The Unexpected Gift Of Building A Small Business

When I started La Marcotterie, I thought a lot about the products.

I thought about the soaps I wanted to create, the scents I wanted to blend, and the customers I hoped would love them.

What I didn't spend much time thinking about was the people.

Not the customers.

The people who would unexpectedly find their way into our workshop.

Many of these women are recently retired after incredibly fulfilling careers.

Jacqueline and Murielle owned restaurants. My mom, Nathalie, spent years running a chiropractic clinic alongside my dad. Others held management positions and leadership roles in various organizations.

They certainly aren't looking for work.

What they're looking for is a place to contribute.

What I love most is the dynamic it creates.

In one corner of the atelier, you'll have my team figuring out how to make things more efficient.

In another, you'll have someone who's spent 30 years running a business sharing wisdom gathered over an entire career.

It's a wonderful mix of generations learning from one another.

I often joke that they come here to help us.

But the truth is, I think we receive just as much as we give.

Building a business can be a lonely journey at times. You expect products, suppliers, customers, and endless to-do lists.

You don't expect people to knock on your door asking if they can be part of it.

Yet somehow, that's exactly what happened.

And it's become one of the most meaningful parts of this adventure.

For that, I'm incredibly grateful.