Delivering good life to customers
CONSUMERS’ thirst for convenience and her own passion for improving nutrition has grown into a healthy business for Bec Stolting.
Her small business, A Life to Live, has developed a fiercely loyal following since it began selling boxes of organic produce delivery and pick-up from her garage in 2013.
It opened a shopfront at Robina two years later and expanded the delivery footprint to the northern Gold Coast in the past six months.
Ms Stolting said she had been increasingly horrified at Australians’ increased reliance on convenient yet highly refined processed and chemical-laden foods.
“The health statistics in Australia, especially for children, are alarming – we could be the first generation to outlive our kids,” she said.
“Only four per cent of Australians eat enough vegetables and six per cent eat enough fruit.
“I’ve taught in schools and I see what children are bringing there – I spent a year researching and thought what we really need is affordable organics.
“I believe that being healthy should be affordable.”
The company delivers organic fruit and vegetable boxes in three sizes priced from $39 to $75.
Customers are in the box seat – allowed to make three swaps from the standard selection, and to get a replacement for anything that spoils in an unreasonably short time.
“I’ve done business before but have always had an interest in health, but I would never have dreamt I’d have my own organic fruit shop,” she said.
“We’ve got a really faithful following and we’ve built that through customer service, education and the quality of our produce.”
Starting the business, not knowing how it would be received, was a challenge.
“It’s been quite a physical business, we shift a couple of tonnes a week – it’s tough when you’re starting a small business and you don’t have the manpower.”
Ms Stolting, who was previously a speech and drama teacher, has held the first of what she plans to become regular workshops on healthy cooking and eating.
“When you know better you do better,” she said.
“We are having guest chefs who can demonstrate quick, easy meals that the family is going to love.”
If expanding into education wasn’t a big enough goal, Ms Stolting has another two.
“The vision is very big – I want multiple shops in Brisbane and on the Coast where people can pick up organic produce, have a coffee and some lunch,” she said.
“My goal is to become the biggest home delivery company for organic food in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast.
“The key to success is having the right people around you.”
ONLY FOUR PER CENT OF AUSTRALIANS EAT ENOUGH VEGETABLES AND SIX PER CENT EAT ENOUGH FRUIT BEC STOLTING, A LIFE TO LIFE