Modern Entrepreneur Profile - Mississauga's Saudia Hack
/In conversation with Mississauga entrepreneur, Saudia Hack, owner of Showstoppers Garage.
1. What does your company provide/do?
Showstoppers Garage is a car detailing studio specializing in ceramic coatings and tints, providing professional services for fine vehicles. Service offerings include multi-tiered maintenance packages, interior and exterior shampoo and sealant applications, ceramic and glass coatings, PPF and window tinting.
We aim to provide an exceptional customer experience by maintaining a welcoming, collaborative and feel-good environment. An operation with a purpose, we commit 50% of profits from maintenance packages to orphan sponsorship.
2. What inspired you to start your company?
After becoming a single mom to my two kids in the early 2000s, the loss of income & advancement possibilities from working at companies with standard business hours combined with daycare and school drop-offs and pickups, convinced me to work at, and develop my own business. It took time to get here, but I credit each and every one of the experiences I’ve had along the way. What gave me the confidence to push the dream into reality was the conviction of the people of Palestine through all of their suffering, combined with my responsibility to support and serve my family and communities.
3. What's been the most impactful lesson you've learned being an entrepreneur?
Wearing the multiple hats I have to wear on a day-to-day, sometimes hour-to-hour, basis takes a lot of energy and can be quite draining, which can easily lead to losing direction. So it’s been vital for me to have downtime (even if it’s five minutes) where I refocus on the mission and goals of why I’m doing what I’m doing.
4. How do you unwind?
Honestly and likely relatable to most entrepreneurs, I don’t find much time to unwind. However, my prayer breaks throughout the day help to lower my stress levels since it removes me from the screen and work environment and includes physical movement, stretches, regulated breathing and mindfulness.
5. What succinct advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs?
Your most invaluable resource is the network you have and the network you create during the building process.
If you are building a business around a personal passion, make sure to make time to enjoy the passion yourself!
6. What are your goals for 2025?
Showstoppers Garage officially opened our doors on January 1st and our goal for the year is to grow our brand and customer base. Without over-extending ourselves and understanding we’re in the first year of operations, we aim to establish ourselves as a reliable and trustworthy option within Mississauga’s automotive industry.
7. How did the Mississauga Starter Company Plus program help you start or expand your business?
I was accepted into the SCP program during the last phase of my initial setup where all of the doubts and what-ifs live. Sue and the rest of the SCP team as well as the fellow entrepreneurs I participated with, gave me the support to continue moving forward by being partners, apart from my inside-voice, that I was now accountable to. The program helped me to solidify my budget/cash flow and business plan, and the mentorship aspect has been invaluable.
