Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Sonya Laurenssen, Owner of Jusu Wellness, Inc., located in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
At Jusu Wellness Inc., we manufacture and sell plant-based face, body, and home care products made in Victoria, BC. Each of our products is carefully crafted with honest ingredients that work. Our formulations meet and exceed the rigorous criteria of the most ethical products on the market.
Blended with 100% pure essential oils and botanical extracts, free from hidden fillers and toxins, they are good for you, good for your family, and good for the earth. Our customers are eco-conscious and try to buy plant-based, natural products as much as possible. They prioritize their health, their families' health, and the betterment of the environment.
Tell us about yourself
I have a formal education in graphic design and 25 years of experience with print and digital design and marketing, product development, packaging sourcing, and global vendor management. Four years ago, I made a shift into project management marketing and eventually landed in the plant-based CPG sector, which I quickly grew to love. I will also throw in my upbringing on a large vegetable farm in southern Ontario. Put all of these experiences, education, and knowledge together, and you have the perfect storm (or evolution) – a strong, passionate woman who loves and respects the earth that I walk on. And I am the one who understands how to launch, manage, and nurture a company.
A company that values its customers and the environment equally. I'm motivated by my staff as they do the best they can each day because they love what Jusu stands for. And I'm energized by happy customers and their continued support. It brings a smile to my face to hear people say that they love my products as much as I do.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I feel like the last six months, managing a corporation as a sole shareholder and having it run smoothly is one big accomplishment. But if I were to pinpoint one, I'd say signing on with Purity Life for Canada-wide distribution.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Learning how to manage financial stress. Each day can be filled with a roller coaster of emotions and, along with that, physical tension and mental fatigue.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Network as much as possible. It always pays off. Community support is golden.
- Understand all of the required operating costs and how they may fluctuate throughout the year.
- Write to-do lists every morning before you start your day. And cross them off when done. Acknowledge your daily achievements, big and small.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://getjusu.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jusubody
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jusu/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonya-laurenssen-983946b/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/jusu-wellness-inc/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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