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About Founder
Having survived the Cambodian holocaust and lost her father and brothers at only one year old, Sunchea Phou was forced to flee the country with her mother when she was just seven. They wound up in a refugee camp for almost five years until they emigrated to Montreal with no money, education, or skills. To make ends meet, Sunchea worked in a sweatshop after school. After she finished her studies in computer science and fashion, she moved to the United States, where she had the incredible opportunity to work with brands such as REI, Eddie Bauer, and Nike.
During this time, some of her projects included creating a medical device for NASA astronauts and engineering NFL uniforms - including those used by Seattle Seahawks during their Super Bowl victory. After these remarkable tasks, Sunchea decided to take a leap of faith and pursue her dreams of starting her own business - YAY NOVELTY. Her most notable achievement thus far has been the resounding success of her high-quality reusable shopping bag, the YaYbag JUMBO. This accomplishment has allowed her to make a significant contribution towards reducing the number of single-use plastic bags and low-quality reusable bags that ultimately end up in landfills.
YaYwallet with the Super Bowl XLVIII Trophy - Yes, the real one!
The Beginning of YAY NOVELTY
Our inaugural product, the YaYwallet ultra-compact credit card holder, was initially discovered by The Grommet and subsequently by The Container Store. Since then, we've diversified our offerings to include the spacious YaYbag JUMBO reusable shopping bags, a bestseller on Home Shopping Network QVC. Our range also features all-natural, grass-fed beef jerky packed with health benefits, luxurious clay bar soaps, mineral tinted sunscreen enriched with anti-aging skincare, convenient vaccine/medical card holders, trendy keychain lip balm holders, eco-friendly Swedish dishcloths, secure luggage tags, beautifully illustrated notepads, elegant eco-friendly greeting cards, unique reusable gift jars, and essentials for pet birds and small animals. We're thrilled to introduce our latest products: the rare and unrefined Palmyra palm sugar (jaggery), the nutrient-packed Kampot salt flower or fleur de sel (harvested using the same method as Celtic Salt), and the exquisite Kampot black pepper, often described as the king of peppers. Plus, get ready for our upcoming innovative tea blends, featuring turmeric and black pepper inflorescence, among other natural wellness products. Subscribe to our newsletter to keep up with our expanding range of healthy, eco-friendly products designed for a sustainable and stylish lifestyle.