AMBER-LEA MARIE
NEWS Contributor
Christine and Graham Weatherby packed up and peaced out — leaving Kingston, Ont. behind for laid-back success in Qualicum Beach.
“Part of moving here was to follow our dream,” said Christine. “We had gotten married on Salt Spring Island and honeymooned in Tofino and fell in love with it. It was so fulfilling. We’d go back to Ontario and say, yeah this is nice, but we always had the West Coast in the back of our minds.”
Fast forward to spring of 2016, when the Weatherbys last vacationed here.
“We walked by this spot and it was empty,” said Christine, of Purple Essentials’ current Qualicum Beach location. “It was the day before we were going home and I remember saying to Graham, ‘let’s just call and get the information because you never know – what if’?”
Ready for change, the Weatherbys decided to take a leap of faith last October, landing in Qualicum Beach, where they said reality seems to still be a dream. Purple Essentials offers what their website describes as “handcrafted, fresh and natural skin care and body care products.”
From their first bricks-and-mortar business, the Weatherbys spoke about the natural development that has become Purple Essentials.
“We find that people here are open to natural and are looking for natural,” said Christine. “The first thing that we want people to know is that everything is fresh and natural and handcrafted on-site in small batches. Customers can come in and know what is in their product and we can talk about the ingredients and benefits. Everything is aromatherapy-based and plant-based oils and ingredients, so your skin can absorb them and you’re not getting any toxicity. West Coasters are very well informed on what is good and healthy.”
“We’ve been steady since our grand opening (Jan. 28) – it was really successful,” said Christine. “A nice donation went to the BCSPCA.”
In keeping with the local support theme, the Weatherbys talk about giving back.
“We’ve supported the Oceanside Minor Hockey Association, Dare to Love and Dare to Share, already,” Christine said. “Supporting local is important to us. To be a part of a community you have to give back, too. It’s great to be involved in different places, but it’s important to give, because we’ve been given to, as well.”
This spring, the Weatherbys said, they will host an entrepreneur evening, with a percentage of the proceeds from that event going to Haven House.
For further details about Purple Essentials and their entrepreneurial evening, please visit them at 663 Beach Road in Qualicum Beach, call 1-888-995-7516, or visit online at www.purple-essentials.com.