For Christmas, we showed you the best locally made gift to get for your loved one. Now Valentine's is quickly approaching, and we've got more small Belizean businesses with special packages that your Valentine will love. Courtney Menzies has this story.
Valentine's Day is right around the corner, but instead of the usual flowers and chocolates, people are getting creative with their gifts - and supporting small businesses in the process.
If your Valentine has a sweet tooth, then Love So Sweet may be right for you. This small, up and coming business just opened its figurative doors last month but their unique, romantic products make a the perfect gift for your loved one.
Denise Garcia Reynolds, Owner, Love So Sweet
"It's mostly chocolate covered strawberries, you could do apples as well. And I'll be having more option in the future but for now it's mainly strawberries."
"Unfortunately due to the COVID situation I lost my job last year like a lot of people have here in Belize, so being at home gave me the opportunity to venture into something I've always wanted to do but because I've been busy at work I didn't actually do it so that was the opportunity so I just took advantage of the opportunity."
Courtney Menzies:
"And It's paid off because now you're getting a lot of orders."
Denise Garcia Reynolds, Owner, Love So Sweet
"Like I said, just started, Valentine's is a big deal in Belize no doubt. So far the orders they look really good. I was busy this morning for today, tomorrow and I have orders for Sunday as well."
"I have intentions of incorporating flowers as well so I'm working on that but given Valentine's being so close I have limited time, limited options, we have occasions throughout the years, birthday, anniversary, gender reveal, if it's a boy or girl, and I will be working on those naughty boxes as well."
"At the end of February what I'm gonna do is for all the customers that have purchased for January and February I will be doing a raffle where I will be giving out a package. I won't say what it is yet."
But if you're cutting back on the calories, then maybe skincare is the way to go. Rubba Dub Soaps started back in 1996 when the founder, Lidie Allen, realized that she couldn't use just any products on her sensitive skin. She started off making natural soaps, and now she and her sister have a wide variety.
Conchita Moreno, Co-Owner, Rubba Dub Soap
"This one is soothing scents, we have so many different variety, they're amazing. This one is the jungle splash, and we have orange swirl. The one she named is honey oat, this one is very good for all skin types, especially for the face and especially for people who have acne or psoriasis or anything like that, this is very good for that."
"This one is farmer scrub and we also have the anise which is licorice soap. A lot of people like this, this is another popular one this is the cinnamon spice. It's really good. And then we have the lemon and the herbal and we have the chocolate mint. This is amazing especially in the season now that it's getting warm and hot, mint you can't go wrong with that."
And that's only some of their soaps. But they also sell natural shampoos, conditioners, massage oils, serums to help children sleep, and scrubs.
Lidie Allen, Founder, Rubba Dub Soap
"This is apricot and mint. It exfoliates, it actually clears your skin. And then we have the foot scrub if you wanna get pampered with a nice pedicure. Our foot scrubs are amazing. And It's very very minty. Now this is our coffee scrub, this is very good on your face and you can use it in your entire body."
And for Valentine's, they prepared special packages.
Lidie Allen, Founder, Rubba Dub Soap
"Set of shampoo and conditioner and we have the lotion and the massage oil, we have a little scrub and it comes with a face scrubs and a chocolate mint soap too for special occasion."
"This is $100 it has everything in large sizes. And it's not too late, anyone who wants, we can give them on Sunday if they want."
And to go along with your skincare package, you might also be interested in makeup. At Makeup Addicts Belize, you choose the product, and they turn it into a modern bouquet.
Julianie Narvaez
"We have three promotions going on right now. One being the makeup bouquet which consists of anything you want, whether it be makeup or skin care. We are not charging for the bouquet itself, we do it all on our own. We are only charged for the items inside the bouquet."
"When it comes to Valentine's it's usually a busy week because everybody is trying to find last minute Valentine's Day gifts and makeup is a great idea for any woman out there."
Reporter
"So you've gotten a lot of orders over the past week?"
Julianie Narvaez
"Yes. More so today and this coming weekend that's what we've seen consistently for the past year."
"Students, especially people doing Zoom now, they have more time to practice with makeup and you know have more time to pamper themselves with skincare and do on."
So if you're still looking for a special gift for that special someone, try shopping locally.
