AH, SUMMER. Make MEMORIES a MUST! ...not musty memories.

Ah, summer is here. The damp, hair curling ocean air. The smell of charred burgers and hot dogs wafting through back yards. Car roofs and the ‘way way back’s’ of jeeps overstuffed with beach chairs and coolers and suitcases, as the wanderlusts of heat hit the road for their annual migratory rituals of summery to and fro’s. There is simply no better time of year to live wild with abandon. What you should NOT abandon however, are the bags and coolers full of damp, stinky summer stuff!

The humid days and nights of summer living can wreak havoc on the nose as your belongs become ripe with the not so pleasant fruits of our active outdoor labours of summertime love! The hot sun and moist air are welcome signs of the season. Unfortunately together, they combine to leave even the loveliest days soiled with unwanted odours (not to mention the odours of lovely beach bags, coolers and shoes!)

Now we all know that the occasional forgetfulness of ‘hanging the suits up to dry’ after a day at the beach is a shore way to musty odour and a host of not so fun 'other' things. And let’s face it, those flip flops and white tee’s you live in can get pretty stinky while on the open road of adventure. Couple that with a day of fishing on the boat or a camping trip by the lake, and you have the perfect summer cocktail of STINK! (on or off the rocks!) 

What if we told you that we had the perfect summer companion for your home away from home that was as easy as 1- 2- 3- as in, The Ever Bamboo Mini Deodorizer + Dehumidifier (aka The Travel Trio). They fit everywhere and anywhere you need them to. The backpack, where dirty and clean clothes must co-exist. 

The picnic basket that you ALWAYS forget to empty (aka leftover potato salad anyone?) Or the damp towels left sitting in the car just one day too long. You name it. The Travel Trio pouches are filled with our porous, odour absorbing bamboo charcoal granules, and quite literally save the day (and the noses and good standing of our travel companions!) Just pop one into the place where the stinky damp thing is and wella! Nothing but blue skies and sunshiney scents! Perfect for the beach bag, the cooler, the suitcase, the knapsack, or the duffle!

Now, nothing will stand between your nose and the refreshing summer breeze. Frolic freely knowing that what happens in the travel bag stays fresh in the travel bag! Have a happy, safe and STINK FREE summer.

Earth Day - Let's keep it aROUND for a while, shall we?

Earth Day is again upon us. One day out of 365 doesn’t seem ample enough for our gorgeous green blue ball of wonder. And considering we are quite literally NOTHING without it, best to keep Mother Nature (and Al Gore) happy!

Around the world, Earth Day is set aside to call attention to, and address the environmental issues that continue to press upon us globally. Ongoing climate change affects everything from our biodiversity to the air we breath. The decline of our natural resources are in grave disrepair. Our oceans are now more polluted than at any other time in history and renewable energy for most of the globe still seems like a pipe dream away. The chain of events set off by NOT being mindful to the needs of our planet could prove catastrophic. And let’s face it, it would be really nice if future generations have an Earth Day to celebrate!  

While Earth Day is a wonderful reminder to think about being kinder to the planet, that mindset should be part of our every day thinking! At Ever Bamboo, this is the driving force behind our vision. We are not just asking you to use a product that is natural, sustainable, recyclable, and all around GOOD for you...we are challenging you to literally reTHINK the way you contemplate STINK and the choices you make to approach it. Both are a win-win!

Not only will poor choices here be forever harmful to the Earth, they may possibly banish all together, the beautiful quality of life we earthlings take for granted. 

It is old habit to reach for chemical laden air fresheners and candles that use scent to mask odour. It is ingrained in society that masking is the solution to odours. But the real answer lies in eliminating them. "Rethink The Stink" is a call to action to bring awareness to making better, safer choices that are kinder to the earth. When we 'know better' we do better. To do better, we need to SHIFT our thinking to affect real change.

By bringing awareness to Bamboo Charcoal and it’s incredible properties as a stink stopper and humidity hacker, you come to enjoy a safer home full of happy humans and happy pets. And did we mention Al Gore? Happy Earth Day Earthlings!

#RethinkTheStink
@everbamboo

 

Terrarium Ideas?

Hey man, is that a Terrarium?

Ah the seventies! Remember them? The Brady Bunch, wide leg pants, peace signs, really bad mustache and platform shoes? Retro culture is back in a big way, and guess what topic is ‘sprouting up' again. Not life on Mars, but LIFE IN JARS! You guessed it. The TERRARIUM! The throwback is making a comeback.

 

The Terrarium is the new ‘HOT” in horticulture, and exciting new terrarium ideas are making the regular old houseplant a thing of the past.

