The Inspiration

Pearl Grace is inspired by my mum, Pearlin, who passed away from breast cancer when I was 17. She was a remarkable woman. Although we only got to spend 17 short years together she left an indelible mark on me and has heavily impacted many of the choices I've made in my life. She loved her family and friends and was passionate about her career in nursing.

She was only 4ft 11 3/4 (she wouldn’t be happy if I forgot the 3/4!) but had a heart as big as the ocean. She was probably the most selfless person I ever knew. She was always willingly to put the needs, wants and desires of other people before her own and always did so with compassion and a smile. She was truly beautiful inside and out and was an inspiration to me when I was younger. I believe she continues to guide me now.

In 2011, I had an idea to set up an online retail company with a difference, well at least I hoped it would be. I wanted to showcase gifts that told a story and that made a difference in peoples lives. After several happy years in buying and sales for other companies and brands, I decided it was time to buy products that I felt passionately about. I’ve always been enthusiastic about products - where ideas stem from, how they are envisioned and the journey they go through to become a reality. I’m often moved when I hear stories of how the creation of a product can transform a person’s life, help a village or change a community. It’s profound when you find out that the creation of, say a cushion can provide a woman living in a remote part of world with the financial independence to become self-sufficient and support her family. I love stories like that! Ultimately it’s about people and the connections we make throughout our lives. I sincerely believe that fair-trade and ethical gifts transform lives. With these concepts in mind Pearl Grace was born.

Inspired by my mum’s heart and her guiding principles coupled with my passion for enriching people’s lives through the power of gift- giving, I set to bringing this vision to life. But life is a funny thing and miraculous things can pop up out of the blue that can change your life forever. Two months later we found out we were pregnant and were overjoyed. Nine months later we met our little titch and were overwhelmed by the immense love that every parent feels. All of a sudden I realised that our little boy came into our lives at that precise moment for a reason, which was to provide me with another perspective from which to bring Pearl Grace to life. Something extraordinary happens to you when you become a parent -  when you become a mother. I believe you see the world differently. The core values for Pearl Grace became crystal clear. It was even more important that I share with you some fabulous and unique gift ideas that were changing the lives of people the world over.  It was in that moment I realised that Pearl Grace was to be more than just an 'online shop'.

I am so excited to share this story with you and to warmly welcome you to the Pearl Grace family. You can learn more about us here and find out about our passions on Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter.

Before I leave you, I just wanted to share this little passage with you from Mandy Hale.  It resonated with me greatly when I was going through the process of bringing my dream for Pearl Grace to life. I found it poignant considering this bright idea stemmed from a place of loss and pain. I pass it on to you, in the hope that it may do the same and perhaps give you faith to believe in your dreams and find solace in the fact everything happens for a reason - even if the reasons are unclear when you're in the midst of a storm.

"Have faith in your journey. Everything had to happen exactly as it did to get you where you're going next."

You can discover more about Mandy Hale here.

Here's to whatever inspires you to shine bright in the world and touch people.

Love Nat x

Live to the fullest, Love completely and Shop with passion.

PG Q: What inspires you to go after your biggest dreams?