A letter to the community from our owner.....
After 13.5 years, we at Ecoeverything Tofino (formerly Fiber Options Naturals) officially closed our retail store on October 31, 2010, and Victoria will be closing its doors at the end of November.
Its ending symbolizes its biggest success: reducing the environmental footprint in the retail industry. Ecoeverything was created for, and by, community. My friends, family and community help me set up the original store; I always felt like it was everyone's store.
When I started, I was inspired by Fiona McCallum, owner of the Organic Matters food store in Tofino, to establish very strict standards supporting the ethics behind what we bought and sold. We stood by the same standards from the day we opened until the day we closed.
There were many long hours, stressful and financial concerns that most small businesses have, but the beauty of the relationships, and the number of its successes far outweighed the challenges that we faced.
As a retailer, the vision I had from the start to the finish went above my wildest imagination. Today we see more and more eco-based products in stores; in time, there may only be more eco-based products as we continue to meet the challenges towards sustainability.
I didn't do this business alone. It was always with my family, friends, team, partners in change, and our customers.
I want to thank all of my friends, staff, community, customers, fellow business owners, suppliers, manufacturers, bike mechanic, t-shirt printer and artists who achieved this dream with me.
Most of all, I want to thank my whole family, who supported the business from its inception and who were dedicated to supporting my dream to the end.
It would be impossible to name the hundreds of people who contributed to its overwhelming success, but it is important that I recognize Teresa O'Neil, Megan Johns, Peter Skeels and Warren Rudd, as we would never had made it very long without any of them.
For you, the community, who have demonstrated your support of my dream, know that I will be eternally grateful to you.
Sincerely,
Gord Johns
