Although #Veganuary is almost over, that doesn’t mean committing the lifestyle is completely off the table. Of course, making that full transition might be harder than it seems, but with resources like The Vegan Warehouse {an online shop for vegan products}, making that lifestyle change is possible after all.
The Vegan Warehouse, however, wouldn’t exist without co-founder + mastermind Ewelina Augustin. Ewelina is a local Hoboken resident who is making adopting a plant-based + cruelty-free lifestyle easier + more accessible, one product at a time. Read on to learn more about Ewelina, her story, her business, and more.
Tell us about yourself.
My name is Ewelina Augustin and I am a co-founder of The Vegan Warehouse – an online shopping destination for vegan products. We are a Hoboken-based business focusing on simplifying the cruelty-free lifestyle by providing consumers with vegan alternatives in categories of beauty, fashion, home, and food.
I first went vegan in 2010 when the lifestyle was much less popular, and in effect, much more challenging! I struggled to find cruelty-free replacements for my everyday products and was saddened to find that a lot of them contained animal ingredients. I wished for a website where I could easily access all of my necessities in makeup, fashion, and home, without compromising on my values.
After meeting my co-founder and now husband Carl Augustin in 2016, we were inspired to make this platform a reality. A few months later, The Vegan Warehouse was born.
We now offer over 400 different products in the categories of food, fashion, beauty, home, and more. We are excited to keep growing and spreading the message.
Read More: Priyanka Ramesh: Founder of PAYARU, a Hoboken-Based Skincare Co
What made you want to adopt a vegan lifestyle?
My motivation behind transitioning to this lifestyle was mostly ethical. Once I got educated on the realities of the meat and dairy industries, I just couldn’t bring myself to consume those products any longer. I realized I can thrive on this diet and I love showing others that they can too. While I transitioned practically overnight, it’s important to remember that we each have different motivations and journeys and none is superior to the other. It’s easy to get discouraged by comparison. My advice is to learn how the lifestyle can work for you and take things slowly.
How did you start The Vegan Warehouse?
When I first went vegan in 2010, I struggled to find alternatives to my personal care and home staples that were easily accessible and affordable. I found myself reading labels, researching companies, and getting incredibly frustrated. Why was this so hard? I wished I could find one online marketplace where I could purchase all of the verified items I needed.
In 2016 I met my now-husband Carl who was completely new to veganism. As he explored the lifestyle, it became even more apparent to us that such a platform was desperately needed in the community. Carl’s expertise from his career in digital marketing really helped us shape the business and bring it to life as The Vegan Warehouse.
We started small, with just a few brands, storing and shipping everything out of our apartment. We’ve come a long way since our launch in 2017 and now have our own office and warehouse space in downtown Hoboken.
What do you sell specifically?
We now carry over 400 different vegan products in all life categories, ranging from beauty + makeup, to fashion, home, and food. We are your go-to discovery tool for new brands, educational content, and the community. Our goal is to offer a wide variety of items that are affordable and high quality, to show that you do not have to compromise to live vegan!
What are your favorite products you sell?
I absolutely love to see people purchase our starter pack bundles. Those sets are an awesome way to jump-start your journey.
What is the best part about running your own business?
My favorite part of running my own business is being able to build a team. I’m extremely passionate about bringing in driven, hard-working individuals and helping them grow professionally. I love that we are able to shape the culture of our company and create an environment our employees are happy to be a part of.
What is the toughest part?
Understanding that you are not your business. As an entrepreneur, you become so consumed by your work that you begin to attach your personal value to it. This is extremely dangerous as having your own business comes with so many ups and downs. You have to learn to separate your identity from your work and understand that your value as a person is far beyond your annual revenue.
What are your favorite vegan brands?
One of my personal favorites for makeup is Moira Cosmetics. I love that they offer high-quality items for such affordable prices. Their eye shadow palettes are super pigmented — I use them every single day. Brands like Moira are a perfect example that vegan products can still be trendy and high-performing!
Beyond your own store, what’s your go-to vegan or vegan-friendly spot in the area?
