What began as a mother’s dream to carve out a market for her teenage daughter’s homemade candles is now shining a light on a range of local art and crafts.
From Me To You has opened on Bulcock Street in Caloundra and is a space to showcase and sell products only made on the Sunshine Coast.
The store sells everything from candles, jewellery and chopping boards to succulents, scrunchies and bath soaks, and each product is as local as you can get.
The “overnight” dream belongs to store owner Catherine Wilson, who went from thinking of the idea to opening a shop within four weeks.
“The whole meaning behind the name From Me To You is that you come into the shop and get something from me, or another local creator, for you to have,” Ms Wilson told Sunshine Coast News.
“The lady who makes all the resin chopping boards, she sources all her timber from a man in Yandina. You cannot get any more local than that.”
The idea came about after Ms Wilson’s 14-year-old daughter Charlotte began her own candle business, Simple Scents by Charlotte, out of their garage.
Ms Wilson said it had become difficult to find markets and platforms to expose Charlotte’s brand to the public.
“She was lucky enough to get into one of the Sunshine Coast markets but to get into other markets she was getting declined as they were full, so she couldn’t really expand any further.
“I was happy to do a Wednesday market for her while she was at school just to get her name out, but I was thinking how frustrating it was to try and get out there.”
It was while doing her Christmas shopping that Ms Wilson discovered the need for a space dedicated to showcase local products that were not gaining exposure through other avenues.
“During Christmas I was supporting market stalls, but then I did shop somewhere else I thought was local and I spent hundreds of dollars in that shop only to find out what I was buying wasn’t Sunshine Coast local.
“We have so many amazing people who go to the markets or try to get into the markets and just can’t, so I thought I need to do something.”
The 41-year-old, who previously worked as a cleaner, messaged her husband Ben while he was working away on nightshift and said she wanted to open a shop.
With her mind made up, she found a vacant space in Caloundra and the rest snowballed into place.
“I made an appointment to see the shop, three days later the real estate agent sent the paperwork, next day I signed it and a week later I had the keys.”
Part of Ms Wilson’s vision was that each creator who claimed a shelf in her shop must sell something unique to the other creators. For example, the only candles for sale were her daughter’s.
“I don’t want it to be too competitive between the creators,” she said.
“I want them to be able to share their piece and promote it.
“I hope it gets people talking and is an inspiration to the younger people as well.
“Charlotte was making candles in the garage after school and showing up to the markets on a Sunday and now she can showcase her items seven days a week.”
While Ms Wilson helped give her daughter a platform, the Caloundra Christian College student, who this year will enter Year 10, has proved in her own right how determination can build success.
The idea to create candles only came about during term four last year, to fundraise for her school chaplain.
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The project led to Charlotte winning a school entrepreneurial award for her efforts.
“She came to me one day and said: ‘Mum, I want to start making candles and I’ve thought of a business name,’ and away she went,” Ms Wilson said.
“She had to put together a whole presentation to the school leaders that she wanted to do a fundraiser.
“For nine weeks she sold tin candles through the school for $5, and 50 per cent of that went to the school chaplain and she raised $750 in those nine weeks.”
From Me To You is open from 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 1pm Saturday and 8am to 1.30pm Sunday at 4/48 Bulcock Street, Caloundra. Visit From Me To You.
