Sahbai
[suh-bye] | adjective | Khmer
translates to describe the emotion of "happy" or "content" in the Cambodian language
Hello, I'm Nicolina
the founder of Sahbai Box Co and I'm delighted you are here!
I am a mixed race, first gen daughter of a Cambodian immigrant father and lovely musician mother. I was born and raised in Saint Paul, Minnesota where I currently reside with my husband, baby girl and our pet chickens.
-
support and spotlight Asian makers, especially local to MN and the Midwest, through tastefully curated boxes
-
share cultures and build community
-
provide easy, meaningful gift options that bring happiness at every stage of the process; makers, givers and receivers
Our Mission
The Long Story
It all started while trying to find the perfect thank you gift for my advisor. Due to the pandemic and having a new baby, leaving the house to piece together a gift box seemed daunting. I scavenged the internet to find a gift box centered around Asian-American makers, but found there was an absence of curated gift boxes sold locally in MN, and few nationally, that focus on Asian-American, small batch products. I knew this had to change and I got right to it!
The importance of supporting small and local businesses has become paramount in the future of our economy and the well-being of our community. Additionally, Asian-American makers - especially Southeast Asian - are underrepresented in the mainstream market.
There is a very dedicated and talented community of Asian-American makers, especially in Minnesota and Midwest, that deserve the spotlight. Representation and product availability of the cultures that make up the community is vital for creating a sense of belonging and acknowledgment.
When you purchase from Sahbai, you can feel good about shopping small and local while supporting the Asian American community. My promise to you is quality products that I have tried and love myself, made with care by real people - a gift you can truly feel happy about giving.
