Roxanne Quimby
Encyclopedia
Roxanne Quimby is an American businesswomen notable for founding the Burt's Bees
personal care products company with beekeeper Burt Shavitz
.
Quimby was originally from Lexington, Massachusetts
, a daughter of an engineer and salesman father. Although her family was business oriented, she initially took a different path, going to art school in San Francisco, where she was influenced by the "back to the land" ideas of Helen and Scott Nearing
. In 1975 she and her boyfriend George St. Clair moved to Maine
, bought a tract of land near Guilford, built a cabin and outhouse, and lived a rustic lifestyle. In 1979, the couple had twins; a little later, St Clair left the family. Eventually, she met Burt Shavitz and in 1984 began selling candles made of his beeswax at local fairs. After achieving a $20,000 profit the first year, the business grew steadily; in 1991 it introduced its best received product, a lip balm. In 1993, Quimby bought Shavitz's stake in the company; in 2003 she partially and in 2007 fully divested herself, leaving with an estimated total of $350 million.
After turning Burt's Bees over to outside investors, Quimby used her new fortune to deepen her long running conservation advocacy. The most visible action was the purchase of over 120,000 acres of Maine forest, which she then placed off limits to hunters, loggers, and other users. She has since proposed a donation of 70,000 acres of her land towards a new Maine Woods National Park. An additional donation of 30,000 acres would be managed like a state park and would allow activities such as hunting and snowmobiling.
As of 2011, she is a resident of Portland, Maine
, where she leads a number of philanthropic organizations in the area.
Burt's Bees
Burt's Bees is an American personal care products company that describes itself as an "Earth friendly, Natural Personal Care Company"making products for personal care, health, beauty, and personal hygiene...
personal care products company with beekeeper Burt Shavitz
Burt Shavitz
Burt Shavitz is a beekeeper and photographer from Maine.In 1984 he founded Burt's Bees with graphic artist Roxanne Quimby. She used his beeswax to make personal care products...
.
Quimby was originally from Lexington, Massachusetts
Lexington, Massachusetts
Lexington is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 31,399 at the 2010 census. This town is famous for being the site of the first shot of the American Revolution, in the Battle of Lexington on April 19, 1775.- History :...
, a daughter of an engineer and salesman father. Although her family was business oriented, she initially took a different path, going to art school in San Francisco, where she was influenced by the "back to the land" ideas of Helen and Scott Nearing
Helen and Scott Nearing
Helen Knothe Nearing and Scott Nearing were well-known American back-to-the-landers who wrote extensively about their experience living what they termed "the good life".- Philosophy :...
. In 1975 she and her boyfriend George St. Clair moved to Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, bought a tract of land near Guilford, built a cabin and outhouse, and lived a rustic lifestyle. In 1979, the couple had twins; a little later, St Clair left the family. Eventually, she met Burt Shavitz and in 1984 began selling candles made of his beeswax at local fairs. After achieving a $20,000 profit the first year, the business grew steadily; in 1991 it introduced its best received product, a lip balm. In 1993, Quimby bought Shavitz's stake in the company; in 2003 she partially and in 2007 fully divested herself, leaving with an estimated total of $350 million.
After turning Burt's Bees over to outside investors, Quimby used her new fortune to deepen her long running conservation advocacy. The most visible action was the purchase of over 120,000 acres of Maine forest, which she then placed off limits to hunters, loggers, and other users. She has since proposed a donation of 70,000 acres of her land towards a new Maine Woods National Park. An additional donation of 30,000 acres would be managed like a state park and would allow activities such as hunting and snowmobiling.
As of 2011, she is a resident of Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
, where she leads a number of philanthropic organizations in the area.