They say good things come in small packages, and one of Squamish’s newest at-your-service small businesses, Pure Gift Box, is no exception – especially if you are looking for that last minute Mother’s Day gift idea.
Launched less than two months ago, Pure Gift Boxes is the brainchild of Lindsay Peroff-Schulz, who brands herself as a gift concierge for the Sea to Sky Corridor. The former spa and public relations expert was looking for a family-friendly business idea that would still allow her to continue morning drop-offs and afternoon pick-ups with her two school-age sons.
It turns out an exercise in thinking outside the box led her right back to where she started.
“I just wanted to find a great entrepreneur job for ‘Mom,’ and so I began researching my options and found this gift basket idea – which I liked, but at the same time it wasn’t really me,” she said. “What do you usually put in gift baskets? That’s not me.”
After mulling it over for a bit, Peroff-Schulz realized the answer was staring her in the face the whole time.
“I just figured, why don’t I provide all the local products that I’m using?”
She started by contacted producers selling locally made goods she already knew and loved, including Kirstin French at Be Clean Naturally and Jill Beardmore at Windflower.
“I just asked them, ‘Would you be on board to be my suppliers?’ And they didn’t hesitate. They said ‘absolutely!’”
Peroff-Schulz kept calling and kept getting more and more positive responses.
“Local creators wanted to help me,” she said. “They wanted me to succeed.”
In Langley, she was able to source raw, unfinished pine boxes made of sustainable forestry products, part of her commitment to the environment.
“Our product is more eco-friendly than traditional gift baskets. The box is reusable; we use 100 per cent recycled shredded fill and eco-friendly cotton twill as the ribbon. We don’t use any cellophane at all.
“It’s more about gifting useful, beautiful items. It’s quality over quantity. It’s more about feeling good about what you’re gifting,” she said, adding that orders can be placed online or over the phone. Delivery in Squamish is free, but she can also deliver as far as North Vancouver and Pemberton for a fee.
Pure Gift Boxes include such local businesses as: Baby Baubles Co.; Be Clean; Cacao Now; Counterpart Coffee; Craft Jerky; Flora and Fauna; Frost Bites Syrup Co.; Galileo Coffee; Green Bee Honey; HearfeltLiving; Helena Lane Skin Care; LittleMod Clothing; Nootka & Sea; Polish + Groom; Silverfoot; Squamish Kefir Water; Tall Tree Bakery; Trae Designs; Whimsy Daisy Designs; and Windflower, as well as a variety of producers from Pemberton to Oosoyoos.
“I especially love including our local craft beverages, beers, and liquors, made right here in Squamish,” she said.
Peroff-Schulz may have found her niche in creating gift boxes with a narrative. If you don’t see something just perfect on the pre-selected options, the entrepreneur says she loves spending time by email or phone chatting with customers, learning about the recipient and their relationship to the giver. The boxes are also fully customizable if you opt to use the “build your own box” option on her website.
“I love how working with so many local suppliers has connected me to the community. And I love coming up with ideas,” she said, adding her service is ideal for realtors, thank-you offerings, client referrals, weddings and bridal party gifts.
It’s safe to say there will be a lot of these thoughtfully curated boxes flying out the door come the end of the school year, and there will be some pretty grateful teachers on the receiving end.
Visit puregiftboxes.com for more information or follow the business on Facebook and Instagram to access local’s deals just in time for Mother’s Day. I can think of many moms who would love one of these – I know I would (hint, hint).
