Island Thyme

I’m really impressed with Chris and Eliza Morris. They epitomize quiet strength and perseverance. I’ve observed them over the years and I find their silent resolve to be quite remarkable.

At a time when businesses closed and renting space was a scary venture, the Morrises expanded their presence here on the island. They renovated and beautified a downtown space, and it’s a lovely, spacious, airy, colorful, natural-wooded store.

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They’ve been on Orcas a long time, constantly working at their craft. Ever since we moved here, Island Thyme products have been available in local stores, at the farmer’s market, and at Christmas markets at the Oddfellows Hall. Since 1996 they’ve been fashioning soaps, lotions, lip balms, and other botanically-based body products from local lavender, calendula, rose, and other bounties from the land – sourced here and elsewhere.

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What I think is commendable is their consistency and hard work. Businesses here pop up all the time that just aren’t going to fly once the summer is over or once residents have gotten a few items. You can spot it right away. Too often, people think up something they’d like to do or sell, but they don’t figure out if it’s an appropriate niche. They pour gobs of money and hard work into a passion that produces products that not enough people want. Orcas Island is a small place; you have to know that a constant percentage of this small population will want what you sell in order to make a business work. Some of the most beautiful stores sparkling with stunning creativity tank because they need to be in a big city, a hippy hub, a craft capital, a town with thousands of families, an outdoor mecca, or a place with year-round tourists.

Island Thyme has proven their desirability. Locals love the products – my triathlete husband swears by his nightly lavender foot lotion application. Tourists love the products – they’re like eye candy to look at, and each is made with several high-quality ingredients rather than lists of synthetics and fluff. And just about any market or pharmacy can have a rack or table devoted to the beautifully packaged balms, creams, deodorants, and ailment soothers because they fall into every category – necessities, gifts, toiletries, pain relievers, natural/organic products, locally made souvenirs, you name it.

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It’s so nice to see a business that is thriving by making products that are simple, pure, healthful, high-caliber, and with local ingredients.

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To top it off, if you know Chris and Eliza, you know they are genuine, kind, good people who always have the time to smile and chat. I don’t know how they do it all, but they haven’t lost their easy approachability in the busy-ness of their expansion over the years. Running from here to there like chickens with their heads cut off, they are not.

Good job, ya’ll!

Stop by their new store in town right in the heart of Eastsound at 310 Main Street from 10-5. You can’t miss it.

I did not take the photo of Chris and Eliza; credit goes to an unnamed photographer