But what’s so cool about a terrarium, is that it becomes an entirely self functioning ecosystem through a wondrous alchemy of proper soil, light, moisture regulation and plants. And all in a glass container!  But did you know what other “hot topic” is a very important component in terrarium ideas? Charcoal!

 

Besides the fish tank, one of the most popular ways activated charcoal was utilized was in - you guessed it - the terrarium! Here, charcoal granules function as the little gatekeepers of pH Balance. The element of water is vital in a terrarium, as it is constantly being recycled and re-dispersed through the plants, the soil and the air.

The magic mojo of charcoal granules is that they keep the water purified and free of toxins, while helping to regulate moisture in this tiny world of wonder.

Now, you may have noticed recently that charcoal itself has become the chemical free, non-toxic ‘go-to’ product in home life, well being and skincare. As a leader in bamboo charcoal products, and their multifunctional properties as stink-stoppers & humidity hackers, Ever Bamboo champions all things sustainable and reusable and has come up with way to contribute to a terrarium idea of its own. Recycled bamboo charcoal granules from our odour bamboozling pouches!

After a full year of reactivated use in the home keeping stinky odours and must at bay, Ever Bamboo pouches can be cut open to release their charcoal granules into a fulfilling afterlife …. Your Terrarium! Simply mix the granules with gravel under the peatlite layer, and BOOM! Saved money, saved time and a totally Terra-fic Terrarium!

So be cool, man! You don’t have to feel like a bum just cuz’ you lack a green thumb! The terrarium is a wonderful way to put a little life in your home, and chloro-Fill it with the beauty of living plants.

We hope you have enjoyed this fast forward throwback, and that you find both fun and function in your bamboo charcoal, and terrarium ideas! Peace Out. 

Air “Fresheners”? or Poisoners?

Does your ROOM smell more like a R’ew’M?

How do you get rid of the odours? Would you pull out a can of air “fresheners” and start spraying? Light a scented candle? Or an air fresheners plug-in? with many scents to choose from..."Vanilla Heaven", "Island Breeze"? Air fresheners are most commonly used at bathrooms and around the home. But do you know that they’re often toxic and might as well called air poisoners.

But do you know if they’re fresh or toxic? Are they air fresheners or toxically masking air poisoners? Newer products are now labeled with “100% Natural Propellant”, what does that really mean? Article Link

Have you read the ingredient labels on most air fresheners? The chances are you’d see fragrance or perfume as part of the list. Do you know that this single ingredient contains up to 400 toxic ingredients? Other common ingredients include formaldehyde and xylene, which are often not listed. These ingredients are carcinogen and neurotoxin those are harmful to our bodies, children, and pets. Some brands don’t even have ingredients listed on the packaging because it is not mandatory to do so. This is of huge concern and we have gathered a list of articles on the issue:

What's in air fresheners? 
Air "Fresheners"
Beware of Toxic Air Fresheners
Hazards are hiding in fragranced consumer products
Exposed: What’s Lurking in Febreze?
Exposed: Cancer-Causing Toxins Found in Air Fresheners
Go fragrance-free

There are better ways to freshen up your home than conventional air fresheners. We recommend unscented bamboo charcoal deodorizers (100% natural, made from moso bamboo) or natural air fresheners alternatives (ones made with essential oils). Opening up windows to improve air circulation would do wonders also. Simply put, let nature helping nature.

What is your experience with conventional air fresheners and other natural alternatives? Please share with us in the Comment section below.

#RethinkTheStink

====================================
Special thanks to The Changing Planet providing the list of links

Ever Bamboo Crowdnaming Campaign

Once upon a time, there was a moso bamboo.
He absorbed odours and must from closet to shoe.
But for all his hard work it seemed such a shame,
that our feisty bamboo was given no name :(

So we reach out to YOU, to tell us what you think.  
What should we name our hero of stink?

#EverBambooCrowdnaming 
Click here to let us know what you think.
Campaign Date: Sep 25 - Oct 4, 2015

The Whoopi Effect

Hello Everyone,

Today marks the one year anniversary of being featured on The View as one of Whoopi’s Favorite Things, and those 42 unforgettable seconds forever changed the trajectory of Ever Bamboo. 

Last month, a customer called asking us which product would work best for the strange odour in her furnace room. After recommending the large room deodorizer I inquired how she learned about our products. “Whoopi” she enthusiastically said!  “You know that was a year ago, right?’ I playfully mentioned. “Yes” she laughed. “I made sure i wrote down everything Whoopi said so that i would know where to order when i found myself in a stinky situation. That time is now!”  We both had a laugh and it got me to thinking, that we really are helping our customers to “rethink the stink!”

