1. Please tell us about your business
Natural Home Solutions LLC, is committed to keeping homes and businesses safe from mold contamination through science by performing laboratory mold testing and nontoxic, non-destructive removal at a cost-effective price. We are one of only a few EnzyCleanseTM licensees in the world, Natural Home Solutions offers an organic, safe, and natural enzyme-based mold elimination solution created by the scientists at XSPOR Life Sciences. It is the only product in the mold industry to earn the authentic and stringent USDA BioPreferred Certification.
2. When, how and why did you start your business?
In 2020, I left my family’s car dealership after being involved in the business since I was a teenager. The COVID-19 pandemic hit, and I needed to prioritize my children’s education. As a single mother working over 60 hours a week, it was challenging to stay involved with their school. However, my children were happy, their teachers were satisfied, and the kids were receiving good grades. I took time off to assist my children and then began looking for a job. In the fall of 2021, I met Peter Sollinger, the owner of Xspor, which marked the beginning of my involvement in the mold industry.
I have the autonomy of running my own business with the support of a larger company. Xspor is a Life Science Company with a select group of licencees. All of us shadow the owner Peter Sollinger and meet with the PhDs that developed the product. Twice a year, everyone involved in the Xspor family gathers together to share knowledge and experiences.
3. What is your role in the business?
I am the owner of Natural Home Solutions for the New England and Tri-State area. We are an all-natural mold remediation company that offers mold testing, evaluations for water intrusion, and mold elimination, assists with the aesthetics of the property and offers solutions to prevent problems in the future.
4. Where did you study and what did you study?
I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Trinity College in Hartford, CT. My team members have backgrounds in the construction, painting, and legal industries.
5. How did you finance your business?
Natural Home Solutions was financed by the sale of my home.
6. Describe your average workday, if such a thing exists.
Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, there is no average work day. Mold remediation is an on-call business. My hours need to reflect the needs of my customers. Real estate agents and property managers are available almost 24/7, so my hours need to mirror that as well. Many homeowners need my services outside of their business hours. The benefit of this schedule is to be available to volunteer at the school, get my children off the bus, and go on field trips. Some days I wake up thinking I don’t have much to do and end the day having completed multiple jobs.
7. How do you balance your home life and your work life?
Balance is a challenge. When owning a company, there is nobody else to hand off tasks that need to be done. I prioritise my family and trade-off with late nights completing the paperwork and follow-ups that are necessary.
8. What drives you and inspires you?
My goal is to combine my passion for science and help people with everyday issues. Although I am not a Harry Potter enthusiast, I am inspired by JK Rowling.
9. Where and when do you have your best ideas?
My best ideas come late at night. The house is quiet, and my phone is silent from the endless dings of emails, texts, and calls. It is almost as if the universe presents opportunities in front of me and the silence is the best time to soak it all in and objectively find a way to integrate these ideas into my life.
10. Where and how do you market/advertise your business for sales leads?
Sponsoring real estate events is my favorite way to connect. There is a targeted audience of like-minded people! Every event has led to a job for the agent’s properties before they even bring me in to do anything for a customer. One agent came up to me after a presentation and said that she couldn’t find any information about my company on Facebook.
She invited me to lunch and walked me through her thoughts on Facebook and it has been a game changer. I now have 2500 “friends” on my page. Everything Natural Home Solutions does gets posted on that page and immediately shared on my page. The personal page brings the humanity and character of who I am. Through Facebook I cold call people that have similar values and visions. It is very obvious who the big producers and go-getters are.
There are many free networking events that I have discovered through this platform. At a Keller Williams Bold training, they split the room in half and challenged everyone to go through their phone and social media contacts for 15 minutes. This exercise highlighted the power of focused energy and the importance of personal connections. Growing a business can seem overwhelming when you look at the big picture. It is imperative to strategically manage your time and start small.
11. What is next for your business?
My goal for Natural Home Solutions is to coach other young professionals on how to become salespeople, and gain confidence within themselves and with customer service. I hope to be the driving force of the business and expand to have my employees service the customers and run the day-to-day jobs.
12. What advice would you give to female entrepreneurs hoping to start their own business?
My best advice for female entrepreneurs is to start small and build a business based on your particular expertise. Time management is key! As females, we have so many expectations from within, socially and externally. It is very easy to get overwhelmed and distracted. The best lessons in business are quite simple and intuitive but are easily overlooked when you are so busy pushing forward. Always be true to yourself and question the motivation behind your decisions. It’s never too late to do something amazing!
Short bio
Laura Champagne is the owner of Natural Home Solutions, a mold removal company committed to keeping homes and businesses safe from mold contamination through Xspor’s proprietary, organic EnzyCleanseTM solution. The company is comprised of scientists seeking to expand the usage of green, sustainable cleaning solutions for the safety of humans, animals, and the environment.
For more information, visit www.naturalhome.solutions or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552550223035.