Ana Duque and Karen Mejias discovered the need to merge their business ventures to create a bigger impact and survive amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The women, former Tolman High School classmates, had been operating their own businesses. Duque owned Green Tenderfoot, a pop-up business offering zero-waste products, while Mejias ran Mindful Maia, a wellness smoothie truck.
So, on Dec. 12, 2020, they opened a brick-and-mortar shop in Pawtucket called The Heal Room, a zero-waste store with a wellness bar.
Duque said she pitched the idea of opening a retail store focused on living sustainably during a meeting with Mejias at a cafe, telling her, “I need you and you need me right now.”
Mejias agreed, banking on their comradery and familiarity.
“On a higher level, we realized we could help each other create a bigger impact in our community if we worked together rather than individually,” she said.
Mejias said it was also nice to partner with someone who shares a similar vision with the same work ethic.
“So, I said, ‘Let’s try to do this,’ ” she said.
“We tried to create the perfect baby, and it created itself,” Duque said.
What was created was a store aimed at eliminating pollutant materials that are not friendly to the environment by offering zero-waste products and a refill station for containers that dispense bath, body and cleaning products.
The store offers products ranging from ethical crystals, herbs, teas and powders to self-help books, bottles and gear. The wellness bar features smoothies, fruit bowls, herbal teas and more.
The Heal Room ships its products using reused boxes, plastic-free tape and paper filling to reduce waste.
Duque said the goal is to effect change through a green-conscious business that benefits the health of the community. Part of that involves providing information about sustainability by hosting educational events and workshops.
The endeavor was not without its challenges, as the women had to raise funds to get the business off the ground. Then there was the process of gathering and organizing inventory while securing a location.
“Our prior experiences in college and in business allowed us to connect with people and build the branding side of it,” Mejias said.
Mejias said they leaned on advice from mentors along the way that were provided by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, SCORE Mentors Rhode Island, Social Enterprise Greenhouse, and Urban Ventures, to name a few.
“The Rhode Island business community can be very supportive,” Mejias said. “We’re here because of them.”
Duque said COVID-19 has created a strange paradox, as they don’t know what it’s like to operate their shop outside of a pandemic.
“We’ve never experienced the normal running of a store,” Duque said. “So, we’re very thankful for the community and the people that support us no matter what, even in the middle of a pandemic.”
“We are a fountain to the community,” Mejias said. “The store is an extension of that. It is there to replenish our community.”
OWNERS: Ana Duque and Karen Mejias
TYPE OF BUSINESS: Zero-waste store and wellness bar
LOCATION: 574 Smithfield Ave., Pawtucket
EMPLOYEES: Two
YEAR FOUNDED: 2020
ANNUAL REVENUE: WND
Cassius Shuman is a PBN staff writer. Email him at Shuman@PBN.com.
