Andréanne's Journal - May 2025

Did you know that May is one of the busiest months at Womance? It’s true! It’s the time of year when we have the most launches. We do our best to prepare for it as we see it approaching, but when it actually arrives, it’s always just as intense. Launches galore! Clothing, swimwear, accessories, home collections, beach bags – it’s completely crazy! Again, the biggest challenge is finding a way to present them all to you. It's a colossal undertaking!

Aside from launching all the new products (of which many will go straight into my suitcase for Greece), the last few months have been particularly demanding. I feel like I've spent most of my weeks on the road between Montreal, Quebec City, Laval and Trois-Rivières, in addition to all the challenges we've had to deal with at the office due to the growth of the company. It’s been difficult, but at the same time, it’s gratifying to see change taking shape. I already mentioned it in an older journal entry, but I really feel like Womance is taking a big step forward. We're slowly making a place for ourselves in the big league. I have to admit that I'm feeling more tired than usual. The last time I took a real vacation was back in October, but I’m grateful Matt took me to Florida with him in March. Those few days did me so much good! I normally try to take vacations more often because a change of scenery is always good, but lately it’s felt impossible. School and work have made the last few months very intense. I’m SO excited to spend two weeks in Greece at the beginning of June. I’m really looking forward to spending time with my boyfriend and just relaxing. A few weeks ago, for the first time in almost eight years together, he told me he thought I was working a lot. Not that it bothered him; he's always known me that way, and he works a lot too. But this little comment definitely came with a shared look that said: it's time we took a little break. Spend some time together. Real time.

In addition to having the chance to rest and visit, I'll have the opportunity to disconnect and be more creative. When I'm tired and too caught up in tasks and various challenges, it's harder for me to think about our vision and develop new projects. My brain works differently during these times, and nothing creative comes out of it (please tell me I'm not the only one). I absolutely have to find some downtime. Every day, I try to give myself as much free time as possible to rest, take care of myself, and develop new ideas. It's worth mentioning that I have a hard time doing nothing, and when I do get the chance, I feel bad about not working. It’s a tough cycle to break, but I’m working on it! Do any of you have any tips for me?

I can't wait to discover all the ideas that will pop into my head during my trip. It's always exciting to see that after 4 or 5 days of vacation, I'm starting to take notes and I can't wait to start working on new ideas. Just a warning, I might be away from my cell phone. I'll share some pictures with you, but I'll be a little less active! And my next journal entry will probably arrive later than usual. The day after I return from Greece, I’m heading straight to school for another week of learning. I'll still take the time to write to you though. I can't wait to tell you how many churros I ate! :)

- Andréanne Marquis, founder of Womance and Sans-Façon Cosmétiques