but it wasn't to us. From the start, we wanted to make sure every expense, mile driven, receipts collected, etc. was tracked—but we did it all manually.  The busier we got (especially around the holidays), keeping track of these things became increasingly difficult and hard to keep up with. I think we were hesitant to spend money on a software that could do it for us, because at the stage we were at, we couldn't justify spending money on something we could do ourselves (even though we were not). We should've justified it. Quickbooks truly has been an invaluable tool for keeping track of our finances. We only wish we had found it sooner! The interface is super intuitive and easy to use, this is coming from two dummies who know nothing about finances or accounting (at all). Now, after tax season, our accountants are definitely thanking us for it 🥲 4. Participate in markets ✨ We didn't do any markets for the first few months after launching our business, this was a huge mistake! A lot of that had to do with the pandemic, but I also don't think we put ourselves out there enough. Ever since we have started participating in markets, they are our favorite way to sell our products. We get it, you might not think markets are your thing (we thought the same)! Try just one, and you might fall in love. They are a great place to meet other small business owners, and also meet your customers for the first time, which is incredibly rewarding!!! It might take a bit of time for you to get out of your comfort zone, but make eye contact with customers walking by, ask them questions, and engage with them!  Our biggest piece of advice on markets would be, in our experience, the higher the price to have a booth does not mean more foot traffic or more sales - we've attended free markets hosted by other makers and have had the most incredible times. Lastly, invest in a Square or Stripe to try to be able to accept all forms of payment (credit, debit, and cash). You will miss out on revenue if you are only accepting e-transfers - a lot of customers might not want to go through the effort of e-transferring, and it's not an entirely safe point-of-sale payment option either for you or the customer. You don't want customers to cancel the transfer after they've walked away with your product! We use this Square, although they have a free reader that we used for months that works, too! There's just no tap available, so users might not be able to tap their Apple watches or phones. 5. Skip the ads unless you're sure of your target market ⏭ We know how it is—it seems incredibly temping to spend money boosting a post if you're not getting a lot of traffic to bring more people to your site or page. We're all for targeted ads—key word being targeted. Creating a general audience to show your ad to likely won't work as well as you hope it will. Spend some time researching your current market as well as the type of consumer you're trying to target. That way, when you're ready to start creating ads, you'll be able to reach the consumers who are more likely to be interested in your product, remember your product, and hopefully will want to purchase your product! 6. Don't underestimate the power of email marketing 📧 We're still learning about email marketing every day, but we've been working to grow our strategy, and have seen amazing results! Whenever we have a launch, we announce it on social media, of course. But not all of our consumers are on social each day, or even at all!  We've found that keeping emails to 1 or 2 a month keeps consumers informed, but avoids making them feel spammed. Hubspot's guide to email marketing helped us so much, and we always try to reference it whenever we're building a campaign!  7. It's all about having fun ✨ Lastly, just have fun with it. Whenever we get stressed or overwhelmed or start overthinking, we just tell ourselves that this is supposed to be fun! Having a business is an incredible way to learn new skills and learn about yourself. That being said... a business with your best friend is even more fun.

Blog – by Jessica Douglas

Blast from the Past 🚀

Hi friends! It's National Best Friends Day, and as some of you may already know, we have actually been best friends our whole lives—literally. We've shared so many amazing memories along the way, which have of course inspired everything that goes into Alben Lane. We thought in honour of today, we'd share some of our favourite pictures growing up together :)   Starting off strong... Here is Jess holding Becca as a baby. This is what we mean when we say we've known each other since Day 1, LOL. Our mom's have been as inseparable as us, so we've been this close ever since we can remember. A blast from the past wouldn't be complete without our other sister. Jess' sister Leah has put up with the two of us for 24 years, and we couldn't do this without her!  Clearly we enjoyed picnics back then as much as we do now.         Here we are reviewing very important docs with Pete, Becca's dad! We were practicing for Alben Lane, even in 2005, lol. He's helped us endlessly with the logistics and strategic planning of AL, and we seriously would not have been able to do this without him. We wouldn't be able to without all 4 of our parents' support—they've helped us with everything, from market setup to storing extra materials, to putting up with us being stressed (or just chaotic when we're together 😅).   Aaaaaaand, to finish off on a funnier note... Here we are, eating snacks as always. There's nobody else in the world either of us could do this with.  Happy Best Friend Day 💖

