Stanley Cup Winners Promote Products Of Fredericton-Based Educated Beards
FREDERICTON – The owners of Fredericton-based Educated Beards were surprised after NHL players started sharing their products on social media.
Toronto Maple Leafs player and past Stanley Cup winner Zach Bogosian and Fredericton-born Montreal Canadiens goalie Jake Allen have shared Educated Beards’ products on social media over the past couple of weeks.
Co-owners and co-founders Kevin Lebeouf and Alicia Philips say that while they were eager to get their products in the hands of NHL players, they were not expecting to see their products on the players’ feeds.
“It’s really nice because we do live in a society where pro-athletes have a say in what’s acceptable, what’s popular and what’s trending,” said Philips. “And so the fact that [one of the] players that just won the Stanley Cup last year and is now posting about our brand is just incredible to us.”
Bogosian was part of the Tampa Bay Lightning Cup winner last year and Allen, of course, was with the St. Louis Blues in 2019 when it won the Cup.
Lebeouf and Philips initially decided to send their grooming products to the teams as a form of community outreach. After finding contacts, they sent an assortment of products to the Canadian NHL teams. The assortment included beard oils, beard balms, and beard and body washes.
“Hockey is one of the few things that is actually providing a little bit of normalcy,” said Philips. “So we decided to support hockey players.”
“It was a surprise for everyone,” said Leboeuf. “It was kind of cool because I forgot that we had sent those and then a couple of weeks later that happened and we’re like, ‘Whoa’.”
The duo says the social media posts have been helpful for publicity and bringing attention to their grooming products. They also say they have been approached by national sports agencies interested in their products.
“It’s cool that massive agencies have taken on helping small businesses and it’s happened from two posts. One thing can change everything,” said Leboeuf.
Educated Beards began after Philips, a holistic nutritionist, became frustrated with the products Leboeuf was putting on his skin and his beard. She says that her goal has been to steer people away from major products that have negative impacts on the environment, the user’s health, and nature.
Gaining the attention of high-profile figures like Bogosian and Allen helps them share their healthier skin products with the masses.
“Having the backing of someone like an NHL player to help promote our company means that more people will have access to products that actually work and are also safe for them, their children, and the planet,” said Phillips.
Their goal now is to send a package to every NHL team with products to try to continue spreading their product across the globe.
“We want to give back to people and [hockey players] are making a difference in people’s lives right now,” said Philips. “You can’t go out for dinner with family so [hockey is] one thing that is giving people something to be excited about.”
Liam Floyd is a reporter for Huddle. Send him story suggestions: [email protected].
Banner photo: Zach Bogosian played for the Buffalo Sabres and Stanley Cup-winning Tampa Bay Lightning before joining the Toronto Maple Leafs this year. Image: Lisa Gansky/flickr.