Wear for the Active West Coast Woman
The Exclusive Mobile Shopping Experience for Women
She Works She Plays Active Wear Inc. is not an online store. 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. I am a commercial driver and have been working in trades for over a decade. 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.
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.
Check out this link from Canadian Forests website for a great display of a variety of forestry positions, including many for BC as well as Vancouver Island.
I am thrilled to announce the trailer passed its electical installation inspection on Friday! Thank you Shawn and Travis Colgan Electrical Co Ltd. It is set up like a mobile home or marine electrical system.
Being a small town Vancouver Island born and raised girl, it is exciting to me when women are being encouraged and supported locally. I know from personal experience it can be intimidating and challenging to enter a non-traditional job position.
This week in Toronto at the Women with Drive Leadership Summit Dr. K. Kellie Leitch, Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women, announced funding to support women in the trucking industry.