Bruin-Owned Businesses: Gift Ideas 2

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hat better way to fulfill your holiday shopping needs than with unique gifts from these Bruin-owned businesses? Explore what they have to offer, whether online or in-store, and find those perfect Bruin-inspired presents for family and friends.

Rabbit Air

Vice President of Business Development: Edwin Cheung ʼ94

Location: 125 N Raymond Ave., Suite 308, Pasadena, CA 911031

Phone: 888-866-8862

Website: https://rabbitair.com/ucla

Social: @rabbitair

About:

Founded in 2004, our Los Angeles-based company has dedicated its time, energy and resources to perfecting a product that improves quality of life: the air purifier. Our dedication to air purification has led us to become one of the fastest growing companies in the U.S.; we have been ranked as such from 2009 to 2022 by Inc. magazine.

Review:

“My husband is allergic to EVERYTHING! He takes 10-12 allergy pills daily, has been to several doctors, the whole nine yards. So, last resort, I purchased this air purifier, put it in our family room...and within hours he could really tell the difference…so I purchased another one for our bedroom. The first night was the first time in many years that he slept without pills and could breathe through his nose now; he takes no more than 2 allergy pills daily. I wish we got this years ago.” - Kathy B.

Eliqs

Co-Founders: Max Berg, MBA ʼ19, and Dave Goldman

Location: Gardena, California

Phone: 904-414-3643

Website: https://www.eliqs.com

Email: hello@eliqs.com

Social: @shopEliqs

About:

Eliqs enables the creation of personalized, custom-branded beverages for any and all occasions! Select from our pre-set templates that you can personalize or create a custom design by partnering with our in-house professional design team. Select a beverage from our curated list of craft offerings (beer, wine, hard seltzer, water). Then sit back and relax as we deliver your custom cans directly to you!

Review:

“Such an awesome gift! I've ordered a couple of times from Eliqs, both for birthday gifts. Both of the recipients loved it and I got so many compliments from others! These are such a unique and thoughtful gift for a beer lover in your life. Love that they also send you previews and updates about your order and the shipping is pretty fast as well. Will definitely order again!” – Chanel R.

The Honest Company

Co-Founders: Brian Sung Lee, J.D. ʼ96, and Christopher Gavigan, M.A. ʼ04

Website: https://www.honest.com/

Phone: 888-862-8818

Email: support@thehonestcompany.com

Social: @honest

About:

We’re a wellness brand empowering people to live happy, healthy lives. And we’re also people, just like you. When our founder, Jessica Alba, couldn’t find one brand to trust for all her everyday needs, she had to create it. And she knew that there had to be others out there looking for safe products, simple solutions and clear information about their choices, just like her. If you want trusted, effective products that work for your family, your home and yourself, you’re Honest, too.

Review:

“I have sensitive skin that gets oily easily. I’m always hesitant to order online. Due to COVID I’ve received several emails about how they are behind, which I wasn’t in a huge hurry anyways. But I still received my package in a timely manner. The products ordered and used were Prime + Perfect Mask, hydra gel and magic gel to milk. I already had the vitamin C serum and Everyday Radiance. My skin hasn’t felt this smooth and glowy in a long time. Love, love, love these products.” - Tori S.

Lollaland

Founders: Mark Lim, MBA ʼ08, and Hanna Lim, M.Ed. ʼ05

Location: 1825 Peck Road, Monrovia, CA 91016

Phone: 310-776-5655

Website: https://lollaland.com/

Email: hello@lollaland.com

Social: @lollalandusa

About:

Lollaland products were created by parents dedicated to providing safe, stylish and smart products for children and their families. Our award-winning products are premium quality, beautifully packaged and ready to gift. Lollaland is proudly funded by Mark Cuban and Robert Herjavec through ABC's hit show, “Shark Tank!”

Review:

“These cups are great. 1. The straw is hidden; I don’t understand the ones where the straw stays up, especially during a pandemic. 2. Easy to disassemble and throw in the dishwasher—I’ve washed mine dozens of times and no fading or issues. 3. Durable—my tot has literally thrown one down a flight of stairs and no cracking. 4. Sure it is not leak proof but it also doesn’t take a ton of pressure to suck up liquid. It doesn’t just pour out either; my tot will literally hold the bottle upside down and shake it and several drops may come out. 5. Fun colors. 6. Great customer service. I can’t rave about these cups enough. I have one in every color.” - Mr. P.

Mana Life Energy

Founder: Dylan Price ʼ14

Website: https://manalifeenergy.com

Social: @manalifeenergy

About:

Our herbal proprietary blend replenishes your energy, mental clarity and focus without the crash or jittery feeling. Mana contains no artificial ingredients, and was specifically designed for you, whether you are an athlete, parent, student or a person who simply needs a boost of energy throughout the day.

