Mindshare Monthly: Spotlighting Woman-Owned Businesses

Welcome back to Mindshare Monthly! In honour of Women’s History Month this March, we asked the Workhaus community to help us shine a spotlight on woman-owned businesses and organizations. These incredible companies, which include skincare, fragrance, clothing, furniture, and more, were just a handful of recommendations received.

bunnyroo

“Designed for busy women who appreciate effortless luxury.”

Bunnyroo is a family-owned business dedicated to natural, mom-to-mom skincare. The company was founded by a scientist and new mother only weeks after giving birth. She was “driven by a desire to share the products she relied on during her own pregnancy and postpartum journey with other mothers.”

Founder Jessica is a scientist and mother with a PhD in Biomedical Engineering and a BSc in Chemical Engineering. She regularly showcases her extensive knowledge and insight on instagram, taking her followers behind the scenes of good, safe skincare as well as her founder journey.  On her account you can find explanations of what makes certain ingredients safe, common misconceptions about skincare debunked, or glimpses of the moments, people, and places that have inspired her.

Bunnryoo’s product line, which includes lotions, serums, and rich butters, were designed to answer the unique skincare challenges posed by pregnancy and motherhood. Their hydrating formulas use carefully selected natural or unscented ingredients to support skin through hormonal changes, stretching, and increased sensitivity.

Follow @bunnyroo_inc on Instagram and visit them online at bunnyroo.ca

Neuva Media

“Our mission is to turn your brand’s expertise into authentic connections that drive meaningful growth.”

Jordan VIllaneuva was working as a software engineer after school and looking for freedom when she began her entrepreneurial journey. She left her software company to build her personal brand, which now has over half a million followers between Instagram and Facebook, plus an additional 10,000+ subscribers on YouTube. 

On YouTube, she creates fascinating videos examining AI tools and trends, discussing the future of work, and sharing tricks and tutorials for different websites and marketing methods. It was posting videos like these that helped her to attract her first few clients. What started out as a few videos eventually evolved into her B2B marketing agency. 

Through working with over 20 companies, Jordan came to discover the importance of brand personalization. She now uses “FaceForward Branding”, purpose-built for LinkedIn, to create compelling and authentic story-driven videos that showcase the expertise of the B2Bs she works with. You can see her work at nueva.media.

Follow Jordan at @jordanuevamedia on Instagram and @JordanVillanueva on YouTube.

Saranghae Skincare 

“Saranghae Means I Love You.”

Saranghae is a Korean Beauty company, founded by husband and wife duo Peter Lee and Andrae Mourad. Their products combine “ancient Asian medicinal philosophies with modern anti-aging science.”

Saranghae was inspired by Peter’s mother, Myeong Jo, who had worked at South Korea’s largest skincare company and used the knowledge she gained there to start her own business. As a female entrepreneur in 1970s South Korea, she defied the odds stacked against her and found success for her business. While she would eventually give up her business to move to Canada, its legacy remains. A sang hwang mushroom cream created by Meyong Jo in an effort to help her sister heal burn scars remains a staple product, now in its 8th generation, at Saranghae.

In 2016 Peter and Andrea founded Saraghae to continue Meyong Jo’s dream. Since then they have won multiple awards and been featured in ELLE, Cosmopolitan, Bazaar, Allure and the New York Times.

Andrea Mourad, is a best-selling author and former teacher. Her husband Peter is a trained mechanical engineer with extensive experience in sales, branding, and broadcast media. Together they co-own two award winning skincare brands, including Saranghae. They also have a podcast, where they share insights on skincare, entrepreneurship, stress management, wellness, and more. 

Follow @lovesaranghaeskin on Instagram and visit them online lovesaranghae.com

LOHN

“On a mission to scent your journey, LOHN creates a layered scent experience that transports your senses and elevates your space.”

LOHN, a name that means ‘scent’ in Estonian, was founded in 2018 by two Canadian women, Katerina Juskey and Victoria Mierzwa.

The two met in high school and attended the same university , where they graduated with degrees in Chemical Engineering. From there, Victoria began her career in the field of cosmetic formulation and manufacturing, and later in her ‘dream job’ doing Sales & Marketing for L’Oreal. Meanwhile, Katerina pursued a Masters in Cosmetics and Fragrance in Guerlain’s Perfumery School, ISIPCA, in France.

The two reconnected in June 2016 via LinkedIn, and found they both wanted to create something of their own. After going through some ‘kooky’ ideas, they landed on a concept influenced by their European heritage: a candle inspired by the scents of an ancient trade route known as the amber road. After two years of testing product and ingredient combinations and consulting with experts, they finalized their coconut & soy wax candle and launched LOHN in 2018. 

What began with the two entrepreneurs hand pouring their first candles in Victoria’s Toronto apartment later became a product launch for four candles, and has now grown to be one of Canada’s top candle brands. Today their offerings have expanded to a wide range of scents and themes, as well as essential oils, mists and even a candle club subscription. LOHN products are carried in over 150 retailers across North America and have received notable media coverage in The Globe and Mail, Elle Canada and Well + Good. Every LOHN product is handmade in small batches in their studio located just outside of Toronto, Canada.

Follow @lohnofficial on Instagram and visit them online at shoplohn.com

kaer

“Self-kaer is more than just a routine, it’s a ritual of self-love.”

Founded by Fatima Farouk, kaer is a fragrance and body care brand designed to help you feel confident, luxurious, and radiant every day. Their products include perfume oils and scented dry body oils, formulated with both natural and synthetic ingredients for long-lasting fragrance and “a scent for every mood”. They also carry African exfoliating net sponges, “an essential tool for smooth, radiant skin”, in a variety of charming, vibrant colors.

