Feature: AFTER THE RAIN YYC
Nicole Kushniryk creates natural (and adorable!) products for eco-friendly, toxin-free living
She’s creative, she’s conscious and she wants to empower others to lead a healthy, happy lifestyle! Though Nicole Kushniryk didn’t intentionally set out to become an entrepreneur, her artistic talents and passion for natural products eventually led her to create After The Rain YYC. As a former naturopathic doctor, Nicole realized that her patients benefited from making the switch to all natural, toxin free dryer balls and felted soaps. When she began making these products for her patients, the demand became so overwhelming that it became her full-time career. Her products are not only good for you and good for the earth, they’re also sure to leave a smile on your face! (Who doesn’t want to see a grinning panda bear staring back at them as they do their laundry?!). Nicole’s hard work creating purposeful products has paid off— her all natural felted soaps have been nominated for the 2020 Made in Alberta Awards under the “Craft” category!
We’re also inspired that Kushniryk uses her business platform as a way to give back, donating a portion of her revenue to Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta. It’s just part of what makes Nicole’s mission to support health, environment and wellness in the Calgary community and beyond, nothing short of inspirational!
You’re a former Naturopathic Doctor! Was there part of that knew you had an entrepreneurial spirit even before ‘After The Rain’ became your full time career, or was it an unexpected life transition for you to start this business?
My original career as a Naturopathic Doctor was centered on empowering people to live a healthy lifestyle. Then after having my son and becoming even more consumed with keeping toxins out of our home as well as being conscious of our environmental impact, I turned my love of being creative into a small biz hoping to help other families to have access to non-toxic and earth friendly products, that we use and love in our own home. I never really saw myself as an entrepreneur, I just followed my passion and it led me in this direction.
“I never really saw myself as an entrepreneur, I just followed my passion and it led me in this direction.”
Your felted dryer balls are toxin free (with the cutest designs on them!). What do you wish that most people knew about most regular dryer sheets? Why make the switch?
Why make the switch from dryer sheets/ fabric softener to natural wool dryer balls? Dryer sheets & fabric softeners often contain harmful chemicals and heavy fragrances. These have potential to cause respiratory and nervous system problems and may even be carcinogenic. These methods of eliminating static on your clothing are obtained by leaving a residue on your clothing, heat from the dryer can release some of these harmful chemicals into the home and surrounding environment. Health effects potentially related to the use of these products may include CNS disorders, headaches, nausea, dizziness, irritation to skin and the respiratory tract, and potentially ay cause certain cancers.
Using all natural wool dryer balls help to eliminate the toxins found in these other products. They also have the benefit of reducing your drying time, which helps the home to reduce electricity consumption. They help to reduce static in natural fiber clothing as well. I like to add ¼-1/2 cup of white vinegar to my rinse, to help soften my clothes. And if you really miss a clean “smell” on your clothes, you can add a few drops of your favourite essential oils to the dryer balls, or use an essential oil based, natural linen spray on your sheets & towels after they come out of the dryer.
After they are ready to be replaced, your wool dryer balls can be used as pet toys, add some essential oils to them and use them in your closet or drawers as natural fresheners, or they are fully compostable.
ATR gives a portion of their revenue to the Kids Cancer Care organization. Why is this organization, in particular, near to your heart?
Thank you so much for asking me about this. From the inception of ATR I knew that I wanted to give back the community that supports us. There are so many worthy causes that we'd love to be a part of but have found one that is especially near and dear to our hearts. Having a company mission to support health and wellness, and having different forms of cancer touch many members of our friends and family, plus having a young son of my own, I was drawn to the initiative of this wonderful organization.
The Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta has programs that are uniquely designed to meet the needs of the whole family at each stage of the cancer journey, from diagnosis through treatment and beyond. This amazing foundation helps Alberta children and families by providing funding and programs in these key areas: Camp and Outreach, Research and Hospital, Education Support and Scholarship Programs.
As an effort to do more, as of March 1, 2019 I have been donating a portion of our profits to this wonderful organization who are dedicated to helping young people and their families affected by cancer, mind, body & spirit.
Congratulations on being nominated for a Made in Alberta Award for your all-natural felted soap! What exactly does it mean for a soap to be ‘all natural’ for people who may not know? What kind of things are not in your soap that might be in factory manufactured soaps, and why should people care?
Our handmade soaps are made only from plant based skin loving oils like olive, coconut, avocado, sunflower oils & Shea Butter that are rich in vitamins, and antioxidants. We use botanicals and natural clays for their benefits to your skin as well as to add a little color, and they are only scented with quality essential oils. We also have other natural additives like aloe and coconut oils, or local ingredients from some of our favourite companies- Kombucha – from True Buch Kombucha & Hibiscus Matcha tea from TotaliTea Tea boutique, both local makers here in Calgary, AB. Handmade soaps also contain glycerine as a product of the saponification process, glycerine is a wonderful humectant which naturally draws moisture from the environment to help with hydrating your skin.
It is important to label read, especially in products we are going to use on our bodies. Commercial soaps often contain parabens (act as a chemical preservative to extend shelf life), petrochemicals made from petroleum, phthalates known to be linked to several cancers, synthetic fragrances linked to allergies, skin sensitivities and may lead to hormone issues. Artificial color’s can also be linked to skin issues.
You have a lot of different products: soap, dryer balls, gemstones, bracelets, etc. What would you say is your most popular item?
Our most popular item is the character dryer balls, followed closely by our wool felted soaps and shampoo & conditioner bars.
You’re expanding your low waste and plastic free product line, which is awesome! How else do you see ATR improving or expanding over the next 5 years?
We hope to continue to develop the low waste, plastic free products keeping them healthy and accessible to all families. We would love to expand into more stores across Canada and the U.S.
What a valuable quote or piece of wisdom that has helped you get you where you are?
The quote that has helped me get to where I am today is: “May your life be filled with I’m so happy I did rather than I wish I would have” Jenny Paul (@livelongandhustle).
Life is too short not to just go for what you are passionate about. Do not give up, because the sailing will not always be smooth, but if you are your authentic self, I believe that will prevail.
Find her at:
https://www.shopatr.ca/