Review:

“MANA is great! I have used it for a while now and I have found it to be better than coffee or energy drinks. It has all-natural ingredients that you can look up and are not just consuming random lab-engineered ingredients. If you are looking for a pre-workout intense supplement this is not it. It’s a subtle energy you likely won’t really notice but you no longer feel tired or like falling asleep. I often get tired driving while commuting after a long day and about 10 minutes after taking MANA you likely won’t even realize it but you just won’t be tired anymore. I have also taken it before the gym and it gives you a pump once you get going, without the jitters from a pre-workout.” - Alex L.

Rosen Skincare

Founder and CEO: Jamika Martin ʼ18

Locations: Various

Website: https://www.rosenskincare.com

Email: hi@rosenskincare.com

Social: @rosenskincare

About:

We're creating the next generation of breakout care. Traditional breakout solutions have often left diverse skin types and concerns out of the conversation, but we're here to change that. Our routines use clean-ical ingredients to focus on the prevention and repair of hyperpigmentation and breakouts in the acne aisle. All of our products and routines are developed through the lens of women of color, to ensure the diverse concerns we deal with are addressed in the acne aisle.

Review:

“I love the scent of the Super Smoothie Cleanser. It wasn’t too strong but did have a slightly sweet citrusy scent. It’s made with strawberry powder which helped to gently exfoliate my skin and provided a nice gentle cleanse. My skin was left feeling smooth after using it. The best part is that it didn’t dry out my skin. This is the only product that I finished during the 30 days and I was quite sad when I ran out. I can definitely see myself purchasing this product in the future.” – LaTayia B. (SoDazzlingBlog.com)

Caffé Luxxe

Co-Founder: Gary Chau ʼ90

Locations: Various in Southern California

Phone: 310-394-2222

Website: https://www.caffeluxxe.com

Email: hello@caffeeluxxe.com

Social: @caffeluxxe

About:

Established in 2006, Caffe Luxxe was the first cafe in Los Angeles to champion a move towards hand-crafted artisanal espresso and brewed coffee. Our dedication to serving the best individually crafted beverages has helped LA drinkers discover what fine coffees can taste like, earning us numerous accolades by customers and journalists alike. Hand crafting every single drink is our daily passion, and we strive to make each drink better than the last.

Reviews:

“Being Italian, coffee, lattes and expresso are my primary beverage and a variety of comfort food. Finding myself on Sunset Boulevard in the Pacific Palisades I noticed up ahead a new coffee shop, Caffe Luxe. They claim their coffee is "an artisanal expression". Well, I went for an expression and ordered an Americano. It was delicious! Great aroma, body, fragrance, smooth and not bitter. There was no sharp burnt after taste that so many expresso roasters produce.  For a moment, I was transported to my favorite cafe in Rome. If you are a real coffee lover, you’ve got to try this brand. They are hitting home runs. I can't wait until my next fix!” – Vincent G.

MATTEO PARFUMS

Founder: Matthew Sánchez ʼ17

Website: https://www.matteoparfums.com

Email: help@matteoparfums.com

Social: @matteoparfums

About:

Nicknamed “Matteo,” I’m a Southern California native motivated to create products with purpose and establish a legacy. Self-taught in perfumery then a perfumer's apprentice, in October 2017, I became America's youngest Black male perfumer and youngest Latino perfumer. In my last year at UCLA, I knew I wanted to find ways to connect with others while fulfilling my entrepreneurial desires. I made full use of the fact that of all five senses, our sense of smell has the strongest connection to our memories and emotions. Therefore, I knew I could access peoples' lives through the power of scent and storytelling. This is my vision and desire for MATTEO PARFUMS: to influence the scent culture and multiple industries, inspire confidence and fellow visionaries, and immerse people into the global and imaginative world we live in.

Review:

“The visuals tricked my mind into thinking I was going to dive into relaxing light green waters. Quite the contrary, I am submerged in orange light and swirled around in a circle of spicy fire. A bright orange sun turns into a blood-red orange, spiked with cinnamon rays, making it even hotter as minutes pass. The juiciness of the orange is short-lived and it rapidly dries to a clove-spiked orange peel warmed on a radiator. Not long after, the leathery saffron comes into play, the spices bloom with sharp peppery edges and all slowly melt into a sweet, ambery, rich, wooden texture. Then hours pass and in the scent lingering on my skin, a deep, enveloping cinnamon is still the main character. Reasonably priced [at] $95, it’s the debut fragrance of MATTEO PARFUMS. If you want a cool–but–warm “urban lumberjack”, to embrace you in a thick cinnamon hug, give Celadawn a try.” – Nicoleta Tomsa (Senior Editor for ÇaFleureBon)

