WOMEN’S DAY VENDOR SPOTLIGHT: NEIGE AND PIPPA FROM ROUTINE NATURAL DEODORANT TALK BUSINESS

In honor of International Women’s Day, we’re highlighting some inspiring female entrepreneurs we’ve had the privilege of partnering with here at Spud. Introducing Neige and Pippa Blair, the lovely sister duo who founded Routine Natural Deodorant.

What is Routine Natural Deodorant?

If you haven’t heard of Routine before, it’s one of the most effective and natural deodorants around. Perfumed using essential oils in a variety of different scents, and contained in the sweetest little pots, this product is made with love, and never tested on animals.

The Routine story, as told by Neige Blair.

In the dead of winter 2011, when our natural deodorant company routine was first conceived, Pippa and I chose local to be the priority of our brainchild. A beautiful sentiment, but the thing was, living at the base of the Canadian Rockies, sourcing all local, raw ingredients was proving to be more than a challenge. In Alberta, we hardly have the growing season to produce an apple bigger than a ping pong ball let alone a coconut that would yield us its precious oil.

So, with that ineradicable, bootstrapping Albertan inclination, we gathered the extent of the local, raw ingredients (ex; beeswax from Nixon honey) we could muster. Once said high quality, ethical ingredients were located, we tilted our focus to our greatest local resource: local humans.

To follow big business convention, we might have outsourced to another country or overseas to save a couple of dollars, but that approach was miles from where we stood on a personal and community loving platform. From day one, we sourced out local business we felt deserved our business. We implemented local suppliers, photographers, artists, printers, box makers, label companies, retailers, manufacturers, designers and even arborists to name a few. We felt it our social duty to give back local charities, fundraisers and worthwhile initiatives being our community had been so good to us. We employed our family, friends and neighbors. We forged meaningful relationships and spread our roots deep into our city. We put faces to names. We made lifelong friends. It felt amazing. It still does.

When you cultivate capital and relationships in the community, everyone flourishes. It makes the world smaller, friendlier and more meaningful. We love being able to put a face to a name. It’s almost like a barter system has been implemented and it’s a sustainable system. Routine was born here and will always be made here. Each local element we incorporate may seem small on its own, but we are certain it’s important to support the local goods and services economy especially now, during this unfortunate (but we are certain, temporary) economic downturn. We’re finding these attitudes of comradery are in fact what is keeping small business and human spirits afloat.

Why we can’t get enough of this product at Spud

Routine is one of the most effective natural deodorants around, and is offered in 12 different scents, and 4 different formulas, including options for vegans and those with sensitive skin. The company prioritizes keeping things local, and is committed to keep all manufacturing operations in Canada.

Routine also offers our customers agency in what they’re putting on their bodies. With twelve aromatic scents that appeal to every body type and scent preference; these products include options that are friendly for vegans, pregnant/nursing mothers, and those with sensitive skin. There really is something for everyone.

Cheers to these ladies, who by example prove that there is merit in an honest product, that there is a place for women in the business world, and that hard work pays off. They are our International Women’s Day crush this year, and we are so proud to carry their products in our stores.

Happy International Women’s Day!