Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Rachel Ettinger, Founder of Here for Her, located in Toronto, ON, Canada.

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

Here For Her is a Canadian social enterprise that supports and promotes health education with a focus on menstrual equity advocacy. We aim to normalize health issues and challenge societal norms, all while combating inequities. We sell fun clothing, with all proceeds going to different organizations and charities. Our consumers (the HFH family) are those who are interested in learning more about their health, discussing important issues in society, and challenging the status quo.

Tell us about yourself

I started Here for Her back in 2017. It all started with trying to solve the need for people to be educated on their health, so they can make informed decisions. There was so much stigma around health issues (and still is), and the intent was for health professionals to educate and start conversations on our account. In 2019, we started doing menstrual equity advocacy work in London, Ontario, with community partners, and London became the 1st city in Canada to provide free menstrual products in all publicly-accessible, city-owned buildings. Every day, our HFH team is motivated to not only educate people on their health but also challenge societal norms and discuss important issues and inequities where people can learn more and feel less alone!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

We've donated thousands of dollars to important charities and organizations doing amazing work across Canada, and we've been able to implement many policies for free menstrual products in many different cities, businesses, and schools, such as the city of London, Ontario, and Wilfrid Laurier University. We also created a petition in 2021, addressing the Federal Gov't regarding their promise to provide free menstrual products in federally regulated workspaces. Many conversations + support from Canadians and advocates - the feds added it back into their party platform and are rolling it out across the country as we speak. Really cool to see how we all came together to actually impact policy change directly! We continue to collaborate and support advocates aiming to make policy changes in their communities.

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

It's definitely been challenging during the pandemic - we had to pivot from in-person community events to virtual (as did everyone), and we've been continuing to evolve in terms of platform and offerings! Our most important learning was understanding the need to change our name from "Here for Her" to "Here for Health." The HFH community is a place for all folks, regardless of how someone may identify because it's key for everyone to be empowered to take control of their health and their life. We're actively working towards changing our name and have started using our new hashtag on all content. It's really important to us that the HFH community is an inclusive space.

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

  1. Stop waiting. Just do it! It doesn't have to be perfect, just do what feels right, exciting, and authentic to you, and things will evolve as you go!
  2. Support is key! Always build with a community-first mentality.
  3. Being scared is part of the process - but nothing worthwhile is easy and comfortable.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://shophereforher.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShopHereforHer/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shophereforher/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/shophereforher
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-ettinger-mba-7211013b/

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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