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.
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support and spotlight Asian makers, especially local to MN and the Midwest, through tastefully curated boxes
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share cultures and build community
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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!
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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.
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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.
