Keeping it small is the key to success

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Something that started out as a hobby has turned into a "viable" business for Michaelee Lazore, a Mohawk from the Akwesasne reserve near Montreal. Sequoia is the name of her bath and body boutique that opened in March 2004 at the Tewatohnhi'saktha business complex in Kahnawake.

The name Sequoia comes from the giant sequoia trees that live to be 2,000 to 3,000 years old. Lazore said she wanted to pick a name that was related to nature, just like her products, because like the Natives, these trees were here before Columbus.

She began making soaps, bath bombs, candles and lotions on the side while working full-time at Joe Deom Associates, a civil engineering company in Kahnawake. She worked there for five years and after a while couldn't juggle both her nine to five job and her hobby anymore. She eventually quit her job with the company so she could work full-time producing her handmade products and have fun at the same time.

Lazore attended Queen's University in Kingston, Ont. and then graduated from Concordia with a Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering. She said having an engineering background has been beneficial in making her products.

"I need to know the percentages of ingredients and how they react with each other, so having a technical background really helps."

Lazore said her boutique is quite different from other shops, such as the Body Shop.

"I have the luxury of doing small batches of different products because that way I can see how people like it and if they don't really respond to it then I can stop making it," said Lazore, the 32-year-old single mother.

Most of the ideas for the products come from feedback from Lazore's employees, which in turn comes from Sequoia's customers.

"I am always consulting with my employees and asking them what they think," said Lazore.

Lazore has as many as nine employees depending on the season. Off season is January to September.

She said she tries to tie in the Mohawk culture to her products. For example, the blackberry sage candle has sage on the top of it. The sweetgrass candle has sweetgrass on top. She also has the red clover line of products. Red clover was used as a cleansing tea.

Although Sequoia is only a year-and-a-half old, Lazore is looking to expand a little. She is looking for a spot in downtown Montreal to open up another Sequoia shop.

Michaelee Lazore is also considering the possibility of opening up in the United States. Owning a chain of stores is an avenue that Lazore won't explore because it would then become too much like the other boutique shops and she wants to remain authentic.

As for products and projects on the horizon, Lazore will be working with Kahriwanoron, a Mohawk immersion school in Kahnawake. Sequoia and the school will be hosting a fundraiser to help with the school's programs.

"We will produce a soap named after the school and it should be out at the end of October," said Lazore. "A dollar from each sale will go to the school and help with their programs."

For those who don't live in the area of the boutique, they can easily order online at www.sequoia.ca.

Lazore said enter "Windspeaker" in the message area of the email and Sequoia will tuck in a free face scrub into the order.