Blog – by Jessica Douglas

Oct-Nov 2021 Charity Support | Elder Dog Canada

As some of you may know, we have an online exclusive scent that you can't find in any of our retailers. If you haven't checked out our Warm Cotton candle you definitely should— it's one of our favourite scents, and we donate 15% of sales each month to a different organization that is close to our heart.  Now that we have this fun blog feature on our new site, we want to start talking about the organization we are choosing for the month, including why we chose them and what they do!  ElderDog Canada is an amazing organization that is dedicated to helping aging dogs and aging people. ElderDog assists older folks in caring for their dogs including providing dog walking services, assistance with obtaining food and feeding, assistance with animal hygiene, transportation to vet appointments, among countless other activities. ElderDog also acts as a dog rescue by providing foster homes for dogs while helping to adopt out the dogs into approved homes, and with long term care for senior dogs that are re-homed through their organization. Jess is a foster with ElderDog which is one of the reasons we decided to choose them for both October and November. ElderDog is doing an auction on November 27th (the day this blog was posted) to help raise money for the amazing work that they do and we have donated a few candles to the auction as well. Check out the auction and see if you can knock a few items off your Christmas list while helping out a great cause in the process!  Another way you can help out ElderDog is by making a donation directly through their website, or you can become a volunteer with them! They are always in need of new volunteers and there are many different ways you can help out including dog walking, fostering, dog care support for seniors, and more. You can find tons more information about ElderDog and ways you help out at their website. Here are some photos of Jess' last foster dog for cuteness purposes, of course:

