gather refillery + lifestyle | Bringing the Unexpected to Lake Cowichan
gather is a small independent shop in Lake Cowichan, built around a simple idea: everyday things can be useful and make you happy. I wanted to create a place that feels a little unexpected - somewhere you can find something beautiful for your home, a gift for a friend, or a small treat just because you love it.
The shop brings together thoughtfully designed goods from independent makers and brands, with a focus on products that are well-made, practical, colourful and a little bit different. Most of the products at gather are made with ingredients that are friendly to both people and the environment. I’m particularly drawn to products that have personality - things that make you smile, that you won’t find everywhere, and that bring a little more joy to the everyday.
Active in the Community
For me, gather is as much about the experience as what’s on the shelves. I love discovering new brands, learning about the people behind them and bringing together products that I genuinely love. We also host a monthly workshop with local herbalist Lauren from Folklaur Herbals, who sustainably harvests the natural materials she uses in her workshops. It’s another way gather can be a place to learn, create and connect, rather than simply a place to shop. Upcoming workshops can be found on the gather website.
I also really enjoy being able to support Canadian companies and, whenever possible, makers right here on Vancouver Island. Lake Cowichan has such a strong sense of community, and I’m excited to be part of its growing little retail scene and to give both locals and visitors another reason to stop, browse and discover something new.
A Favourite at gather
It’s nearly impossible for me to choose a favourite product, but Guests on Earth’s Green Hinoki Laundry Detergent is definitely one of those products I’m happiest to have on the shelves.
I love that the ingredients are thoughtfully chosen, the products and packaging are beautiful, and - perhaps most importantly - the scents are amazing. Guests on Earth’s products come in two beautiful scents, Citrus Oasis and Woodlands, while their laundry detergent has its own Green Hinoki scent. It’s my favourite. It’s fresh, grounding and unlike the typical scent you expect from laundry detergent. Guests on Earth has taken something completely ordinary and turned it into a product that feels special (and it’s safe for you and the environment). It’s exactly the kind of thing I look for when choosing products for gather: something useful and beautifully made that makes an everyday ritual a little more enjoyable.
A Few Brands You'll Find at gather
Splash Out Soap - Honeymoon Bay, BC
A female-owned company right here in the Cowichan Valley, creating handcrafted soaps, body care and home products using natural, organic and eco-friendly ingredients. I love being able to support a maker so close to home.
Westcoastees - Honeymoon Bay, BC
Westcoastees is another local favourite, creating their own unique collection of Vancouver Island-inspired T-shirts, cards and stickers. Their designs have a distinct West Coast personality - fun, quirky and instantly recognizable. Being able to carry a company that designs and produces right here on Vancouver Island makes them an especially great fit for gather.
Isle of Rose - Nanaimo, BC
A husband-and-wife team creating candles, reed diffusers, car diffusers and room sprays that smell as beautiful as they look. I love their products, but I also really appreciate the care they put into their customer service and their business.
Badger & Burke - Vancouver, BC
Bright, eclectic and funny, Badger & Burke creates cards, notepads and home goods inspired by retro design and illustration. Their products have so much personality and are guaranteed to make you smile.
Guests on Earth - Toronto, ON
Beautiful, thoughtfully formulated cleaning and laundry products that prove practical household essentials don't have to be boring. The packaging is gorgeous, the ingredients are carefully considered, and the scents are exceptional.
Arolab - Belmont, Ontario
Arolab makes beautifully crafted candles and fragrances in small batches using carefully selected ingredients. Their subtle roll-on perfumes, made with organic jojoba oil, are a particular favourite.
Oneka - Frelighsburg, Quebec
Oneka creates shampoos, conditioners and body washes formulated with plants grown on their farm using regenerative farming practices and combined with aromatic essential oils. Their products are a wonderful combination of thoughtful ingredients, beautiful scents and everyday usefulness.
That’s really what I hope gather becomes: a place to browse, discover, find a little inspiration and maybe leave with something you didn’t know you needed.
Camille Ufnal, Local Owner
gather refillery + lifestyle
105 South Shore Rd, Lake Cowichan, B.C.
web: gatherrefillery.com
insta: @gatherrefilleryandlifestyle