The Whoopi Effect is still with us after a full year, and we at Ever Bamboo could not be happier :) The feature inspired us to further define our vision and core values. It has fuelled our passion, and our mission to bring about a new way of thinking about dampness and odour in our homes, our belongings and our lives and to “rethink” how we purify our air in a natural, non toxic way. The growing excitement and satisfaction in our product has led us to dream big dreams. It has given us opportunities to partner with extremely talented individuals to foster product and brand development and a bigger digital and marketing presence. 

This expansion will allow more customers, like you, to learn about, have access to and experience this sustainable eco friendly way of living life stink free!

As we approach our 10th year Anniversary, reflecting on the journey brings us a real sense of satisfaction. The past 9 years have been at once humbling and tireless as we struggled to get our product and our message out into the world, but ultimately we have been met with excitement, encouragement and validation that has proven to be deeply rewarding. 

So thank you again Miss Whoopi Goldberg for 42 of the best seconds ever (link to youtube & link to our thank you letter to Miss Goldberg). Take her word for it if ours is not enough. 

….It's time to Rethink the Stink!

Sincerely and without stink,
K.B. Lee
CEO/Founder of Ever Bamboo - #RethinkTheStink

 

'Using businesses to improve lives...'

was being talked about by Blake Mycoskie, founder of TOMS, in his interview with Inc Magazine.

Two great cause marketing initiatives this month (May 2015): 
ONE DAY WITHOUT SHOES by TOMS 
From May 5 - May 21, Instagram your bare feet with hashtag #WITHOUTSHOES to give a new pair of shoes to a child in need. More details here.

GREAT AMERICAN SHAKE SALE by SHAKE SHACK 
"Throughout May, Shake Shack guests who donate $2 or more to No Kid Hungry will receive a card for a complimentary hand-spun shake - valued at $5 - redeemable on their next visit. One hundred percent of donations will benefit No Kid Hungry." More details here.

 

 

☰ featured on Bloomberg ☰

On a typical Tuesday morning (March 10), an editor emailed us requesting for our Shoe Deodorizer sample for a photoshoot. She's writing an article on charcoal products for Bloomberg's BusinessWeek and yahoooo we'd be part of it. That's the awesome randomness of pioneering a new product and building a brand. The journey is filled with ups and downs but it's these awesome randomness (e.g. a review from a customer, a new retailer placing their first order after six years of our initial approach) that make the journey so worth it.

Here's the featured article:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-02/dark-detox-activated-charcoal-s-cleansing-benefits

Dark Detox: Activated Charcoal’s Cleansing Benefits

Photographer: Travis Rathbone for Bloomberg Businessweek

Ever Bamboo shoe deodorizer (in case you have trouble spotting it, the pouch on the bottom right corner under Origins'=)
$9.99; everbamboo.com

Place inside your shoes to deodorize and remove moisture. The pads will get clogged in a month or so—place them under direct sunlight outside for three hours to re-up their power.

Ever Bamboo is one of Whoopi's Favorite Things

Our Open Letter to Ms. Whoopi Goldberg: 

September 6, 2014

Dear Ms. Whoopi Goldberg:

Thank you for featuring Ever Bamboo as one of your favorite things on August 6, 2014 on The View. Since then, our natural deodorizers and dehumidifiers have made its way to many of your viewers’ homes - helping to eliminate odours, dampness, and purify air pollutants within the household.

Ever Bamboo has been in business for almost eight years now. Like many other small business owners, it has been a challenge from the very beginning. For many years, my wife and I were unsure whether our hard work would pay off. We invested significant time and money, while working late with multiple jobs to make ends meet, and having families and friends volunteer to pack orders with tight timelines. All of our efforts yielded only slow growth. The major challenge was getting people to know our products and its uses. You have helped to change all that by featuring it as one of your favorite things!

It has been a month since the feature and we have received close to 500 orders, with many customers now having placed their second order. New retailers have picked up our products while existing distributors and retailers have increased their orders. Most importantly, many people have and will benefit from this natural and sustainable product made from bamboo. Having you called Ever Bamboo as one of your favorite things has reignited our business and our passion for it.

As a small thank you, we have donated $1,000 to UNICEF. It is our understanding this is one of the charities you support, and that you were named UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 2003. We'd also like to give products to your guests for your next party or big event. The Shoe Deodorizer, one of your favorite things, is a great one to get a few giggles.

We hope to have the opportunity to thank you in person when you visit Banff, Alberta in February of 2015.

Yours truly,

K.B. Lee
CEO & Founder

Below are some testimonials from our recent customers:

"I love all my room deodorizers and dehumidifiers! They have absolutely no odor to them and completely remove the damp, musty smell in the basement!"

"Love the room deodorizer and dehumidifier! Works great! Also received face and body bar. It is fabulous! So glad Whoopi recommended your products on The View."