You can find Fatima on YouTube sharing natural haircare tips and techniques, and showcasing her incredible journey starting a business and building a brand, all while balancing a 9-5 job in project management and attending grad school. If that sounds like a lot to balance, it’s because it is something Fatima is the first to admit. Her method for making it work? Writing things down, planning her days and weeks ahead of time, and making sure she still finds the time to take breaks and have fun.

“Starting a beauty brand, like a legitimate Beauty business, was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my entire life…” she said in a recent video. In that same video she told her followers, “I just want to let other people know that it’s possible to achieve your goals or achieve your dreams even if you’re feeling overwhelmed and you feel like you don’t have the time to do it now.”

Kaer launched their debut collection last year in September, and since then they’ve had their first pop-up, packed over 500 orders, and secured their first office space.

Follow @bykaerofficial on Instagram and visit them online at bykaer.com

PERMISSION

“This is your story. This is PERMISSION.”

PERMISSION is a curated retail experience designed to give women access to athletic brands in an environment free from self-doubt. Co-founding sisters Amanda and Laura Santino describe themselves as “advocates of showing up as your most authentic self and owning who you are”; That means “wearing what makes you feel good to do the things that make you feel better.”

A BlogTO feature on the company shared that Laura’s experience in public relations and Amanda’s knowledge from a school program for interior design gave them the skills that they would eventually combine to launch their own business in November 2020. Their goal, they said, was to fill the gap in mainstream activewear stores and be an example of showing everyday people modelling their clothing.

Inspired by their own movement journeys, and a desire to challenge the skewed ideals of the activewear industry, they set out to open their own retail space. However, as they told Good Space, they, like many business owners, faced unexpected challenges. ”When Covid forced us to look beyond our physical space, we were faced with the challenge of how to extend the PERMISSION experience across every touchpoint. We never imagined we’d be forced to close only three weeks following our launch and have to shift our business model.”

We’re happy to say that PERMISSION has survived those challenges. Their retail space is still open at 127 Ossington Ave in Toronto, just waiting for you to visit!

Follow @permission.co on Instagram and visit them online at ownyourpermission.com

CoccoMakeupp

“Naturally I’m an artist & I feel everything I do radiates that.”

Sofia is a makeup artist, entrepreneur, and fashion content creator based in Virginia. As a hardworking entrepreneur, she works primarily from her home studio, but also provides services in her clients homes, and has even traveled for large groups.

On Instagram, Sofia has described her journey, from her first first makeup product (a MAC Nc50 concealer) that she used until the black tub was clean, to working at MAC for over two years and eventually launching her own business. From celebrating her first wave of clients to reflecting on her journey, Sofia has shared milestones with gratitude and enthusiasm, saying “I absolutely love this new journey and can’t wait to see what’s next.”

Sofia’s services include bridal and wedding party makeup, luxury home service, and digital or remote services like makeup consultations, classes and personal shopping. Her signature glam and soft glam looks are perfect for a big day like a wedding or birthday. She also offer photo-ready glam looks looks geared towards creative, halloween, carnival looks and professional studio photoshoots.

Those interested in virtual 1:1 makeup classes can expect to receive coaching, tips and tricks along with a product list during an in depth session that covers skin concerns, makeup techniques and product discovery.

Follow @Coccosofiaa on Instagram and see her work @CoccoMakeupp. To book a consultation, class, or other service with Sofia visit coccomakeupp.as.me

Three Ships

“You don’t need a 12-step skincare routine to have happy, healthy skin.“

Founders Laura and Connie launched Three Ships in 2017 with the goal of creating the most effective natural beauty brand in the world. Three Ships formulates their products with the help of world-class chemists. They make them all with transparency and accountability being a key priority. Always pushing for more accountability in the skincare industry, they label their own products clearly, including an Ingredients Glossary to help customers understand what goes into their products. 

What began in a Toronto apartment with just $4000 in savings and a big dream, became a brand that’s now working to combat greenwashing and redefine natural beauty. Their products are made for all skin types and include plant-based cleansers, toners, masks and more. They even offer a skincare quiz to help you find out which products are best for you. Three Ships works primarily with factories in the Greater Toronto Area, making almost all of their products in Canada. 

In conversation with UofT, Laura said, “My biggest advice for women in engineering who are interested in pursuing entrepreneurship is to learn how to sell.” She says, “As a founder, you are always selling something: the culture of your team to new employees, the future growth potential to investors and your products to your customers and retail buyers.” 

Follow @threeshipsbeauty on Instagram and visit them online at threeshipsbeauty.ca

The Apartment Life

“Your trusted guide to making apartment living better.”

The Apartment Life is a concept shop that helps make your apartment dreams come true. They curate unique and stylish vintage furniture and decor for the home. They also rent some of their unique items to film, television, and production teams in Toronto. Within the doors of their pastel pink storefront, you can expect to find vintage inspiration, tips and tricks to help you decorate and organize, and even community-building ideas.

The incredible, unique items in the shop are mostly from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Owner Fiona Watt told Toronto Life that she finds them through thrifting, estate sales and private collectors. She also told them how her store survived the pandemic by ramping up its online presence. 

She told BlogTO: “I tried to keep my social media very positive during the pandemic. I know that people need beautiful things to look at and distract them from the day.” And that approach has paid off. Since then, Fiona has garnered over 170k followers between instagram and tiktok. Her store is also #1 on BlogTO’s list of the best vintage furniture stores in Toronto.

Follow @theapartmentlife on Instagram and visit them online at theapartmentlife.com or in person at 238 Queen Street East in Toronto.

Thank You from Workhaus

Thank you again to everyone who contributed this month by sharing their favourite woman-owned businesses. We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about these incredible brands and their founders – and maybe even discovered your new favorite brand! If have the chance to check out one or more of these businesses let us know @workhauslife.