The thought of air fresheners, eco-friendly products and being health concious isn’t the first thing that most brains jump to meld together. Andrew and Irf are the guys behind Purple Frog, and they break that stereotype. Check them out!
Andrew Miller – PURPLE FROG
ARE YOU BASED OUT OF CALGARY?
Yes, we are founded and based right here in Calgary.
WHAT DO YOU MAKE/SELL? TELL US ABOUT YO’ SELF.
Purple Frog Products offer a line of all natural, personal, on-the-go air freshening options. Our products use only plants oils (essential oils) and cater to the health conscious, busy individual (which is almost everyone these days). We are here to challenge the acceptance of toxic air fresheners, educate consumers on their choices and offer our product as the natural alternative.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD YOUR BUSINESS?
Purple Frog Products is proudly into year 3.
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED?
Kijiji. Purple Frog’s story began from a singles ad (business singles). Truth. I believe the ad went something like this: smart, inside the box, organized, numbers oriented CAA, CPP seeking…. the opposite. That ad posted by my partner, Irfanali (Irf), many moons ago was enough to win my right brain connected heart, but the motivation to goes further back. When I was 17 years old I was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma and crushed it! However, this experience encouraged me to explore deeper into my personal health and the health of our environment. Armed with a B.Sc and Irf’s strong business aacumen we were ready to ‘start something that matters’, a phrase inspired by Blake Mycoskie, the founder of Tom Shoes.
WHO OR WHAT INSPIRES YOUR WORK?
The fellow cohorts and mentors at District Ventures. District Ventures was founded by its lead mentor, Arlene Dickinson, who embodies a business concept we hold at the top of our core values, social entrepreneurship. What this term means is: using traditional business practices to solve social, environmental or cultural problems. Social entrepreneurism not only forms the foundation of Purple Frog but also every other member of District Ventures’ accelerator program. Being a part of a community of inspired, collaborative, forward thinking entrepreneurs fills and stirs my inspirational drink. People, planet, profit.
WHAT DO YOU DREAM FOR YOUR BUSINESS IN THE FUTURE?
I dream that Purple Frog Products will be the proverbial canary in the coal mine that puts pressure on business and the government to cleanse their regulatory lense and enact new regulation on consumer products that could severely affect people’s health. Irf and I endeavor to see Purple Frog be the all natural industry voice and alternative to chemical based air fresheners and the authority when speaking about the importance of label clarity, especially in the air care.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM AND WHY?
Let’s just get this out of the way first, I refuse to accept any invitation to the #hashtag fan club. To be honest, the concept of social media terrifies me but I understand the business relevance, so I’ve passed along the instagram responsibilities to my savvy (younger) team members who do a bang up job driving our message. Note: I have been known to sneak onto our account and drop the occasional ironic one liner or two, so I’m slowly dipping my toe and coming around.
HOW DO YOU PICK YOURSELF UP WHEN THINGS GO WRONG?
Bury myself in a Netflix marathon until it goes away….but that option hasn’t yielded too much success so now I always look for the opportunity to pivot. I’ve learned that entrepreneurialism is a game of adaptation and resilience. Setbacks are inevitable and there is always another route to take as long as the goal, our minds and our values are clear.
WHAT’S ONE THING NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT YOU? GIVE US AN INTERESTING FACT!
Since we’re speaking completely off the record, I think it’s safe to disclose that I belt the meanest One Direction harmonies. Only my steering wheel can confirm.
IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY SUPER POWER WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Let’s keep this frog centric and say, the power to sleep all winter (Canadian frogs). Winter and I have never had a strong relationship and sleep is where my kind of magic happens. Flight with a giant hammer and long, flowing blonde hair comes second.
WHAT ARE YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES? (Please include links)
Twitter: PurpleFrogPatch
Instagram: purplefrogpatches
Facebook: Purple Frog Patches
Pinterest: Purple Frog Patches
WHERE CAN WE FIND YOUR STUFF?
Purple Frog Products can be purchased online at https://purplefrogpatches.com