This store totally rocks

• How a gift at aged 8 led to a career
• 'People like shiny things'

A Kelowna woman has turned her captivation with rocks into a new business she hopes can inspire others to fall in love with the treasures that lie underground.

Remy Kesslar and her fellow rock-loving dad, Doug, have opened a new store in downtown Kelowna, enticing customers and hoping to inspire more rock hunters with its glimmering wares.

The father-daughter owner duo at Kelowna Rocks & Gems, welcomed the bevy of curious customers Saturday.

“Opening day has been really great so far, we’ve seen a lot of people,” Remy told Kelowna10. “It just seems like a really good sign for the future so we’re super excited to see what’s in store for us.”

Before having a physical location to sell at, Remy operated out of her father’s garage, selling all her product online as well as attending local rock shows as a vendor.

Though she has only been polishing and selling rocks for about seven months she’s been working with them for a lot longer, attributing her spark of interest to a gift her father gave her.

“My dad bought me a rock tumbler probably when I was eight years old. I loved it, you would start with a rough, kind of dirty rock and at the end you get this beautiful, polished rock,” she explained. “And honestly, finding out you could do that on a way bigger scale was super exciting.”

From her time spent at rock shows, she made quite a few connections, one of which was local prospector Dan Hurd. He has a huge online following and was the special guest for the store’s grand opening, answering questions from the public and offering advice.

Hurd runs a YouTube channel, exhibiting his various escapades prospecting and gold panning.

“Pretty much anywhere you go, any town of any size has a great lapidary or rock club,” Hurd said. “If you get involved with the clubs, you get to go to all these neat sites. You learn from people that you learn form the experts out there.”

For Remy and Doug, their new business is very much about sharing their passion for the amazing bounty that hides beneath our feet or in the earth’s rock formations.

The new store at 1111 Gordon Drive offers handmade jewelry as well as minerals and specimens, and other beautiful products made with stones from all over the world.

“People like shiny thing and rocks, “ Doug explained. “I always have, since I was a kid.”