Small businesses across the country have gone to great lengths to overcome the challenges brought on by the pandemic. Although it is not an easy task, many motivated business owners are thriving in the face of adversity and optimistic about the future. Canadians who embody business resilience include Joseé Corbeil, co-founder of évoilà5, Quebec’s leading meal kit service. Like this month CB A resident entrepreneur, Corbeil’s entrepreneurial spirit is an example of hard work and smart work that pays off.
Since its launch in 2013, evoilà5 has opened twelve boutiques across the province, providing customers with selected, ready-to-make, nutritionist-approved meals for busy weeks and big appetites. In a conversation with Mike Bonner, director of commercial banking at BMO, Corbeil discusses creating the perfect business plan, evaluating competitors, and resilience amid unprecedented challenges.
Have you always been interested in entrepreneurship?
There were signs of my entrepreneurial flare from a very young age, when I charged my friends to see my gym routines. In a way, it has always been part of my nature. I remember writing in my high school yearbook that my dreams were to compete in the Olympics, which I was lucky to achieve with my volleyball career in 1996, and to become a woman in business, which is a dream that excites me. be. living today.
How did the concept of évoilà5 come about?
Yiannis, my husband, a co-founder of the business and a visionary with a franchise experience, has always been a fantastic cook. His father was a well known chef in Greece and he grew up around fabulous cuisine. Even though friends were always telling us that we should open a restaurant together, something didn’t feel quite right. Having been a competitive athlete for much of my life, I have always known the importance of eating well to take care of myself. But with two young children, as a parent it became easy to indulge in food and rely on frozen lasagna, pizza, or other quick and less nutritious dishes. Immediately, it was clear that there was a problem here and we began to think of a solution. That is why, at évoilà5, we focus on providing five healthy and delicious meals for our customers to pick up and enjoy without stress. Most importantly, the ingredients are fresh, healthy, and affordable.
Was there an “aha” moment that inspired you to embark on this adventure?
My husband sometimes came up with funny business ideas, but we always ignored them. I think because we knew how much these meal kits could make a difference in our lives, we couldn’t be alone. Once I began to imagine how this idea could serve others, I knew it was worth pursuing.
How have you remained resilient amid the challenges brought on by the pandemic?
One thing that has always been very important to us in building évoilà5 is maintaining flexibility. When the pandemic hit, every day was an adjustment. Fortunately, we have an incredible team that understands the importance of this flexibility. The hardest thing for us was accessing the supplies we trust to prepare our ready-to-cook orders. Thank goodness our loyalty to our suppliers and partners paid off in the way they were so loyal to us during this difficult time. Working hard is very important, but it is important to work smart on how you run your business. Our community of vendors, customers and partners like BMO really showed themselves to support each other during this exceptional time.
How was your experience finding support during this time?
Our business was still in high demand during the pandemic and during closures, as people didn’t necessarily want to spend too much time outside shopping for groceries. As our sales continued, there were many changes. When it came to managing the business and the changes we had to endure, BMO was always there for us and provided a great sense of support that made a difference. its business banking The solutions offered the assurance that while there was work to be done, we had the tools to be successful.
What do you consider to be the most important components in building a successful business plan?
To make sure you are passionate about what you are doing. It is also important that your product responds to a market need. In our business plan, which was page after page, we tested our approach with a number of possible scenarios and challenges that we might face in the future. In this way, we were certain that our model was safe and adaptable. It’s also important that once you’re ready to launch your business, you establish yourself with the right financial tools to manage everything that comes with owning your business.
What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced as a business owner in a growing and competitive industry?
We opened in 2013 when there was practically no competition in this sector. Since then, of course, we’ve seen an increase in meal kit services and delivery services that got us thinking: Should we be concerned about this? But we stayed focused on our plan and the success it has brought us. Since we do not offer delivery, the personal interactions we have with our customers have a lot of value compared to the companies that started to emerge. What was very important to us at this time was staying true to ourselves and our vision.
How do you manage pressures, workloads and stress?
I had certainly experienced quite a bit of stress as an athlete, but running a business introduces a whole new kind of stress. I stay very close to my family and my team, which keeps me grounded. Everything is a question of balance. When we started out, it was hard to do this when we had to put in so many extra hours to get going. But now that we have a routine and set a precedent, it is a balance that we practice every day.
What is the only advice you would give to entrepreneurs starting their journey today?
I would not recommend that anyone start a business if their only interest is making money. You should start a business if you are passionate about what you are doing and are determined to see your idea become a reality. The rest will follow.
Reference-www.canadianbusiness.com