Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Nicole Marchand, founder of Eat Well Nova Scotia, located in Halifax, NS, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Eat Well NS is a unique nutrition and lifestyle company with a focus on helping clients feel empowered and in control of their health. We have a strong belief that long-term lifestyle and dietary changes will improve digestive, gut, and metabolic health leading to a reduced risk of the most prominent diseases in North America, including Type 2 Diabetes and heart disease, as well as autoimmune diseases PCOS, and others. Optimizing wellness while creating a healthy relationship with our bodies and our dietary intake can lead to lifelong success regarding wellness outcomes. We understand that health requires a holistic approach. Our services include a spectrum of wellness, including dietary intake, stress management, physical activity, mindfulness, and sleep management.

Tell us about yourself

I completed my Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition in 2010 with the full intention to open a nutrition consulting company in order to best reach the public using proven nutrition and lifestyle strategies that are otherwise not typically offered within our current healthcare system. Working with the public and spending time with individuals allows myself and the other dietitians on the team to offer high-quality services using the latest information available on metabolic health, gut health, and optimized wellness. What motivates each day is to see that once a client feels empowered and in control of their health, their life can change for the better. We do not offer fads or trends; we offer top-quality resources and goal-based consulting services. I am motivated each day to ensure my clients are receiving the best information available and that they feel confident that they can implement and maintain the goals discussed.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment so far has been the ability to hire a small team of dietitians. I have been working for ten years to get to a point in my business where I can lead a team by offering them consistent education sessions to ensure they are comfortable presenting our programs to the public. My goals at this time are to continue to build the company and to offer the programs and resources to more people within Nova Scotia and, hopefully, one day, across Canada.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

The hardest thing for me was to learn how to not take everything personally as an entrepreneur. For example, over the years, there have definitely been some unhappy clients, some situations within my control, and some not in my control. I've learned that I can offer my best self and the best services to each client, but there will always be people who don't see eye to eye with me or who do not benefit from the programs for whatever reason. It is important that I can step away from an issue, reassess, refocus, take the learning opportunity, and move on. As it goes, you can not please everyone, and that has truly been a hard lesson to learn.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Know what you want to sell, and make sure you are knowledgeable in the area of focus.
  2. Don't make it complicated - create your pitch, have a way for people to pay you, and sell your expertise.
  3. Work at it every day; success doesn't happen overnight. Stay on top of creating your business through the highs and the lows; you'll get there.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://eatwellnovascotia.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eatwellhalifax
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eatwellnovascotia/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-marchand-964561155/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.