About Us

Hey there, I'm Helen, and welcome to Unique Boutique by Helen—a whimsical journey that began with a spark of inspiration and a dash of creativity.

After retiring from the bustling world of software, with my kids all grown and flown the nest, I found myself craving a new adventure. And so, armed with nothing but a few hours of free time and a whole lot of determination, I ventured into the realm of crafting cute signs right in my dining room.

When I shared my creations with my husband, Jason, his encouragement was the fuel I needed to take things further. With his expertise in woodworking, we decided to expand our horizons. What started as a simple crafting session soon blossomed into a full-blown woodworking endeavor, turning our oversized 3-car garage into a bustling workshop.

But why stop there? With a newfound passion for creativity, I delved into designing custom shirts, experimenting with paper-based crafts, dabbling in jewelry making, and even crafting unique home décor items and personalized coffee mugs.

With Jason by my side, we embarked on a journey of love and craftsmanship, pouring our hearts into every handcrafted piece we create. Our goal? To spread joy with each creation, and to bring a smile to the faces of our cherished customers every time they use or wear our products.

And the adventure doesn't end here! We've got exciting new product lines in the works, and we can't wait to share them with you. From our home in Amherstburg, ON, Canada to wherever you are located, we thank you for joining us and hope we can continue creating memories together! 

 

 

Some frequently asked questions about us:

Q: Are there any particular influences or inspirations behind the product designs at UBBH? 

A: The natural beauty of the wood and highlighting it in our designs is the main influence and inspiration when it comes to product design. 

Q: Can you describe some of the milestones in UBBH's journey? 

A: UBBH started out more as a hobby than anything.  It was a way for me to have some fun and be creative once I retired from my full-time job.  In July of 2023 our family relocated to a new town, close to where we were living but more rural, and got to work settling in and unpacking.  It took about 4 or 5 months before I was able to get my crafting supplies organized and get back to it.  After Christmas of 2023 my husband suggested we take my hobby and turn it into a real business with a focus on handcrafted cutting boards and serving pieces.  We started with cutting boards because we already had most of the tools we needed in order to make those. We then purchased a CNC and started to learn how to use it.  We perfected our processes for design, programming on the CNC, and preparing the wood blanks.  We made prototypes and learned, putting in long days, 7 days a week.  Then we finally took the plunge and ran our first actual tray on the CNC and immediately got an order for 2 custom trays.  We then began adding some new equipment to the shop including a band saw, dust collector and drum sander and production began in earnest.  Our final big equipment purchase was made in March and arrived in April and that was our laser engraver.  We feel like we have come a very long way since we started our journey just 5 months ago!

Q: Has UBBH received any awards or recognitions? 

A: Not yet but wouldn’t that be amazing?

Q: How does UBBH contribute to local communities or environmental sustainability? 

A: We are such a new company we have not had much of an opportunity (or even time if we are perfectly honest) to contribute in a way we feel is meaningful to our community.  With that being said, we do participate in our town’s weekly Farmer’s Market and advertise it regularly on our social media channels to try to raise awareness.  In addition, we feel that we are contributing to and helping others to also contribute to environmental sustainability even just through the wood product we offer.  They are sourced from sustainably and responsibly harvested wood.  In addition, wood is a natural product as opposed to plastics which are fossil fuel based, the species we use are ideal for use in the home and specifically in the kitchen but are also fast growing for purposes of replenishing the supply.  And finally, if and when a wood product we made comes to the end of it’s life, it is completely biodegradable.  

Q: How does UBBH differentiate itself from other businesses in the same market? 

A: There are not a lot of companies out there making products like ours.  There are companies that make cutting boards, certainly, but we are not aware of any that are also making the trays we are so proud of, not to mention all the other products we are developing that will soon be on our website.  

Q: What challenges did UBBH face in its early days, and how were they overcome? 

A: We are still in the early days!  We really only started this business in January of 2024 and it is now June.  The business was only registered effective March 1, 2024.  But that doesn’t mean we haven’t had some challenges.  Once we went down the path of buying a CNC to make the shaped boards and all of our trays, we quickly realized that there was a lot more involved than we had bargained for.  Neither of us had ever run a CNC.  We knew nothing about programming or design but we needed to learn.  The CNC we purchased required 2 separate pieces of software – one for design and creating tool paths for the various tools required to achieve the desired outcome, and one to translate that information into G-Code which is what tells the CNC how to execute the job.  It was a LOT to learn and the pressure was on.  Youtube and software tutorials to the rescue.  We still have a lot to learn about the design software but we know what we need to to get the job done at least.  

The second big challenge was similar to the first.  We knew we wanted to buy a laser engraver so we could offer that option to customers and expand our product lines.  The laser arrived and once again we were faced with not knowing how to use it.  Luckily the laser only required one piece of software to run it and it was easier to learn to use than the CNC software so we had it up and running in no time with very good results.  

Q: What future plans or expansions are in the works for UBBH? 

A: We are continually looking to improve and grow.  We are always adding new products to our lineup.  The most recent additions, which have not yet made it to our website, include custom engraved slate coasters, keychains, bottle openers, lighted acrylic signs and we have many, many more ideas in the works.  

Q: What is the story behind the creation of UBBH? 

A: UBBH was born as a result of my passion for creating items that enhance the lives of those who own them, coupled with my husband’s background in and love of woodworking.  It started really as a hobby for me once I retired but at the beginning of 2024 my husband thought we could make a really successful business out of what I had started and so we got to work.  

Q: What values or principles guide the operations at UBBH? 

A: We value quality above all else and strive to have our products reflect that. 

Q: Why did you start UBBH? 

A: UBBH was born as a result of my passion for creating items that enhance the lives of those who own them, coupled with my husband’s background in and love of woodworking.  It started really as a hobby for me once I retired but at the beginning of 2024 my husband thought we could make a really successful business out of what I had started and so we got to work.