Mylaine St-Onge | The Magdalen Islands

It all began in 2019, when Mylaine moved back to the Islands with her family. Preferring to buy products in bulk, she quickly took steps to form a buying group and evaluate the possibility of opening a small business. She then met Amanda, the founder of Vrac et bio, and Solange, who took over the business. Both were aware of Mylaine’s desire to take over the business if the opportunity arose.

In July 2023, Solange asked Mylaine about her interest in developing the project. The timing of this proposal was perfect for Mylaine, and she said yes immediately! Within two weeks, the inventory and equipment had been purchased. A few months later, Vrac et Bio moved into a new boutique, Le Vrac magasin Ecogénéral.

A nice little story – Behind Solange’s counter was a photo of Fred Cormier, the owner of the Bassin general store, who had sold her her first bulk caramels when she was young. Seeing this photo, it was obvious to Mylaine that the new boutique would have the ambiance of the old general store.

Funding from AMCGÎM enabled Mylaine to purchase equipment for her new premises.

“AMCGÎM is making a big difference to our small business! In addition to having access to a loan quickly, I now have personalized support tailored to my needs. People with great expertise who help us optimize our business, it makes us feel more confident.”