Lake Simcoe is known for its natural beauty and is a popular destination for outdoor activities such as boating, fishing, swimming, and ice fishing in the winter. It has a rich history and has been an important resource for the region, particularly for the First Nations Peoples and early European settlers. Did you know that Lake Simcoe is the fourth-largest lake entirely within the Province of Ontario and has a surface area of approximately 744 square kilometers?

Livin’ Lake Simcoe is a family run business that lives and works out of the Oro-Medonte area on the shores of beautiful Lake Simcoe. They were inspired to create a brand that would resonate with the beauty of Lake Simcoe because they have spent their entire adult lives living and experiencing everything in and around Lake Simcoe. We are so pleased to introduce you to Joanie and Taye Pritchett, the co-founders of Livin’ Lake Simcoe in our Community Spotlight.

When was your brand Livin’ Lake Simcoe established and why?

We created the brand because we love lake Simcoe, and we wanted a sweatshirt with Lake Simcoe on it and could not find one, so we decided to make one. In doing so, we thought that other folks might want one too. We started to work on creating a logo and over the course of a few months, we created this brand and started to imagine what was possible!

What made you and your daughter decide to open your own business? Is this something that both of you have always wanted to do?

I have always wanted to create something but never really knew what and my daughter is still trying to figure out where her passions will lead so creating this business gave us a chance to collaborate as equals and build off of each other’s strengths. She is a very creative person and has a great eye and is really savvy with social media and marketing and I am better at logistics and the administrative tasks so together, we have been able to collaborate really well.

Livin’ Lake Simcoe offers a variety of beautiful merchandise. Where are your products made?

We work hard to have our products made locally, whenever possible. When we cannot have them made locally, we seek to have them made in Canada.

What has been your favorite piece of merchandise to work on to date and why?

The Livin’ Lake Simcoe hoodie is my favourite item. Our entire street wear line is made in Canada.  They are soft and cozy and are gender neutral and we think that our logo really looks great! We are super proud of how they turned out…. And it was one of the first items that we created.

If we order merchandise from your website, how long does it take to receive it?

We pride ourselves on service that is fast and personal. We respond to orders very quickly (often within hours and certainly within the same day) and we can often deliver in the Simcoe County area the next day. We will work with our customers to deliver items as quickly as they would like them. That is the beauty of working with local businesses, so often our customers are neighbours or people in our extended community, and we can easily meet at a convenient location for a drop off or deliver to your door. We aim to please!

What do you hope your customers gain by ordering your merchandise?

We hope that our customers can enjoy our Livin’ Lake Simcoe products day in and day out – that these products will serve as a reminder of what Lake Simcoe has brought to their life.  Maybe it is a great childhood memory at the Lake, or maybe Lake Simcoe is where you go to take daily walks for self-care or maybe the beaches of Lake Simcoe were always your fun place as a kid – whatever it is, we hope our products remind you that Lake Simcoe is a place of healing, contemplation, celebration and fun! That Livin’ Lake Simcoe is a state of mind – it is a vibe.

How do we find out when you are attending a local market so we can attend?

We highlight our markets on our Instagram, and we remind folks the week before. If you do not already, follow us on Instagram or Facebook or you can always send us a message. We love to hear from community members!

If you were to name one thing you love the most about Lake Simcoe, what would it be?

I love the way that I feel when I am near the shoreline of Lake Simcoe. It makes me feel connected and grounded – it feels like home.

If you had any words of encouragement or advice for anyone thinking about opening their own business, what would they be?

I would say, if you are cycling around an idea or if you are contemplating pursuing a passion and have doubts – I would say, do not overthink it. Just do it! There will never be a perfect time, you will never have enough money or time and you will never be able to create a plan that takes everything into consideration…. But you will figure it out. Follow your passion, follow your heart and trust in yourself!

For more information and to check out their merchandise, please visit their website at:  Livin’ Lake Simcoe and we also encourage you to follow them on instagram at:  Livin’ Lake Simcoe.