Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Érica Lebrun, co-founder of Mme L'Ovary, located in Montréal, QC, Canada.

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

Mme L’Ovary is propelled by two hyper-dedicated co-founders: me, Erica Lebrun, and Francisca-Olivia Elting. Olivia, a former circus performer and world traveler, was looking for menstrual protection that was super-reliable, good for her health, and good for the environment.

She looked long and hard but couldn’t find anything, so she wound up making her own menstrual undies with three removable and washable pads. That design is what gives the product its competitive advantage because one pair of Mme L’Ovary undies is equivalent to three from any other company.

We met not long after she developed the product, and Mme L’Ovary was born in 2017. Our company is the only one that sells menstrual undies with three reusable and washable pads that you can swap in and out. Our customers are people who menstruate and who want practical, healthy alternatives to disposable products. Today, more than 30,000 of them have steered 7.2 million single-use products out of landfills, waterways, and wherever else they end up.

Tell us about yourself

So Olivia invented the concept, and when we launched Mme L’Ovary, I was able to bring my vision and ambition for its success to the table. From production to communications, my leadership has seen us manage the business in a clear direction without losing sight of our founding principles and mission.

One of my challenges is to see past the preconceived and toxic notions created by the hygienic products industry. Those ideas have been the norm for years. The advertising messages still create the perception that menstruation is dirty (that it smells and that it’s shameful, that blue liquid has to be used to show how absorbent products are, etc.). I want people to see menstruation as something sacred and healthy, something indicative of fertility and strength.

My passion comes from the fact that we have an important mission and meaningful work. We’re talking about changing the face of the industry. I’m fully aware that to sell products on a larger scale, a lot of educational work has to be done first. I’m not afraid of changing the common mentalities associated with our products because I know that well-informed people make good decisions.

To help bring about this change, I created the Red Tables in 2019. These are discussion panels that feature experts and specialists in a communal space. They educate people about all kinds of aspects of feminine health.

I believe committed entrepreneurship is one of the tools we can use to build a sustainable economy that respects the environment and responds to social issues. That’s why I initiated the #SangDéchet movement: a socio-political effort to lobby municipalities to offer rebates to residents who buy eco-friendly and reusable feminine hygiene products (menstrual pads, cups, and undies).

Finally, I’m the guardian of all our communications, and I make sure that we always communicate a positive vision of menstruation and our bodies on our social media, blogs, and in our ads.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I’ve managed to cobble together a team of passionate people who are committed to our business projects. Team L’Ovary is composed of dedicated personalities who don’t hesitate to learn what they have to for the business to stay flexible. That’s our biggest strength.

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

The pandemic has been one of the biggest challenges. We’ve seen major slowdowns in our supply chain. The job market in Quebec has been turned upside down, and a lot of the businesses we work with have seen a lot of turnovers, which is also something we’ve had to adapt to. More generally, these developments have shaken us up and forced us to review our growth strategy closely. In really uncertain times, we’ve had to adopt new visions and be creative with solutions.

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

  1. Make a vision for a better world the foundation of your business.
  2. Keep your mind open so you can be creative and resourceful.
  3. Surround yourself with amazing people.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Good luck to all the entrepreneurs out there!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.mmelovary.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mmelovary/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mmelovary
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mme-l-ovary

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.

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