Two dynamos of the West CoastB次元官网网址檚 business community whose Mint Cleaning company has been soaring since 2021 were stoked, albeit anxious, to enter the CBCB次元官网网址檚 Dragons Den on May 13.
Monika Scott and Robyn Mair were buzzing with nerves and excitement on May 10 as they headed out of town to make their pitch to CanadaB次元官网网址檚 famed dragons, but the communityB次元官网网址檚 support had them confident they would slay.
B次元官网网址業B次元官网网址檝e got so many messages and so many B次元官网网址榞ood lucksB次元官网网址� and IB次元官网网址檓 just feeling very supported. WeB次元官网网址檙e always so grateful for Ucluelet and Tofino and all the support,B次元官网网址� Scott told the Westerly B次元官网网址 as the pair departed Ucluelet together Friday afternoon.
Scott was initially reluctant to apply for the show despite consistent urging from Mair.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e watched DragonB次元官网网址檚 Den forever. My brotherB次元官网网址檚 actually been on it twice and IB次元官网网址檝e always wanted to go on it just as a crazy dream,B次元官网网址� Mair said.
B次元官网网址淢onika finally said, B次元官网网址業f they reach out to us, then we will applyB次元官网网址� and I said B次元官网网址極K, deal,B次元官网网址� and sure enough, literally two days later, DragonB次元官网网址檚 Den reached out to us. Their producers reached out to ask if we would apply.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淪o, obviously I had to say yes,B次元官网网址� added Scott.
The business partners then went through the application steps and were invited to an audition.
B次元官网网址淭hree days later they called and told us that we were going to be on the show,B次元官网网址� Mair said. B次元官网网址淚t was crazy. I just screamed and got very excited and then immediately nervous.B次元官网网址�
Scott said emotions were running high leading up to the event.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 so nervous. I donB次元官网网址檛 want to do it, but IB次元官网网址檓 so grateful and excited at the exact same time, so itB次元官网网址檚 like four emotions circling me at all times,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e staying pretty close to the bathroom if that helps paint a picture a little bit. WeB次元官网网址檙e feeling it for sure. We did have a lot of mentorship through this and something we learned is to not try to get rid of the nervousness or the anxiety or the fear, but just channel that in a positive way; use that adrenaline and all those emotions that you try to stifle when you feel nervous, but actually use them. IB次元官网网址檓 trying to practice using those gross feelings and channelling them into excitement and being so grateful.B次元官网网址�
Mair agreed.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 nervous, but IB次元官网网址檓 definitely trying to really focus on that attitude of gratitude. WeB次元官网网址檙e so lucky to be able to have this opportunity and to do this. ItB次元官网网址檚 such a huge challenge for us and we just hope that we pull it off somehow,B次元官网网址� she said.
Scott added that the communityB次元官网网址檚 support has been a key source of gratitude.
B次元官网网址淢int Cleaning Products started because of our community and the support we had in this town. We always say that, if we started in a big city, we would not have the success weB次元官网网址檝e had. WeB次元官网网址檝e had endless support in this town that started with people reaching out. Businesses reaching out to sell it, cleaning businesses reaching out to use it. We really got our start in this town just from the support of everyone wanting to buy what we were making, just to support usB次元官网网址hey were there for us and that really helped take us to the next level. WeB次元官网网址檙e always so grateful for this community.B次元官网网址�
Mair said the community has been reaching out with excitement about the Dragons Den announcement.
B次元官网网址淚 feel like when youB次元官网网址檙e from a small town, thereB次元官网网址檚 way more buzz because not many people from Ucluelet go on the Dragons Den, so I feel like itB次元官网网址檚 way more exciting when it happens to someone in a small town. ThereB次元官网网址檚 so much more support and weB次元官网网址檙e just feeling so supported and so loved. WeB次元官网网址檙e so grateful,B次元官网网址� she said.
Mint Cleaning Products is the result of a pivot Scott and Mair leaped into in 2021, moving from the cleaning business they had launched in 2017 to focus on creating and selling natural, non-toxic, cleaning products.
Their products are now available at roughly 135 refilleries and retail stores across North America and they opened their first storefront in Ucluelet in May of 2023.
They took top honours in the Small Business BCB次元官网网址檚 E-Commerce Experience Award in 2023 thanks to their massive social media presence, which includes hilarious videos of the pair as well as DIY cleaning tips and product information.
They said they planned to ask the Dragons Den for $400,000 for 10 per cent of their company, with a focus on mainland distribution.
B次元官网网址淥bviously, distributing out of Ucluelet is challenging to say the least, so weB次元官网网址檙e trying to open up. WeB次元官网网址檝e been working on that forever but just not been able to find the right contacts or obviously the funds for it,B次元官网网址� Scott said.
Both assured that, if everything goes perfectly and they get all the funding they ask for from the dragons, they will still be staying in Ucluelet.
B次元官网网址淯cluelet is number one. WeB次元官网网址檝e raised our families here. Ucluelet will always be our homebase. WeB次元官网网址檒l always have our flagship store in Ucluelet,B次元官网网址� Mair said. B次元官网网址淚 love it here. I couldnB次元官网网址檛 live anywhere else. I couldnB次元官网网址檛 live in a big city. Having that lifestyle is such a huge value to us. Yes, our business is growing and we hear a lot, B次元官网网址榃ould you ever move to the city?B次元官网网址� My work is not as important as my family and where we raise our kids and what we like to do. Ucluelet is just home.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淧lus, our husbands are surfers, so thereB次元官网网址檚 nowhere else we can live,B次元官网网址� Scott added. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l always be in Ucluelet.B次元官网网址�
Following their pitch on May 13, Scott and Mair will likely be keeping mum on the outcome of their pitch until their DragonsB次元官网网址� Den episode airs at a later date.
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