Shane Bahmann is lathering up for the next round of promoting his new-ish business tackling the single-use plastic waste inherent in bathing. His Victoria-based Sustained Grooming garnered the attention of judges during a pitch event that marked graduation from the Project Zero Incubator Program. The free eight-month program run by the Synergy Foundation and supported by Vancity gives new circular business ideas and early start-ups the opportunity to create business plans, learn operation fundamentals and entrepreneurial skills, connect with mentors and develop a pitch.
Bahmann’s winning pitch among the 15 participants earned him $1,500 to further the business launched in November. Sustained Grooming was inspired by Bahmann’s visions of wall upon wall and aisle upon aisle of personal grooming products found in large stores and the fact most body wash and shampoos are 70 to 80 per cent water. “You’re essentially just buying bottled water when you buy these products,” he told the judges during Dec.
5 pitches. He strived to create a line of products eliminating single-use plastics targeting men in particular. The result is the line’s first product, a pouch of powder – hand-made and packaged on Vancouver Island – that when mixed with water makes a high-quality body wash.
It has tested well in the larger market, Bahmann said, despite the competition hailing from national, international and local artisan soap makers. Both packaging and the product itself – a natur.
