INDUSTRIAL WORK, SAFETY AND OUTDOOR WEAR FOR WOMEN
Who am I and what is this about
This is an exclusive personal shopping experience for women in communities on the west coast of Canada. My name is Audrey Rippingale and I am founder/owner/truck driver of this mobile business based out of Campbell River on Vancouver Island. My history is driving trucks and running equipment and I have been a part of the trades for decades now. My own frustration at not being able to find work wear had me thinking it was time someone did something about this issue. So when an ongoing wrist injury prevented me from continuing to drive concrete trucks, which I enjoyed doing for Island Ready Mix for the previous eight years, I realized the time to do something had come. This crossroads in life got my creativity flowing and the business was born. I travel the west coast with my Kenworth and converted semi-trailer which sets up as a store filled with women's industrial work, safety and outer wear.
Here is an interview with CBC Radio North in May 2016 while I was in Terrace, BC. The interview covers who I am, what I am all about and the issues that us women working in industry and trades can face when it comes to getting work wear that is functional for us.
"CBC Daybreak North" by host Carolina de Ryk - Audio
My story is also wonderfully summed up by CTV Vancouver Island News when Lisa Perry did a segment on my truck. The only thing I would add to the interview is that pink is not "my theme". I do carry some pink PPE because women have requested it, but I carry a wide range of all types of women's work, safety and outer wear. I am very proud to run my own trucking business and to help women working in trades and industry get what they need to get their jobs done.
It has been a couple very busy first few weeks of operation, and I am pleased to announce locations for the next three weeks. Next stop, guess what? Willow Point.
Ladies, the big day is finally here! If you are a woman who works in industry or trades, or if you are one of those hands-on women who likes to get here hands dirty, then come on down and climb up into The Chick Truck.
The trailer is complete and the process of inventorying and stocking is in progress. Of course, like everything else with this unique business venture, the process is not normal. After a pretrip to town last week when all the shelving of the boot rack bounced out of place, (and no!
AWESOME: AN ACTION PLAN TO ENCOURAGE AND RETAIN MORE WOMEN IN THE INDUSTRY.
Being a woman working in a non-traditional job is not easy. That is just the truth. It can be awesome, and it can be so empowering and the sense of independence is amazing. However, pretending there are not challenges is being naive.
Very pleased to announce the trailer has passed the electrical system inspection and commercial vehicle inspection with flying colours!! I am good to go anywhere in BC. In the final stages of finishing work and getting insured. Will be rolling down the highway very soon.