- Words by Angela Cowan Lia Crowe Photography
Founder and CEO of Kyla Dufresne is an ambitious businesswoman, philanthropist and self-proclaimed 鈥渉ustler.鈥� And to say that she鈥檚 driven is a wild understatement.
The 34-year-old powered through a number of careers in her late teens and early 20s鈥攆rom mental health worker to creating a clothing line and bartending鈥攂ut she ultimately followed a lifelong love of the beauty industry when she created Foxy Box, and simultaneously filled a need in the market for affordable, inclusive and straight-forward hair removal.
Kyla celebrates 10 years in business this year, and has big plans to grow her empire.
鈥淥ur goal is to award 20 franchises this year,鈥� says Kyla, and she鈥檚 confident they鈥檒l achieve it.
With nine stores already in operation and another three under construction, Foxy Box has spread out across the country, including locations in Port Coquitlam, Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary and Toronto.
With a straight-forward and fun approach to hair removal, Foxy Box has become wildly popular over the last decade, in part because of its unique business model (which offers 10-packs and memberships, similar to a gym) but also because of the brand itself.
鈥淲e鈥檙e just so big on community impact and giving back,鈥� says Kyla. She describes 鈥淔oxy Fest,鈥� an annual event that鈥檚 been raising money for various charitable causes, held each year on International Women鈥檚 Day. Pre-COVID-19 pandemic, the festival hosted musicians, spoken word poets, comedians and more, all of whom volunteered their time so that the revenue from ticket sales went to the non-profits. The last two years the event has been virtual, but no less successful, with support going to the BC Society of Transition Houses, which helps women transitioning out of abusive situations.
Kyla鈥檚 intense passion for supporting women is deeply rooted, and it鈥檚 what fuels her ambition to see Foxy Box in the hands of more franchisees.
鈥淢y mom had a bakery, and she worked all the time,鈥� she says. 鈥淪eeing her work so hard and just killing herself to make ends meet鈥� when I found a recipe with Foxy Box to make money and enjoy being a business owner, all I wanted to do was give that opportunity to other women.鈥�
The 7 Sins
Envy:
Whose shoes would you like to walk in?
If I had to pick just one, I鈥檇 pick Adele. I am so far from being talented in anything music-related, so to experience firsthand the influence an artist holds would be a cool day for me. To first be blessed with the courage and confidence to walk onto a stage in front of thousands of humans and then magnetically shift the entire energy of a stadium is a feeling I would love to be able to give to the world.
Gluttony:
What is the food you could eat over and over again?
I could live off of any Asian cuisine! I don鈥檛 think I can narrow it down to just one thing! Thai curries, Vietnamese pho soups, fresh papaya salads, sushi rolls wrapped with fresh fish, avocado and mango鈥鈥檓 drooling just thinking of what I鈥檓 going to eat next.
Greed:
You鈥檙e given $1 million that you have to spend selfishly. What would you spend it on?
This is easy. I鈥檇 pile all my girlfriends into the Tahoe and head on a road trip to visit all the greatest consignment stores. As the youngest of three girls, I always wore hand-me-down tights and oversized sweaters, and on his visits home, my father used to take me to Value Village and tell me, 鈥淵ou can get anything you want for $20.鈥� I got to create my own style and rock clothes that I chose for myself, and as an adult, it鈥檚 my favourite way to shop.
Wrath:
Pet peeves?
My brain literally can鈥檛 function unless my space is organized and clean. A messy space actually impacts my whole mood. If I come home and a bomb has gone off in the kitchen鈥攚hich with my step-kids happens very often!鈥攖he first thing I must do is clean it immediately so I can relax.
Sloth:
Where would you spend a long time
doing nothing?
Bed. Since I was a baby I鈥檝e always loved to sleep. I love relaxing in bed, whether it鈥檚 reading a book, listening to a meditation or just lying with my thoughts, a cosy bed is literally heaven to me.
Pride:
What is the one thing you鈥檙e secretly
proud of?
Overcoming depression was the biggest personal win for me. I don鈥檛 talk about it in depth very often, but my younger years were a pretty dark time for me. I think that鈥檚 why I鈥檓 such a happy person as an adult, because once I made the necessary shifts to be happy, I recognized that I never want to go back to that place.
Lust:
What makes your heart beat faster?
Laughing with my loved ones. I鈥檓 not a doctor but I do know that laughter is always, in fact, the best medicine. I say it all the time, if you don鈥檛 laugh, you鈥檒l cry. Oh, and also my dog. I鈥檓 literally obsessed with him!
Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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