DAWN ROSSIGNOL
RETHINK BIOCLEAN – REGINA, SASKATCHEWAN

Dawn Rossignol and her husband, Philip, are the co-owners of ReThink BioClean Sales and Service, based in Regina. It offers cleaning chemicals, liquids, and supplies on a refill basis to other businesses. The company is a successor to a COVID-based business that provided Personal Protective Equipment and associated disinfectants during the pandemic. The business model for ReThink BioClean is to develop and give individualized recommendations to meet client needs, provide refillable containers, and then deliver products regularly. The sales this past year were $1.3 Million.

Additionally, using a model focused on refillable containers helps reduce the quantity of plastic going to landfill sites. “There was something that we could do for the environment. I believe we are making a big impact on our environment, our landfills locally, and our communities.” Rossignol worked for the provincial government for a significant portion of her working life. Her foray into entrepreneurship came later in life, inspired by her husband. “I would call him a serial entrepreneur. I was not. I never saw myself as an entrepreneur. I was working for the provincial government but living with someone who is quite an entrepreneur. It started to develop a spark within me, and I have some good ideas.” 

 The company endeavoured to hit 100 customers by December 2022. They achieved the goal, but the overall process was slower than expected, as they were unknown, and the operating model was new. Rossignol explains, “The sales cycle took much longer than we thought. We thought we would go out and get accounts just like that. And it didn’t happen like that. It took a while to build trust for people to see the model, see the advantage for themselves and the community, and then to bite.” Having met this goal is a source of pride for Rossignol. 

Rossignol’s key challenge is accepting the rejection of an idea she thinks is great. She reflects, “Sometimes I’ll get a great idea, or I think it’s a great idea, and I get so invested in it emotionally, and I’m sure that everyone’s going to love this idea, but that has been a real challenge when sometimes they crash and burn.” Another challenge has been learning to overcome a protective nature and trust others. She states, “It was a big deal for me to hire a bookkeeper because I had to open my books to someone. And that was a step of trust and faith. Looking back, I laugh, shake my head and say, ‘What was the big deal?’ But it was a big deal at the time.” 

Rossignol recommends that entrepreneurs find ways to understand and address their growth areas. She encourages people to determine their strengths and areas for development. “Know what your weaknesses are, and if you don’t have the ability to develop that, or if you can’t find the knowledge, the skills, or the resources, then find somebody who will bring that to your organization and have it come in that way.”

Rossignol is very appreciative of the Saskatchewan Indian Equity Foundation. She expresses, “Saskatchewan Indian Equity Foundation has been who ReThink BioClean has been honoured and privileged to work with, and so they offered great encouragement. They just gave me a good process and plan to follow with a lot of questions and lots of good feedback.”

Working with family has been rewarding for Rossignol, and she is proud of the level of outcome that can arise from a small, talented workforce. She also notes the importance of having a diverse workforce. “90% of our workforce has been Indigenous at one point. It’s really important for us to hire people who are ready to work and ready for new challenges. Diversity is important to us, and we also want to support and encourage our Indigenous workforce.”

“When I step back and see all the people that have trusted my vision and the model and tell me that it’s good, that’s rewarding.”

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