The impact of household products from common brands is too often overlooked. Various studies, such as the one conducted by The American Journal of Respitory and Critical Care Medicine shows that in the long term, particles emitted by cleaning products could have a harmful effect on the respiratory tract.
These substances can also cause allergic reactions when the skin is exposed to them. Anie Rouleau, founder of the company The Unscented Company , from a very young age, made its own cleaning and body products, to avoid reactions to the many fragrances incorporated into liquids. Having grown up with entrepreneurial parents, it was following the sale of the family business that she developed the idea of starting her own project.
“At the time, it was almost impossible to find fragrance-free products. Many tried to discourage me, but I stuck to my idea: to redefine the notion of cleanliness. I wanted to convince people that it was possible to clean without perfume, without synthetics, for our own health.”
She develops her product so that the ingredients used are not harmful to our planet. In fact, she ensures that they are 100% hypoallergenic and her service is designed to minimize packaging as much as possible. The Unscented Company's business model is designed to encourage the local economy, by establishing a refill system at our independent retail stores. Her business plan is therefore registered in the United States and Canada, which convinced her to have a purely English name.
To achieve this, she uses "love money"; it is thanks to her entourage, door-to-door canvassing and the networks she develops that people begin to believe in her project.
"I started by knocking on every door. Out of ten, I got one yes, and nine no. I also made several phone calls to sell products. It's when you manage to get strangers on your side, and not just family, that the business grows."
Today, she believes her company's success is largely due to her training within a family of entrepreneurs. This has allowed her to have a clear, long-term vision of her projects. Anie Rouleau also stands out in her industry thanks to her unique customer service, precise positioning, and in-depth knowledge of her products. She considers a company's ethics to be an essential factor: "In 10 years, a company that is not transparent, inclusive, and social will be obsolete. It's a big challenge, but we must review our management methods."
Become certified B Corp came naturally to the organization; it was just a logical next step. The accreditation allows her to structure her business according to her already established values. She has given herself the role of becoming an ambassador for the movement and has been invited to several university conferences for the Baccalaureate and MBA programs, to share the idea that it is now possible to have a hybrid model, which is somewhere between non-profit organizations and the strictly profit-oriented one. "It's not even a duty anymore, it's an interest to convey this message to young people and entrepreneurs, that you can build your business differently," she says.
Finally, as an entrepreneur for 20 years now, she has observed a marked improvement in the presence of women in business in Quebec. She acknowledges that she can more easily name female-owned businesses, compared to five years ago. However, she believes that measures still need to be developed to promote networks, which are just as valuable as money in her eyes.
"Not everyone can afford happy hours, especially when you have a family. You have to take advantage of contact networks for women entrepreneurs," she points out.
This is why she advises all women who want to start a business not to isolate themselves and to stop being afraid of disturbing others: "Communicate and share your ideas with resource people! They will allow you to develop a visionary and plausible plan."
Do you want to participate in our movement and become an agent of change? Contact us to start a project and join our community!
The Unscented Company, cleanliness without polluting traces
The impact of household products from common brands is too often overlooked. Various studies, such as the one conducted by The American Journal of Respitory and Critical Care Medicine shows that in the long term, particles emitted by cleaning products could have a harmful effect on the respiratory tract.
These substances can also cause allergic reactions when the skin is exposed to them. Anie Rouleau, founder of the company The Unscented Company , from a very young age, made its own cleaning and body products, to avoid reactions to the many fragrances incorporated into liquids. Having grown up with entrepreneurial parents, it was following the sale of the family business that she developed the idea of starting her own project.
“At the time, it was almost impossible to find fragrance-free products. Many tried to discourage me, but I stuck to my idea: to redefine the notion of cleanliness. I wanted to convince people that it was possible to clean without perfume, without synthetics, for our own health.”
She develops her product so that the ingredients used are not harmful to our planet. In fact, she ensures that they are 100% hypoallergenic and her service is designed to minimize packaging as much as possible. The Unscented Company's business model is designed to encourage the local economy, by establishing a refill system at our independent retail stores. Her business plan is therefore registered in the United States and Canada, which convinced her to have a purely English name.
To achieve this, she uses "love money"; it is thanks to her entourage, door-to-door canvassing and the networks she develops that people begin to believe in her project.
"I started by knocking on every door. Out of ten, I got one yes, and nine no. I also made several phone calls to sell products. It's when you manage to get strangers on your side, and not just family, that the business grows."
Today, she believes her company's success is largely due to her training within a family of entrepreneurs. This has allowed her to have a clear, long-term vision of her projects. Anie Rouleau also stands out in her industry thanks to her unique customer service, precise positioning, and in-depth knowledge of her products. She considers a company's ethics to be an essential factor: "In 10 years, a company that is not transparent, inclusive, and social will be obsolete. It's a big challenge, but we must review our management methods."
Become certified B Corp came naturally to the organization; it was just a logical next step. The accreditation allows her to structure her business according to her already established values. She has given herself the role of becoming an ambassador for the movement and has been invited to several university conferences for the Baccalaureate and MBA programs, to share the idea that it is now possible to have a hybrid model, which is somewhere between non-profit organizations and the strictly profit-oriented one. "It's not even a duty anymore, it's an interest to convey this message to young people and entrepreneurs, that you can build your business differently," she says.
Finally, as an entrepreneur for 20 years now, she has observed a marked improvement in the presence of women in business in Quebec. She acknowledges that she can more easily name female-owned businesses, compared to five years ago. However, she believes that measures still need to be developed to promote networks, which are just as valuable as money in her eyes.
"Not everyone can afford happy hours, especially when you have a family. You have to take advantage of contact networks for women entrepreneurs," she points out.
This is why she advises all women who want to start a business not to isolate themselves and to stop being afraid of disturbing others: "Communicate and share your ideas with resource people! They will allow you to develop a visionary and plausible plan."
Do you want to participate in our movement and become an agent of change? Contact us to start a project and join our community!