Crying Out Loud

Crying Out Loud is a Toronto-based wellness brand co-founded in 2019 by Shannon Culver, Sarah Keast, Alexie Landry and Janice Tsao. The four of us met through the shared experience of losing a partner at a young age. As we navigated the complicated world of young widowhood, we found support and community in each other, as well as a common desire to prioritize our mental wellbeing, even in the face of trauma and heartbreak. 

As we navigated their grief and mental health journeys after the death of our partners, we began to realize how much we had to offer based on our lived experiences. We realized there was a gap in the marketplace, and very few retailers were offering mental wellness products or gifting options for some of life's hardest moments. We recognized that we could turn our lived experience into something impactful and meaningful. 

Through a thoughtfully curated selection of products that promote self care as well as the care of others, Crying Out Loud tells rich stories of hardship and well-being. Crying Out Loud curates uplifting gifts for every occasion; the good, the bad, and everything in between. In addition to a retail storefront and e-commerce site, Crying Out Loud offers workshops and community events promoting wellness through learning and social connection.

Our mission is to redefine the journey of mental wellness. This means supporting our community in the pursuit of mental wellness, however that looks and feels for them. We want to help our customers show love and care to their people through thoughtful and meaningful gifting. We want to be the destination for people when they don't know what to gift or say. The conversation around mental health and eliminating stigma continues to grow, and the care packages and products we offer are part of this changing conversation. We are proud to be thought leaders with significant lived experience in this space and strive to use our unique point of view to deliver a shopping and gifting experience that is unique in the marketplace.

Given that the mental health fallout from the pandemic is just beginning, coupled with a return to the new normal of shopping behaviors, growing our brand awareness and connecting with more communities across Canada and North America right now makes sense. Funds will be used mostly towards elevating our online experience and digital marketing and advertising, so we can aim to make Crying Out Loud the most recognizable name across Canada for supportive, conscious gifting when you don't know what to say or gift.