Bee Joyful isn’t just the name of the new store located just off M-72 in the former Country Christmas building — it’s also a message that very much resonates with the new owners and their family.
“One thing we like to remind ourselves and our children is if you’re thankful, then you’ll be joyful,” said Bethany Joy Bower, co-owner of Bee Joyful. “Coming from a thankful heart always brings more joy to your life. We’re here living and breathing and we have the gift of life, that’s a wonderful thing to be thankful for all on its own.”
Bethany and her husband, Austin, have been operating their business out of the charming and noticeably renovated store front since November of last year, closing on the property, which also includes a house for their family, in the summer of 2023. The couple happened to come across the home online when they were looking at properties for sale in the area, and didn’t realize when they first saw photos that it was connected to Country Christmas, a store they both loved to visit for so many years. In fact, the Bowers’ first year of marriage ornament was gifted to them by former Country Christmas owners Bill and Lee Ann Smith.
“We came in here (the store) when we first got married for our first Christmas. My husband’s brother said ‘you know where you ought to go,’ so we stopped in, and in chatting with them (the Smiths’), found out that we were married on their 50th anniversary,” Bethany recalled. “It was so sweet, we put it on the top of our tree… It was a favorite stop of ours every year. We’d come and buy Christmas ornaments for each of our kids. So they all have their own.”
The store front was a bonus to a house that already checked off the boxes of what their family was looking for, Bethany explained, and just like it was fate, they were able to close on a place that they could call home and continue their business endeavors from. Fresh paint, heating and insulation, a new sign, and lighting was added to the building during the renovation process before they opened their doors last year, just in time for Bee Joyful’s 20th anniversary.
Quality, all-natural beeswax products of all kinds can be found within the store. From beeswax skin items like bar soaps, body/lip balms, salves and creams, to candles, laundry soap, local honey, books and hand-sewn gifts, the business offers customers an array of products for just about anyone. Bethany, who helped her father with beekeeping and other tasks on their farm downstate when growing up, first began making natural beeswax skin products for family and friends when she was a teenager, later launching her business, Bee Joyful, in 2004. Several years later, Bethany and Austin would marry in 2009, and both their business and family would continue to grow from there. The business has expanded year after year ever since, from products being sold now not just from their store front, but online and at multiple farmers markets and retail locations throughout the state.
“In the last 30 years, she started making all the skin products with beeswax and honey because it’s rich in vitamins and nutrients, but it’s also very hydrating and good for people with sensitive and dry skin,” Austin said. “And living in Northern Michigan where it’s cold, most people get dry skin, so washing with products that help that on a regular basis makes a huge difference.”
With a focus of keeping things local and all-natural, many products at the store are also created with care by talented family members and friends. A lot of the beeswax candles, for example, are made by Bethany’s mother, and most of the books for sale are illustrated by Austin’s mother and written by his father. The mittens are made out of recycled sweaters by Bethany’s sister, and some of the smaller hand-sewn products were created by the couple’s daughters. Everything in the building, including the antiques and decorations on display, has a story behind it and is a way to include and have family members part of the business.
“We also desire to represent a positive message that encourages people to be joyful in their everyday life,” Austin said. “For us, one of our favorite bible verses is ‘always be joyful.’ We thought that was perfect because we love the reminder. So when we are running our business and making our products, we’re selling them and talking to customers and it is encouraging to us and hopefully that message is encouraging to others, too.”
Bee Joyful is open Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays in the winter from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Summer hours will commence on Memorial Day weekend, where the store will be open six days a week and closed on Sundays. People can also shop for Bee Joyful products this season at the indoor farmers market in the Mercato Corridor at the Village at Grand traverse Commons on Saturdays. For more information, go to https:// www.beejoyful.com.
