Andréanne’s Journal - June 2026

It’s been so long since we last talked! I had to ask the web team two or three times to push back sending out my journal. The last few months have been sooooooo intense (I feel like I say that in every journal, sorry)! Especially May, where I was away traveling every single week. One week of school, two separate three-day conferences in St-Hyacinthe, and a week-long trade mission in Toronto. I feel like I haven't had a single second to just settle down and sit write this journal for you. So, it's actually while out on a fishing trip that I’m finally taking the time to give you a recap of the last few weeks/months.

My last week at school was all about "aligning the entrepreneur within." It couldn’t have come at a better time because, like I mentioned in my last journal, I felt like I had lost my "why" a bit lately. Being able to really dive deep into that for five days was incredibly valuable. I also realized that I’m not the only one who loses their "why" from time to time. That’s exactly why it’s so important to reflect (a lot, over and over again) and write down our company's mission, vision, and values. It’s something I’ve underestimated for a long time, but it’s absolutely essential for steering a whole team in the right direction. I worked on them again during my last stay, and I think I’ve landed on something I really love. Once summer is over, I’ll be presenting it to the whole team. I can’t wait!

I also attended two conferences in St-Hyacinthe for Sans-Façon. One for Familiprix and one for Jean Coutu. These are buying trade shows where cosmeticians come to shop for holiday gift sets. We set up a beautiful booth and pitch to them. It’s a huge moment for them since these gift sets account for a major part of their annual revenue. There’s also a gala for each banner where many of them win awards. It’s a total of 5-6 days packed with PR, so by the time I get home, I am completely wiped out...! The extravert in me is running on absolute fumes afterward. But it’s always a wonderful time, and it gives me a chance to spend quality time with our road rep, whom I don’t get to see very often.

Next, I left for a week-long trade mission in Toronto. My first one ever! To be completely honest, those kinds of missions never really appealed to me. I always felt like I’d just be wasting my time. But when La Caisse de dépôt reached out with a mission specifically tailored for retail businesses, I thought, "Let’s go!" The girls from Cheffes de file (the business cohort I belong to) have already done them in Paris and New York, but for me, Toronto was perfect. My number one goal was to understand the market and consumers over there, both for Sans-Façon and Womance. How do they behave? What do they love? We got the chance to meet with sooooooo many incredible speakers, I was freaking out! Johanna Griffiths, the founder of Knix; Rami Helali, the co-founder of KOTN; and I even got to chat for 30 minutes with Jenn Harper, the co-founder of Cheekbone Beauty. All companies that I follow and find so inspiring and innovative. I couldn't believe we had the opportunity to ask them questions and get their take on the Ontario retail market. I even walked away with some phone numbers. Ahhh, and Joe Mimran, the founder of Joe Fresh, told me he’d give me advice whenever I wanted it.

I have a confession to make: I’ve always had a bit of a biased opinion about having "good connections." I used to think, besides being able to name-drop big names, what’s the point? But what’s crazy when you talk to these people is that they genuinely want to help you. Their advice is so incredibly relevant because there is nothing better than someone who has done it all before you (and made plenty of mistakes) to help you avoid making them yourself. Long story short, I came back from this mission completely energized for what's next!

And right now, I’m fishing with my dad, two of my brothers, and one of their friends. Another confession here: I wasn't heading out here with my usual excitement. Not that I didn't want to spend time with them, but it felt like my to-do list was never-ending. Lately, I feel like I can never just unplug, and I desperately need to, just to envision the future and create, because I miss it so much! At least there was Wi-Fi at the cabin, so I’ve been able to work quite a bit every day and stay close to the office. And we’ve truly had a blast. We laughed like crazy! I’m trying to find a better balance between my schedule and spending time with my family and friends. I have to admit, it’s not always easy. I often feel incredibly guilty for not being present for the people around me, so I try to do as much as I can. There are moments when it’s harder, but I adapt as best as I can, and everyone is so understanding.

Ahhhh, and to add to all of that (and it’s so awesome), I’m leaving Monday, June 15th at the end of the day for Portugal! (Everything happens at once, hahaha!) We are throwing a HUGE SURPRISE party for my friend Joanie's 40th birthday. She’s currently traveling over there with her boyfriend, and eight of us are flying out to meet them at a massive villa in Lagos. She has absolutely NO IDEA! We’ve been planning this behind her back for months. I am going to cry so much when we surprise her. I’m so excited to experience this trip with our friends. We are so incredibly lucky. I’ll keep you posted on social media!

Have a beautiful summer, everyone. Have fun, enjoy it, and please, wear sunscreen!

- Andréanne Marquis, founder of Womance & Sans-Façon Cosmetics