In Focus | Myra Murphy of Barefoot Venus

Myra Murphy fits in well here in the Okanagan. She loves the connection to nature and the environment and this is reflected in her choices regarding her business Barefoot Venus. In creating their award-winning line of luxurious bath products, they followed the 'triple bottom line' approach. This means prioritizing people, planet and then profit, in that specific order. Barefoot Venus seeks to educate women about the toxic ingredients in everyday skincare products and then offering them a superior product that is ethically produced. As owner, Myra seeks to lead by inspiration and example as she lives out these principles in her life. Today Myra and Barefoot Venus are In Focus.

What do you always find yourself saying?
Make it a great day!

If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select?
Deepak Chopra

If you were to receive any existing public award, what award would you like to win?
Any award that furthers a cause with kids.

If you could spend a day with any historical figure, who would you choose?
Ghandi

Who inspires you?
I get inspiration from everyone everyday, my kids, my co-workers, my friends. Just following my heart inspires me.

What are 3 things on your bucket list?
1) Want to be exposed to other worlds, travel and help other people succeed in their environment.
2) I've been working towards, and closer than ever to be adoptive parents. Pretty soon that will happen which is very exciting. We look forward to welcoming someone into our home and providing them a safe place to fall.
3) Take a trip that provides me with an opportunity to relax and centre myself

Please tell us about a defining moment in your life.
A few times I received news about certain things and I knew without a doubt I had to ability to change the outcome just based on the energy I put into the moment.

If you had an enormous yacht, what would you name it?
I would never have one. Just not my style.

If you could foresee a single day of your future in its entirety, what date would you select?
I don't really know what I'd do with the information. Maybe I'm more of a 'live in moment' type of gal.

What are you passionate about?
Being a good Mom. Thinking about ways and opportunities to help children succeed in their environment. Being in the moment so I don't miss a thing.

What has been your favourite day of your life, up to this point?
I have lots of favourite days. A great day with my kids doing what makes us all laugh. A great dinner with a circle of friends. A wonderful holiday. Finishing a good book or having a couple hours to do whatever I please. I'm not about big moments as to me it's about making the day-to-day to things special.

What has been your proudest accomplishment?
Well of course I have to say being there for my kids and helping them succeed. Every day I work towards amazing and I'm not necessarily the type of person that reaches a high and then is satisfied with it. I work towards accomplishing something every moment, every day, every month.

Where is your favourite place to dine in Kelowna?
Anywhere I don't have to prepare the food. It's really that simple.

What is your favourite activity or event in Kelowna?
Skiing at Big White

What is the name of your business/organization?
Barefoot Venus

What does your business/organization do?
Luxurious bath products for women (and even some men) to enjoy.

Where can people find you or your business online?
http://www.barefootvenus.com

Where can people find your business on Facebook?
https://www.facebook.com/BarefootVenus

What is your Twitter account?
@barefootvenus

What is your mission?
Inspire others to find beauty from the inside out

If you could achieve one thing within your field, what would it be?
Educate women about the toxic ingredients in everyday skincare products and why it's important to choose differently

Where do you want your business/organization to be in 5 years?
To be a forerunner in the industry

Who do you consider to be a forerunner within your field?
The mass market hasn't demanded an ethically produced product with premium ingredients yet. Small companies are doing so, and succeeding but the shift hasn't happened yet. We are just happy to provide a superior product for people who want better.

What 3 qualities do you feel that your business/organization exemplifies?
1) Our philosophy is as pure as our products: Feel angelic, smell heavenly, and be adventurous, adoring, stylish or seductive, capricious but perfectly you. Feel good about yourself and your place in the world. Let your confidence and beauty radiate and inspire.
2) Green scale producing and reformulating all of our products without harmful ingredients, we are restoring the ability for the skin to flourish beautifully and saving the planet by avoiding noxious by-products leeching into the water systems. Introducing sustainability practices reduces our carbon footprint and gives women a choice to have better if they prefer.
3) We are committed to reducing our eco-footprint on the world and use minimal packaging for our product line as well as shipping methods.

What would you like to say to your employees/volunteers?
We ARE making a difference and the pure intention into our products means we truly care about the women that use them

How does your business/organization impact the community?
We are empathetic and socially conscious about how one person, one vision, one dream can change the world. Our generosity is our blessing and our curse and we’ve seldom said no to any charitable requests. We are honored that they have come to us.

What makes you successful? Tell us about it.
We are building value in our product and being socially and environmentally responsible as well.

Crafting around the intention of your product means you can emotionally connect to your consumers. Taking the high-road always. Focus on your vision rather than just making money.

If you were trapped in an elevator with several wealthy investors from any field, which field would you want them to be experts in? What would say to them/talk about?
I'd want them to be true leaders who succeeded by inspiring their staff and the consumers who used their product. I'd share their mentality that success is eminent when you take the triple bottom line approach in business. People, planet then profit. Putting profit first diminishes the difference you can make overall. Strong leadership gives people hope and optimism for the future.

If I could change 1 thing about Kelowna, it would be:
The traffic....ugh!!! Maybe I'm just saying that on the heels of the summer season and it's still fresh for me. I dream of a road around the perimeter of the city so we could fast-track around. Maybe not a realistic dream, but a dream none the less!

What do you think makes Kelowna great?
When we transitioned from a retail store in Edmonton to a wholesaler we moved to Kelowna for the lifestyle benefits. Absolutely love all the access to nature and how that can enrich our lives by enjoying that gift.

My choice for the Kelowna In Focus spotlight is:
Tara Tschritter - info@innfromthecoldkelowna.org

Some general comments I would like to share are:
Thanks so much for letting me share. It's wonderful to be asked these questions as it gives me pause for thought.

In Focus is our gift to the community. A way for us to help show our recognition for the people, businesses and organizations that help make our city great. The team at WelcometoKelowna.com is passionate about this community and the people that make it amazing. We want to show our friends, neighbours, family and colleagues that we notice them and the fabulous things that they do. We encourage you to leave your comments and words of support below, and submit your own nomination by clicking HERE. You are also welcome to submit a form of your own by clicking HERE. Thank you, Kelowna!