Amma Therapy: Attach your stress ball with a brooch

The pursuit of natural well-being is the daily bread that nourishes the Amma Thérapie company. We spoke with Marie-Jeanne Gauthier, co-founder, who works with her husband Sébastien Bolduc to design a range of products to alleviate various physiological tensions ranging from migraines to stomach aches, including muscle pain.

A union of professions that has borne fruit

Marie-Jeanne and Sébastien both belong to the self-employed community. She has experience as a fashion designer and he is an orthotherapist. One day, the idea came to them to collaborate on a project together: the design and production of a magic bag redesigned for contemporary values ​​and needs. Indeed, anyone who has ever used a magic bag knows that after a while it starts to emanate a rather unpleasant smell. Not to mention the fact that the beans always end up collecting in one end or the other of the bag, which is not very practical for use.

This project allowed them to combine their passions while meeting a real need of the population. “We realized that we could build our dream business. When we talk about it, our eyes shine. Taking care of its customers in an ethical and natural way is what gives the organization its raison d'être.

Maternity shops as a springboard

This is how in 2015, the couple launched Amma Thérapie and began to sell heating pads, first in Sébastien's clinic, then approaching maternity shops. This is also what gave them their first "big boom" for the company: the entry of the Clément company as a point of sale. “It gave us a lot of confidence and liquidity. This important step opened all sorts of doors for the development of the company.

Today, Amma Thérapie offers several types of therapeutic compresses to relieve baby's colic, muscle, back or abdominal pain, or even migraines, as well as various cushions for yoga and even gift wrapping in reusable fabric. While Marie-Jeanne works on samples, patterns, fabric research, account management, marketing and social media, Sébastien focuses on production, shipping and packaging. “It's really half and half, both in terms of the separation of duties and the time allocated to the work. We work equally. »

The pandemic as an omen of prosperity

These days, stress is not lacking. Our "new reality" brought about by the pandemic has contributed to growing tensions due to the forced adaptation to working from home or even the loss of work, the more frequent presence of children at home, or the constant stream of news that purports to be sensationalized. Marie-Jeanne and Sébastien understand very well the challenges that this reality represents. “People are stressed, they work at home in an environment that is not necessarily ergonomic. They also decrease their regular training. All of these sources of stress can contribute to an increase in physical discomfort in the population.

It is therefore no surprise that the sale of masks and therapeutic compresses increased during the pandemic. In addition, the company added protective masks to its virtual stores as early as April, well ahead of the competition, which led to a surge in sales. But the most surprising sales increase for Marie-Jeanne was that of yoga cushions . According to her, this can be explained by the fact that people started to practice yoga at home rather than at a yoga center which would have provided them with the necessary equipment during the classes. Let's add that Amma Thérapie offers local products for virtual sale, two advantages for the company's customers. “People want to buy from Quebec and they don't want to buy in stores. »

Having three children at home themselves, this period of success brought its share of challenges for Marie-Jeanne and Sébastien: "it's crazy to have had the children at home while we were making more sales than ever. That said, their flexible schedule allowed them to structure their activities in order to maintain production. It is also important for them to devote time to their well-being and that of their family. “We pick up the weekend. We want a quality of life through all this. This balance has allowed their business to continue to do well since the start of the pandemic.

Heal ailments naturally first

One of the objectives of Amma Thérapie is to offer a natural alternative to medication to relieve body ailments. Because we're all doomed to get a headache or backache from time to time, why not consider a non-chemical option first? “What we're looking for is relief and well-being while respecting nature and people,” says Marie-Jeanne. This approach allows people who prefer not to have to turn to over-the-counter medications to access more natural ways to alleviate their everyday ailments. The products are made in an ethical and ecological way and allow users to relax with ease. “It's a good option to treat yourself, to take care of yourself in a natural way. »

Moreover, Amma Therapy products are available in several natural, soft and warm colours. The design is as simple as possible, ergonomic and aligns with the zero waste movement: the compresses and cushions come with a washable pocket (available for certain products, and sold separately) and are made of organic barley grains from the Canada durable, hypoallergenic, dust mite and antibacterial. According to the team's research, it is “the grain that will stay hot or cold the longest, because it is heavy and compact. In addition, its weight makes it even more relaxing. »

And then after?

Amma Therapy products are currently available on their website , on Etsy , and in over 100 locations across Canada. Within two years, Marie-Jeanne aims to have a storefront in a commercial building near her home, with a boutique and a therapeutic clinic, in order to maximize the efficiency of the business and the storage capacity. His biggest dream for the future of the company? “ Develop a collection of yoga clothing made in Quebec and be able to travel in order to develop the export of our products to Europe. " To be continued!

Reviewed by MF Editorial