I love that more and more restaurants in Hoboken are becoming vegan-friendly. A few spots with great options are The Brick Pizza, Ali Baba, and Turning Point.
Who is your biggest source of inspiration?
My biggest source of inspiration is my husband and business partner, Carl. He has a really unique ability to see past any limitations and dreams super big. He works extremely hard and somehow never complains — I’m still trying to master this art.
What are your goals for this year?
Our big goal for this year was to add a charitable aspect to our business. Starting this past fall, we now donate part of our profits to the Catskills Animal Sanctuary in upstate New York. When purchasing something from our website customers are helping provide food and veterinary care to rescued animals, which makes me so happy. We love being able to support the cause and hope to take it even further next year!
What’s a typical day look like for you?
My typical day usually starts early, as I am a huge morning person. It’s a time I have to myself and I really value that. I spend it reviewing my goals, quieting down in meditation or prayer, and setting my priorities for the day. Since our office is located in downtown Hoboken, I take our pup Kobe with me and walk to work. There, my day typically consists of shooting content for social media, overseeing order fulfillment, reviewing product samples, and calls with our marketing team. I try to finish my work by 6:00PM so that I can head downstairs to the Intrepid Gym for a CrossFit class. My evenings are usually spent with my husband, catching up on the day and our favorite shows.
See More: Meet Lauryn Galda: The Woman Behind LGO Professional Organizing
What has been the highlight in your career so far?
Some of the best moments in my career so far happened at the very beginning stages of our business. Getting something I’ve been so passionate about off the ground was such an exhilarating feeling. The first few months of hustling, late nights, and shipping orders out of our apartment were completely crazy but also so, so fun. Finally, being able to quit my job and pursue this business full-time was a life-defining moment that I am so grateful for.
Tell us about another business in the area you admire.
My friend and neighbor Kimberly Bueno-Schonig started an incredible non-profit in Hoboken called Women Entrepreneurs of Hudson County. It’s a community of female business owners, a place for us all to connect and empower one another. I highly recommend anyone with entrepreneurial ambitions to join their Facebook group.
Hoboken + Jersey City Favorites
What is your favorite restaurant in Hoboken?
Turning Point — I absolutely love grabbing breakfast there on weekends and their pancakes are amazing.
What is your favorite boutique in Hoboken?
My favorite boutique in Hoboken is Margo {@themargomarket}, which sells handmade and ethically sourced clothing and home décor.
What do you love most about Hoboken?
I really love the number of parks in our neighborhood. Being surrounded by greenery has such a calming effect on me.
What is your favorite thing to do in Hudson County?
Ah, there is so much! I love nature and being outdoors so something I enjoy is hitting the local hiking trails, especially when we get to do it as a family.
How long have you lived in Hoboken?
I’ve lived in Hoboken for about two years now and we opened our Hoboken office in the spring of 2019.
What is your favorite outdoor place to spend time in Hoboken?
I love Elysian Park, which is right around the corner from our apartment. Our pup Kobe is also a big fan.
What is your favorite place to work out in Hudson County?
Intrepid Gym, which is a CrossFit gym conveniently located right in our office building!
Where do you go out with friends in the area?
I love going out on Grove Street in Jersey City.
What is something you think needs to come to Hoboken or Jersey City?
A vegan restaurant! I’m sure one will pop up soon.
Is there anything else you want to share about yourself?
I’m originally from Poland and moved to New York City alone at the age of 18. As any immigrant in this country, I’ve had my fair share of ups and downs, but I wouldn’t have traded that journey for anything. I’m so grateful to now live in a neighborhood I love and work on something I am so passionate about.
Keep up with Ewelina on Instagram @theveganwarehouse, online at www.theveganwarehouse.com, or via email at [email protected].
Written by: Arielle Witter
Arielle is a born-and-bred Jersey girl and like a true NJ native, half her diet consists of bagels and the other half pizza. As a graduate of both American University and City, University of London, she’s been a passionate writer ever since she wrote her first “book” in the first grade. When she’s not furiously typing away at her keyboard, she spends her time ticking places off of her “to travel to” list, trying any and all new foods, and trying to stop herself from spending too much money at Zara.