Tequila Cabal

Partner and CFO: Benjamin Gordon, MBA ʼ19

Locations: Various

Website: https://www.tequilacabal.com

Email: framers@mac.com

Social: @tequilacabal

About:

Tequila Cabal is a multi-award-winning tequila headquartered in Los Angeles, with roots tracing back to 1911. The word Cabal is rooted in the Spanish word for gentleman, caballero, which compels the idea that one must aspire to their full potential. The inspiration behind the horsehead bottle design is derived from the Charreria and horse culture in Jalisco. This ties into the very essence of Jalicense culture. We raise our horses and agave much like we raise ourselves, nurturing from a young age with passionate resolve to become both a noble steed and noble in spirit. It is our belief that the spirit in your glass should only be matched by the spirit of your company.

Review:

“Tequila Cabal is a perfect example of excellence expressed in liquid form. I judge any tequila by its blanco, the purest manifestation of this spirit. Only if the blanco offers a superior experience do I explore the reposado and añejo. I did indeed explore the aged Cabal offerings because the blanco was extraordinary, easily one of the finest tequilas I have ever tasted. And then things only got better from that very high standard, because the reposado, añejo and extra-añejo were pure pleasure. This is an extraordinary tequila.” Jeff S.

Gem Surprise Box

Co-Founders: Steve Ibbotson ʼ15 and Christine Lopez ʼ15

Location: Fallbrook, California

Phone: 661-236-7706

Website: https://www.gemsurprise.com

Email: Hello@GemSurprise.com

Social: @gemsurprisebox

About:

Gem Surprise Box is a gemstone and mineral subscription service, founded by Gemological Institute of America and UCLA alumni, that has a strong focus on STEM education for both adults and children with the goal of introducing the world to the science of mineralogy, sparking interest in the geosciences and sharing the wonders of our natural world one box at a time. We offer monthly memberships, specialty boxes and unique gifts for everyone. Every Gem Surprise Box is packaged with care in our signature black sustainably sourced gift box and tied with a black satin bow. All of our gemstones and minerals include mineral graphic cards with information on each new item with fun facts about how it formed, identifying characteristics, gemological notes of interest, and information on how people interact with that material.

Review:

“It’s like Christmas every month.” – Doug H.

Shef

Founder: Joey Grassia ʼ09

Website: https://shef.com/

Phone: 415-825-7433

Email: support@shef.com

Social: @ordershef

About:

At Shef, we’re rebuilding the food system from scratch, redefining who can participate in the food economy, and returning personal connection to the making, eating and sharing of food. We are an online marketplace for local, food safety-certified cooks to connect with customers in their community and earn a meaningful income selling homemade dishes. Homemade is the aroma of your childhood kitchen, the laughter around a family table, the taste of locally sourced produce; it is memories, nostalgia and tradition. It is building bridges between cultures and people that make us whole. More than anything, the power of homemade food comes from the love and care of those who make it, all opening up their hearts to provide the gift of a homemade meal to you.

Review:

“I just ate this a few minutes ago and it changed my life. It's as good as going to your Pakistani aunty's house for dinner. Super traditional dumplings that remind me of my grandma's.

I am really picky about my food and any purchase. I am 200% satisfied with Shef. Food was awesome. Quantity was really good.” - Cynthia C.

The Framer's Workshop

Co-Founder: Kirstie Bennett ʼ69

Location: 2439 Channing Way, Berkeley, CA 94704

Phone: 510-849-4444

Website: https://www.framersworkshop.com/

Email: framers@mac.com

Social: @the_framers_workshop

About:

The Framer's Workshop is a family-run custom and do-it-yourself picture framing shop located in Berkeley, California, serving the San Francisco Bay Area since 1977. We specialize in fine custom framing, do-it-yourself framing, photo restoration and large format printing. We offer commercial onsite design, delivery and installation for businesses, designers and volume residential clients. We welcome wholesale accounts for art consultation and framing services. We also offer ready-made frames with free DIY fitting at The Framer's Outlet, a ready made frame shop directly connected to our main store.

Review:

“I've been a customer of The Framer's Workshop for over 15 years now and only have high, high praise for them. The work is excellent quality and they will take great care of your art. You can leave precious items with them without worry. There’s no upselling. They'll work with your budget and provide options without any guff or shaming. They have a wide variety of frames, mats, materials. You want something cool? They've got it. Premade frames at discount prices, cute greeting cards, pre-framed art for sale and DIY assembly options. They'll even teach you how to use the machines, so it's really like a free education. Communication has been excellent over the years with different staff, which means training is consistently solid.” - Sarah W.

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To submit a Bruin-owned business for future consideration, please send a note to connectfeedback@alumni.ucla.edu.

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