Today we’d like to introduce you to Kate Jakubas.
Kate, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Most cleaning products hide ingredients and information from the people that use them. We’re working to change that, by being the most transparent cleaning products brand in the country. We got started in our mission because I was studying Environmental Engineering while working for a bike component manufacturer, making sure our bike parts complied with environmental regulations during manufacturing. Learning about the massive potential impact of household goods like laundry detergent inspired me to look into the related regulations – and I was shocked. Not only are there very few regulations around what ingredients can be in laundry detergent, but there aren’t even any federal requirements to list the ingredients. This means that in the US, you don’t have a legal right to know what’s in the cleaning products you use in your home. With concerns like asthma and allergies, and more people wanting to be able to choose ingredients and products they support, it was the right time for a cleaning product brand to do the right thing and talk openly about what they were making.
Has it been a smooth road?
People appreciate being told the truth about their products – we have stuck with that philosophy since we were founded in 2013 and it has served us well. I started the company out of my 4th floor walkup condo, and we moved to a dedicated factory space a few years later. We now operate out of a 6000 square foot soap factory in the Kinzie Industrial Corridor, at the Make City incubator space. We’ve been family-owned the entire time, with no outside investors. Managing the growth of a company without outside funding can definitely be challenging! Luckily, I brought on a great cofounder early on with business knowledge and an MBA. Mike Mayer has been the best partner, making sure that our triple-bottom-line business considers People, Planet, and Profit as we grow.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Meliora Cleaning Products – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Meliora Cleaning Products manufactures people- and planet-friendly cleaning products. That includes laundry powder, stain removers, and household cleaners. We make all of our products ourselves in our own factory – which is practically unheard of in our industry. We do this so we can make sure the ingredients that go into our products are not contaminated or swapped for unknown ingredients. Unfortunately, that’s been a common problem in the green cleaning industry and we want to keep the promise we make to our customers to only give them ingredients listed right on the label. In addition, we invite people to come and visit our facility so they can see for themselves how our products are made.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Food in Chicago is the best in the world. Road construction might not be the worst in the world, but some days it feels like it!
Pricing:
- Laundry Powder – 64 loads – $16
- Soap Stick for Stain Removal – $4
Contact Info:
- Website: www.meliorameansbetter.com
- Phone: 312-635-2297
- Email: info@meliorameansbetter.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MelioraCleaningProducts/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelioraCleaningProducts
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/CleanMeliora
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
