Written by Lexi O’Neil, Endicott College Intern
When we set our eyes on a dream, it can be terrifying. The world is surrounded by what-ifs and numerous anxieties. After leaving a full-time job in Boston, MA, during the pandemic, Sabrina Auclair went all-in on her dream.
Unpacked Living teaches consumers to live more ethically, between understanding their environmental footprint and executing “planet before profit” values. By supplying refills for many products in the form of a Refill Bar, Sabrina ensures everyone gets a personalized experience while knowing their money is going towards better causes. The experience allows her to share their ethical values and help customers branch out to new products.
As a shop owner, she understands that any small business will face challenges. Despite having opened during the pandemic, she’s had great success overall. She knows that competing with larger corporations can be rough, especially when they have such a strong following, but this never deters her. It takes a village to run a small business, and just as the downtown district is small, the outpour of support is enormous. She notes how all shops exist with goals and dreams of their own. She explains that other shop owners work to lift each other, and then their families begin to mingle with other local businesses. You watch these people grow into future coworkers or customers, and this part of the work is most rewarding to her. To hear that someone’s life has changed for the better because of what they do is what makes the job worth doing at the end of the day.
When considering a work-life balance, she is honest in her response: being your boss is your life, and the two cannot separate entities. You put everything into ensuring you are meeting your business goals while also keeping the bills paid, but you love every second despite the workload. Auclair’s family is also involved with the business. She’s grateful for all of the support that they provide. As a business owner, you have to be able to adapt.
She is heavily involved with the community on her own time, working on promotions for Beverly Main Street while spreading awareness about sustainability through Green Beverly. She coaches community members, such as at churches and local colleges, on the importance of a more sustainable lifestyle, and even collaborates with Beverly Bootstraps to give back to the community after large events, like donating clothes to those in need after big clothing swaps.
Her long-term goals now are to ensure her business operations run smoothly while maintaining stability in the community during uncertain times. Despite the setbacks, she is confident in remaining optimistic about her future in sustainability. Her advice to those looking into owning a small business is to be true to yourself and to ensure they understand that opening a shop will be your whole life and not just a small-time gig, as this precedent is key to operating a successful business. If lessening your consumer footprint interests you, visit Sabrina on Cabot Street in Beverly, MA.
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The Small Business Spotlight is generously supported by Cross Insurance. Cross Insurance is a family-owned insurance agency with over 40 branches throughout the Northeast and beyond. Established at the kitchen table of Woodrow Cross in 1954, today Cross Insurance is one of New England’s largest independent insurance intermediaries. In 2022, 2023, and 2024 they were named the 2nd Largest Insurance Broker in Massachusetts by the Boston Business Journal. Since their founding, Cross Insurance has successfully acquired over 150 operations, increasing their footprint in the Northeast. With over 1,100 employees and counting, their experienced team is ready to provide insurance options for the community. To learn more, visit https://www.crossagency.com/.