Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Schwarz.
Erin, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I am originally from Hawaii, which is a wonderful melting pot of different Asian cultures. My mother’s family immigrated to Hawaii from Japan in the 1890s and continued to practice and celebrate important Japanese traditions. One of these wonderful traditions is ikebana, the ancient Japanese art of flower arranging. My mother had taken lessons as a young girl, and she was the one who introduced me to ikebana.
I practiced ikebana casually for many years, however, while working as an investment banker, I found it difficult to fit ikebana into my busy work schedule. In 2017, I left my job in NYC to study ikebana at the Sogetsu school in Tokyo for one year. It was during my time in Tokyo that I realized this beautiful art form needed to be shared more broadly. When I returned to the US in 2018, I decided to create a business that would make ikebana accessible to everyone… and Banabox was born!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Banabox’s mission is to share the art of ikebana. This special art form is not well known across the United States, so our biggest challenge is raising awareness of how wonderful practicing ikebana can be. Ikebana offers something different to each practitioner – it can be an opportunity to connect with nature, a form of meditation and relaxation, a way to expand your flower arranging technique, a chance to deepen your understanding of Japanese theory and philosophy, or simply a way to bring beauty into your life.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Banabox – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
Banabox teaches ikebana through monthly deliveries of fresh flowers and a design for a unique arrangement. Our goal is to share the beauty and elegance of ikebana. Our kits include fresh flowers, tools and step-by-step instructions on how to create the flower arrangement. We offer subscriptions for those wanting to learn a new skill and prepaid options for inspired gifts.
Banabox is the only subscription-based company focused on ikebana. We take great pride and joy in curating our monthly boxes, which include the freshest seasonal materials. Since our launch, customers have loved discovering new flowers, branches, and greenery through our monthly boxes. We’ve been overwhelmed with the positive feedback from our customers!
What role has luck had in your life and business?
I am blessed to have an incredibly supportive family, and in particular, I am extremely grateful to my mother for sharing her passion for ikebana. I constantly “borrow” her vases because she has the most fabulous collection, and we often text back and forth with ideas for upcoming Banabox arrangements.
I’ve designed a special arrangement for Mother’s Day, and I’m so excited that moms everywhere will be able to experience an activity that has brought so much joy to my mom and me. It can also be a lovely bonding activity to do together, and it’s such a wonderful change of pace from a plain bouquet of flowers!
Pricing:
- Our monthly subscription boxes are $64/month and include fresh flowers, tools, and shipping.
- We also have prepaid options starting at $125 that make great gifts.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://banabox.co
- Email: info@banabox.co
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/banabox.co
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/banabox.co
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
