Welcome to EMPOWERED AGING: Our Female Entrepreneurs Series that features women in our ORESTA community that are shifting the narrative surrounding aging while leading intentionally and boldly in business!
Meet France, the co-owner of Planet Coffee, a must-visit coffee shop and bakehouse in Ottawa’s Byword Market. A trailblazers in coffee, Planet coffee opened in 1994, long before Starbucks came to town. Over the years the cafe has evolved, but ethical and sustainable practices and really good coffee and food remain central.
Today France share her day-in-the-life as an entrepreneur, her despise of the societal ageism and how she is embracing the process of aging. We love France’s humour and authenticity. We know you will, too.
Tell us about your journey and how your business has evolved over time.
My journey started in 1994. We opened Planet Coffee in a space on George Street. We moved once and did a renovation that doubled our space a few years later. We have always baked in-house and lately have focused a little more on plant based and gluten free options. We use a coffee roaster who is not only concerned about good fresh coffee but also very concerned about the environment ( the coffee is roasted by solar energy) and our responsibility to ensure the farmers are fairly paid for the beautiful organic coffee they supply us. We have learned that our ethics are as important to our clientele as our products and service.
What is the most rewarding part of your entrepreneurial journey?
Continuing to stay relevant and enthusiastic in an ever-changing environment.
What is the most difficult part of your entrepreneurial journey?
Stepping into my leadership and working with a young team.
What do you love about getting older?
I love the privilege of getting older. The alternative would not be ideal! I love watching my face and body change. How this brings new challenges for me to keep feeling good.
What don't you like about getting older?
I hate ageism. Society is so full of it that it seeps into our own opinion of ourselves. We are expected to somehow change suddenly and become the one version of an "old lady". My light is the same as it has always been.
What advice would you give your younger self as a woman/ as an entrepreneur?
Take it easy! Take the time to rest and enjoy where you are.
What is your go-to beauty product?
Right now I am loving Eminence's Stone Crop cleansing oil, LilFox's Bitter Orange toner (smells divine) and the Minori cream highlighter.
What Empowered Aging mean to you?
It means continuing to learn and challenge myself. It means knowing what I want and need. It means leading from a place of wholeness and authenticity. It means showing up as the real me