Chen Deng, LAMOSE, Calgary, AB
LAMOSE started with a simple mission: reduce single-use waste by creating best-in-class reusable water drinkware. We name our products after Canadian landmarks and we hope it inspires our customers to travel the country, leaving no waste behind. We offer name engraving for free and we can customize products to include quotes or words that inspire you, or photos of your favourite memories."
Giovanna Minenna, Browluxe, Winnipeg, MB
"I started in the makeup industry doing film and movies in Toronto. I loved it, but eventually the gruelling schedule caught up with me and I wanted to take the leap and start my own business. I saw the opportunity to specialize in brows and decided to create a brow bar and permanent makeup business in my hometown of Winnipeg. Three years in, I had 25 staff, two locations and was training people across Canada in brows but one thing was missing, a high-quality brow pencil I could use in my studios and recommend to my clients. Nothing on the market met my standards for quality and value, so I started work formulating my own. Browluxe was born and we’ve never looked back. We’ve designed every product to be exactly what we would use in our own studios to give our clients fantastic, perfect shade match results. We tested these products in-studio for over a year before we released them to the public and have made sure they are unique and amazing for both professionals and consumers. The browluxe® Precision Brow Pencil will last through anything you throw at it, including work, the gym and everything in between. We have also designed the pencil to be more precise and versatile than anything available today. It also comes in an inclusive shade range that will perfectly compliment each complexion and hair colour combination."
Stella Benson, Benols Beauty, Calgary, AB
"I was previously in the finance industry, but am now a mother of three with a husband that travels a lot as an engineer. In 2017, I started searching for a business opportunity that would allow me to set my own schedule so I could have more flexibility and freedom to be with my family. After researching, we found ASM (Amazing Selling Machine), joined it and started selling on Amazon in June 2017. We decided to offer products that would provide a flawless look, with bold, beautiful eyes and face in minutes. Additionally, we wanted to focus on products that are high quality, all at an affordable price. My products are made with safe, premium and quality materials. Our magic eyeliner is a gamechanger for people that love false lashes because it is a no-glue, non-magnetic formula that works with any eyelash of your choice. Our lashes are handcrafted, cruelty-free, reusable and last for multiple uses. Our makeup brushes are premium quality and also a perfect gift for loved ones."
Lea Ann Luchka, Karma Cultures, Calgary, AB
"When I started sharing kombucha with others, it was difficult to get quality cultures, equipment and brewing information in Canada. So I stepped up and filled that gap. I use my science background from being a pharmacist to ensure the organic kombucha cultures I offer are of the highest quality. I am a perfectionist, which works to my advantage whenever I try to ensure the brewing process is as simple as possible. I want every brew of yours to be super easy and super successful."
Shop Karma Cultures
Aja Horsley, Drizzle, Calgary, AB
"I was formerly an Environmental Scientist working on urban agriculture and beekeeping projects. During this time, I noticed a gap in the honey market – there were no bee-friendly, innovative, health-conscious products. Even worse, the honey at the grocery store was often fake, wasn’t locally produced and had terrible, old-school branding. So I started Drizzle! Drizzle is unique because our products are completely raw, bee-friendly and powered with superfoods. Our honey is all locally produced and 100% Canadian. We selectively source bee-friendly hives and donate to pollinator research. We are a proudly women-owned and run enterprise, and have an investment backing from Dragons’ Den investor Arlene Dickinson. By being a Certified B Corp, Drizzle meets the highest standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency in the world."
Puja Vij, Frönaturals, Calgary, AB
"Moving back to Calgary from Houston in 2015, I started to suffer from skin and hair issues while my husband had issues with his toe joints. Determined to find a natural solution to our problems, I tapped into the knowledge of Ayurveda and other home and natural remedies that I had experienced living in India, Namibia and Angola. Frönaturals was created to share with our customers our own experiences with these 100% pure, cold-pressed beauty oils, plant superfoods and small-batch distilled essential oils, the benefits of which we, as a family, had personally experienced. All our products are 100% pure. We do not use any diluents, additives or added synthetic fillers. We test each prospective product in our daily lives and only when we are convinced that the product delivers benefits to our health and wellness do we introduce the product in our store at an affordable price point to our customers."