Meet Rae Hackett | Ecopreneur and Small Business Consultant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rae Hackett and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rae, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I have been scheming and writing down business ideas since I can remember. Of course over time those ideas have changed and developed but being an entrepreneur was really never a question, it was more just a matter of when I would have the courage to take that leap.

Buying Bona Fide was not part of any plan, and quite frankly owning a retail store was never on my list of business ideas either but there are some things worth doing even though they don’t fit into any of your plans. This was an opportunity that in my gut, I knew would be worth pursuing along with the risks associated with it.

What should our readers know about your business?
Bona Fide is an Eco + Refill Shop working on disrupting the retail world. We specialize in sustainable products along with education and impower our customers to do what is right for them and the environment.

Bona Fide means to be real and authentic and in a world that feels quite unauthentic is really important people trust us and understand we are not here to just sell things off a shelf. We are here to make a change and help many future generations to come. I want everyone to know that we are not perfect, far from it really but we will continue to learn and grow with everyone else and leave this place better than we found it.

Bona Fide has been around since 2007 and was opened by a strong and independent woman that knew there needed to be a place where people could shop with a purpose. It was crazy, radical and well ahead of its time. To be able to own this shop today is a great privilege and I think about that every day.

It took me a long time to have the opportunity to own by own business and I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t for the connections and relationships I made along the way, Remember you are a walking billboard for what you stand for and there is opportunity in every interaction you have.

I was crucial for me to help other people run their businesses so that I could have a clear understanding of how hard it can be, how scary it can get sometimes and yet how rewarding it can feel to call something your own. If you do not experience things first hand then you are walking into the unknown with a blindfold on. There are many things I still do not know about running a business but from working for others I was able to have a clear vision on I how I wanted it to look.

Nothing is easy, and quite frankly most things are really hard but it does always get easier if you are willing to be uncomfortable, vulnerable and open to change. Having the right people in your corner is crucial because there will be many times along that way you will lose sight and get lost in the chaos. You want people around you that will lift you up, empower you and question you with the right intentions along the way. It is also important that you yourself are taken care of, that your physical and mental health remain even more important than your business and that you always remind yourself that if you fail at something, it just means you are one step closer to succeeding at the next thing.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The best thing about New Hampshire is that it is small enough to explore but unique enough that you don’t always know what you will find.

A day on the coast:
Grabbing lunch in Portsmouth along with a coffee from Cafe Kilim is a must. Taking a ride down the coast and landing on Hampton Strip for some fried dough, people watching and kick ass show at the Casino Ballroom.

Head to the mountains:
Breath taking views of the White Mountains that you will never forget. Climb the Mount Washington (with your car), take a train ride. walk the flume, drive the Kancamagus Highway over to North Conway but make sure to stop in Lincoln for a drink with the locals.

The land of lakes and rivers (you can actually swim in)
Take a float down the Pemi River, rent a boat on Lake Winnipesaukee, spend the day at Ellacoya.

Hike Hike Hike:
The beautiful places to hike are endless and are never disappointing.

A drive into the city:
Boston is so close it is always worth a visit. You can take the train anywhere and that city could keep you busy for weeks. Atlas Obscura, a game at Fenway, a trip to Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, a walk along the Freedom Trail are a must.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
For those along the way that never doubted my abilities, thank you.

To Joel Harris who gave me my first shot at running my own ship, thank you.

To Mike & Ryan that believed I was capable of more, thank you.

To my family & friends then never stopped listening to my crazy ideas and did everything you possibly could to help me succeed, thank you.

To my wife, you are the reason I stand tall today. For picking up the pieces when I feel broken, relentlessly telling me I can do anything, believing in me even when I don’t believe in myself and allowing me to be free I thank you.

To my parents, you raised me to be strong, resilient and to question everything. For your unconditional love, thank you.

Website: https://www.bonafide.eco/

Instagram: bonafide.eco

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bonafide.eco