Blog – by Becca Williams

2021 Sustainable Holiday Gift Guide 🎁

It's the most wonderful time of the year! ❄️ There's nothing we love more than sharing with you the things we love — especially when they're made by small businesses like us, and/or are made ethically and sustainably. This (and every) holiday season, the best gifts support makers who pour their hearts into their products that are always made with love, and that help the planet along the way. We've put together a lil' gift guide that highlights some of our absolute favorite goodies if you're looking for some gift inspo this Christmas. There are too many incredible makers and small businesses out there to mention, so if you don't see your fave in our list, let us know in the comments below! We're always looking to spread the love (and build out our holiday wishlists, too! 🤫).   H O M E  Earthen Fern: Not only is Emily from Earthen Fern the loveliest person, she makes stunning dried arrangements that fit right with our neutral vibe. She also has gorgeous prints and jewelry! We both recently bought some of her Christmas tree ornaments and are in love. Frost and Fringe: Speaking of Christmas ornaments, Frost and Fringe creates gorgeous neutral (🤩) macrame ornaments from recycled cotton (🤩🤩🤩)! You can also find the cutest stickers and prints from F&F as well. Maison Tess: Everybody loves a comfy bed. Maison Tess, a sustainable Canadian bedding brand, gives back to Canadian shelters with each purchase. They're focused on donating to women, youth, and LGBTQ-related causes. Not only that, but they'll accept sheets from previous customers that have been slept in so they can donate them to shelters in need. Liv B's Easy Everyday Cookbook: First of all, we love Liv. Second, this cookbook has to have the healthiest, easiest, yummiest plant-based recipes — everything is either one-pan/pot friendly, or has less than 5 ingredients.  Prints and Cards by Katelyn Morse: Now that you have gift ideas, you're going to need a card, too (and perhaps a cute print). Katelyn Morse creates gorgeous pieces from her dreamy home, all inspired by nature and the calmness it can bring. It's safe to say all of our holiday cards will be coming from her! Us (Obvi): Don't know what types of scents your person enjoys? We created our virtual gift cards for this reason! Thrifted Cocktail Kit: Okay, so this one is a DIY instead, but we still love the idea and think it's super cute. Head to the thrift store and pick up a couple of glasses that you think they'd like, as well as a jar or container. Fill the container with the cocktail (or mocktail) ingredients — like dried rosemary. Grab their fave spirit and you've got a pretty adorable and personal gift.   B E A U T Y  Hart Bars: We could not LIVE without these zero-waste moisturizing bars from Hart Bars. Made in the Maritimes, these little bars are filled with incredible ingredients that keep our skin so happy. And yes, we said zero waste 👏 On your first purchase, we recommend getting a bar and a tin, and then we just repurchase our bars once we run out! If your skin (or your loved ones') needs a little extra love this winter, you have to try out Hart Bars' Hypnos Bar with jojoba oil and chamomile-infused olive oil. Bath Salts from Fika Wellness Co.: Everyone needs a little relaxation this time of year, and Fika Wellness Co. makes it so easy. Their bath soaks feel like heaven and are the perfect gift, with no parabens, sulphates, synthetic fragrances or artificial colours.  F A S H I O N  Free Spirit Stitches: We bought the cutest market bag hand-crocheted by Sarah from Free Spirit Stitches, and we are obsessed. While that might have been our favourite piece from her collection, she also makes the sweetest blankets and gifts for your kiddos.  Good For Sunday: If you know us, you know we love nothing more than a high-quality, neutral piece of clothing that can be a staple in our wardrobes. Good For Sunday is a 100% Canadian brand prioritizing ethical and sustainable fashion that not only looks great, but is great for the planet. They also offset all of their shipping emissions to ensure they're reducing their carbon footprint as much as possible!  Knits from Sassparilla: It is getting too cold outside, but Sassparilla Knits will have you covered (literally). From hats to headbands to scrunchies (and even some goodies for babies), you'll find the perfect cold-weather gift for your loved ones. If you're quick you might even be able to grab one of the last of the Chelsea's Picks Box, which includes customizable best sellers from the site and one of our bubbly candles! This box set is literally the most perfect gift but there are limited quantities available so don't miss out!  Forged Coast Goldsmith: The dreamiest jewelry made by the sweetest gal, Forged Coast Goldsmith's products speak for themselves. The pieces are dainty, simple, elegant, and made with all the love in the world. Just look at those chains! They make sure to work with partners that are aligned with sustainability and ethical practices, ensuring their jewelry doesn't contribute to the fast-fashion industry.   D O G Wilder Harrier: Dante's FAVOURITE treats! Wilder Harrier is an amazing Canadian company that makes dog food and treats using alternative protein sources and ingredients which are more sustainable than traditional dog treats. Instead of using chicken or beef in their dog treats they use ingredients like crickets and seaweed, both nutritious and environmentally friendly alternatives! You can use their store locator to find out where to purchase their treats near you or order directly through their website. Dante recommends the banana peanut cricket training bites and the pumpkin carrot cricket training bites!  Good Boy Collective: Located in Vancouver, BC, Good Boy Collective is a dog friendly boutique and community space with a focus on modern and ethical supplies for your dog. They carry tons of dog treats and toys as well as zero waste dog food! On Dante's list to Dog Santa he has asked for some new treat puzzles from SPOT ethical, an Olive and Hound treat pouch so he can have more treats on walks, and a Freshwater Design Co doggie tag that says "SOCK THIEF".  Johnny Zees: Dante is a destroyer of toys so we love Johnny Zees tough toys! Made in Pictou County, NS, these toys are actually dyed with Kool-Aid as opposed to harmful dyes so they are safe for your dog to chew and play with. We grabbed some of their toys at Christmas at the Forum and Dante is obsessed! 

Blog – by Jessica Douglas

Why We Source all of Our Materials from Canadian Suppliers 🍁

When we started Alben Lane, we worked so hard to source all of our materials from suppliers as close to home as possible. Being from such a small province, it proved to be a little more difficult than we thought. 

Blog – by Jessica Douglas

BTS From our Beach Product Shoot 🏝

One of our favourite things about owning our small business is taking our own product photos! We love to get lifestyle type shots and get out into different places for our photos. This past summer, we needed some product photos for Secret Beach so we spend a day at Conrad's Beach. We picked up an amazing vegan charcuterie box from Lush Living and (of course) wine! We packed up the car with blankets and pillows and set off for a dreamy picnic... little did we know that the WIND had other plans for us.    Turns out what was a beautiful warm sunny day in the city was a cold windy day at the beach... We got some gorgeous photos, but our charcuterie box filled with sand and so did our wine glasses and our eyes lol :) The photos were worth it, and it was so nice to get out of the city, breathe in the salty sea breeze with each other. Sometimes the two of us get so wrapped up in running the business, we forget to slow down and enjoy every moment of having such a cool thing to do with your best friend. Note to self, next time, bring warmer clothes. Please enjoy this snap of Jess trying to take product shots.