The Chelsea, Quebec resident and mother of two started creating soap as a passion project. Now her business, La Marcotterie, has expanded to include a whole line of natural beauty and soap products. As a science-loving teen, she had her sights set on a career in engineering. Despite the shift, she’s still using her skills from chemistry class to hunt for new natural compounds for her soaps.
The Natural Choice
Involved in competitive mogul skiing her whole childhood and teen years, she had a vision of being able to design a set of mogul skis during her degree. It’s why she initially chose mechanical engineering. After a year in the program, Elodie realized she was more likely to learn how to design and assemble engines and cars than to make skis. “That's not really me. So I switched to civil engineering.”
Despite the change of programs, she adored her time at university. “I liked being a student, I liked studying. It was intense, but I liked it. I felt like I was at the right place at the right time.”
Elodie met her husband at university. They were in the same program and spent many days and nights studying together. Now, a pilot for Air Canada, he too didn’t stay the path of the civil engineer post-graduation.
The Shift
What started as a side project for Elodie (who admittedly loves projects), bloomed into a booming small business during the pandemic. The switch to full time owner of an artisanal beauty company was hers for the taking.
“I really felt like it's something really special that doesn't happen often to many people, and I just have that opportunity to take it.”
Though the path was in front of her, still working on a fold out table in her basement, she had her fears.
Yes, she had started in her basement on evenings and weekends—guided by her old class notes— mixing chemical compounds outside the run-of-the-mill lavender, peppermint, and eucalyptus.
Yes, she had a successful five-year career as a civil engineer to her reputation and wallet.
And yes, her business had exploded in 2021 when the pandemic hit, scaling up from 10 to 15 orders per week to 100 per day.
Uncertain despite it all, she turned to her parents for guidance and approval, sharing her worries; “Making soap, anybody can do that, but being an engineer, I worked so hard, and I went to university for that.”
To Elodie's relief and inspiration, her father shared the story of a friend who owned a company manufacturing the springs that go in pens. “He's like, he makes millions, and he's super wealthy, and he's a businessman. It's not about the product, it's about what you do with the business.”
Tearing up, Elodie explains how the moment touched her and gave her the courage to quit her job and dive in. Now, she runs her business from a ventilated area in her basement, has two employees, and sells her products online and at numerous locations across Canada and the United States.
A Mother's Inspiration
Her mother’s love for soaps played a big role in inspiring Elodie. She recounts how when she was little, her mother would buy artisanal soap while on travel, bringing back the colourful bars and carefully tucking them in drawers throughout the house.
Even in her adult life, after a big move, her mom would come to help her unpack, equipped with soap for the drawers. “She's pretty much my number one source of inspiration for my soap scents. I always make sure that she likes them,” explains Elodie, adding, “she always says when she takes a shower it's like a little moment for her.”
Wrapped in the warm aromas, it’s a moment of self-care that Elodie wishes all her customers to experience.
Words of Wisdom
Carving out those moments for her own self-care was a learning process for Elodie. Being her own boss meant flexibility and accountability. Her hours are atypical, working around her life schedule, and over the years, she’s learned she still has to treat herself like an employee, carving out the unique boundaries between work and personal life. The two blend easily together.
“The gratification when you're having a good month, or when you get a nice review online, or when you really help someone, you feel like yes, this is your work. It’s not all you, but it's what you built with your company. That feels really nice.”
But as any small business owner knows, it’s not a steady pay cheque. “Some years are way better than others. It’s tough to stop thinking about business because you can always do more.”
Her strategy to stay present with her kids meant removing all notifications from her phone.
“I used to get a chi-ching notification when I made the sale. And I noticed when I had a lot of chi-chings during the day, I was really happy. And if I did not, I would be in a bad mood with my family.”
As such, “I just deleted everything. No work emails, no nothing.”
The Business Side of Soap
“You learn how to be a product maker, but you don't have business skills, and later down the road, it's gonna’ catch you. It caught me,” explains Elodie.
For a long time, the products sold themselves. As the pandemic wound down, people went back to normal life, and the economy dipped, she had to weather a rough year. So she decided to take an online business class to fill in the gaps in knowledge and experience.
“I felt like I learned how to be an entrepreneur, not just a product maker, and just grew my confidence.” That was the confidence boost she needed after sales dipped post-pandemic.
Be On Your X: Advice For New Graduates
Elodie says maybe it’s having kids, or being in her thirties, but she’s had a shift in thinking: “At first, you just want to finish school and work, but later on you stop and say woah is that what I really want? I think it’s important to listen to your feelings and have goals in life that align with your values.”
Clarifying that she is not against being an employee, maybe even one day she’ll return to her old calling as an engineer, she adds “But if you feel like you are not aligned, not on your x, then you can take a break and think about it and make an intentional decision.”