A former Store Manager, Alexa is terra20's first franchisee. An entrepreneur at heart, Alexa was looking for an opportunity to have more autonomy and control over her career. Her passion for health, wellness, and the environment aligned perfectly with the launch of terra20's franchise program. She is currently enjoying great success with the goal of eventually opening another location.
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BeTheBoss.ca: What made you choose terra20 from all the franchise opportunities you looked at?
Alexa: I originally worked for the company as a manager for 6 years and when they decided to franchise I jumped on the opportunity. terra20 is dedicated to only providing the best in sustainable and environmentally healthy products. They are a company with a purpose and that’s something I wanted to be a part of. There are no other franchises like it.
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BeTheBoss.ca: Can you describe the support you got from the terra20 head office team as you got started?
Alexa: The support was and still is amazing. Any questions or suggestions I had within any department were addressed immediately. I was involved in design decisions and product selection, as well as creating training modules for future franchisees. My knowledge of the company allowed me to offer two different perspectives: one as an employee and one as a franchisee. I had direct communication with the buying, merchandising and marketing team throughout the whole process. It’s important going into a venture like this that you don’t feel alone and I have yet to feel that way.
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BeTheBoss.ca: Describe the most rewarding part of owning your business?
Alexa: The most rewarding part of owning my business is knowing I’m building something personally and financially. It’s not just a job anymore; it’s a whole transformational process. I’m building new skills and character from all the new experiences and challenges that come with owning your own business. The personal transformation in itself is so rewarding because I can take that knowledge and start new ventures or expand on my current business. You will never be the same person in the most rewarding and positive way.
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BeTheBoss.ca: What are the biggest advantages that terra20 gives you in your business?
Alexa: The biggest advantage I’m finding is control over product selection. The company understands things are changing and evolving so moving quickly to capitalize on those trends is so important. I had a lot of say of what went into the store initially, and then as time progressed changes needed to be made and terra20 responded quickly. Support in big decisions like that is fundamental.
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BeTheBoss.ca: How does terra20 help you to differentiate yourself from your competition?
Alexa: terra20 has done a wonderful job in branding themselves as the go-to store for healthy and sustainable products. They’ve created a list of banned chemicals and a list of ethics that every single product needs to abide by. They’ve created a refill station for cleaning and personal care products, reducing the amount of plastic that goes into the landfills. People who shop at terra20 are shopping with a purpose whether it’s to reduce waste, shop vegan, shop Canadian, shop chemical free etc. They’ve created a trust with customers that align with people’s core values. It’s rare to find companies out there that are about product before profit. In these ways terra20 is very unique.
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