Meet the Makers | Laura Burget and Connie Lo of NIU BODY

In honour of International Women’s Month, we’re sharing conversations with the inspiring women behind some of the brands we love and carry in our store. Their stories showcase the power of determination and a true passion for the product lines they’ve created, and they sure do give us a lot to look up to!

Kicking off our series are Laura Burget and Connie Lo, who grew frustrated with the natural beauty products available in the market, and joined hands in 2017 to create NIU BODY, a skincare brand that aspires to be truly natural, approachable, and affordable.

NIU BODY’s mission is to support women and help them recognize their worth, beauty, and purpose, one natural, innovative, and uncompromising product at a time.

What inspired you to start this business?

Laura:

When I was a student completing my final year of university, I began using coconut oil as a natural makeup remover. I loved how effective it was and that it didn’t sting my eyes but couldn’t stand how messy it was to use! Not to mention that the jar was an eyesore on my bathroom counter. I struggled to find a coconut oil-based makeup remover on the market and so I created my own!

A friend of mine suggested that I meet with Connie to show her the idea that had for NIU BODY as she was the go-to natural beauty guru of their group. From the moment that we met, we hit it off and had the same vision of what the brand would represent and grow towards. After a 3 hour dinner, I asked her to be my co-founder and the rest is history!

There were many indications from both your childhoods that foreshadowed you becoming entrepreneurs. Were you always encouraged to start your own businesses?

Connie:

Yes, ever since I was a kid I’ve always LOVED the idea of being my own boss. My father, an entrepreneur, would bring me with him on his business trips. From the age of 6, I was traveling to places like Germany and Brazil and learning about branding and problem-solving in new cultures. I was always encouraged to work hard and push to achieve my crazy dreams. In high school, I ran my own businesses from grade 9-12, and then in university, I co-chaired the Queen’s Entrepreneurs’ Competition. You can say I’ve always had the entrepreneurial bug in me!

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What were some of the successes and struggles that you had to deal with starting NIU?

Connie:

Laura and I constantly feel like we don’t have enough hours in the day. I currently wake up at 6:15 AM and am actually debating setting my alarm earlier to try to squeeze in more during the day. No matter how much we plan to get tasks done in advance, it always seems like we are weeks or months behind schedule! We’re looking to expand our team in the new year, which should hopefully help alleviate some of the time pressure and stress.

I also personally struggle with self-confidence as a young female entrepreneur. There are times where I still feel like a kid running a business. Now, I try to recognize when the imposter syndrome is kicking in and stop it in its tracks by reflecting on what I have achieved.

How do you achieve work-life balance?

Connie:

This is something I’m admittedly still working on. I don’t believe in work-life balance, or the concept of equal time spent at work (i.e. clocking in 9-5 hours) and then switching off completely for leisure. I’m fortunate that I absolutely love what I do, so even when I’m working long hours it flies by.

That being said, there are times where I do need to shut off completely. As someone who struggles to “turn off”, I’ve realized that scheduling in me-time is really important. A tip I picked up from my naturopath is to use the Pause function on my email inbox, so I’ll pause my inbox at 10 PM and won’t look at my emails until the next morning. I also try to book yoga classes mid-workday to clear my mind, and I always put my phone away when I’m with friends and loved ones.

From your line that we offer in our shop, which is your favourite and why?

Laura:

Definitely our cleansing oils. It was our first line of products so will always have a special place in my heart. I’ve also still yet to find another way to remove makeup which is as effective as this product! Literally melts everything off and I’ve been working on the same bottle for close to a year!

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Connie:

I love our Glow Facial Serum. It’s lightweight and fast-absorbing, so I can use it in the morning. A tip I learned from our customers is to use it before applying foundation as a natural primer! It smells amazing (can’t go wrong with bergamot), moisturizes and conditions my skin without feeling oily, and evens skin tone. It’s also our top-selling product, so I’m sure others can relate!

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What tips do you have for other women who would like to start their own businesses?

Laura:

Just get started! It’s impossible to know everything that you need to know from the start. Get your minimum viable product out into the hands of customers and tweak as you go based on their feedback. I think that a lot of aspiring entrepreneurs overcomplicate what it takes to get going. Oh, and always know your numbers! It’s super important for new brands to know their margins inside and out.

Connie:

Be authentic and kind. Don’t compare yourself to what other people are doing, and try not to listen to the haters. Also, if you’re lucky enough to find something you’re passionate about, start working on it now. Don’t wait until you’ve perfected the idea, or else you’ll never start. Stick to your gut and work your butt off. Life is too short to look back one day and think, “what if?”