Women Inspiring Women - Meet Cynthia Booth - Glass Earth Inc. and WC Jungle

Women Inspiring Women! Meet the lovely Cynthia Booth, Owner of Glass Earth Inc (YEG) and WC Jungle (YVR).

I met Cynthia when my oldest daughter and I walked into her gorgeous store last March looking for a special gift for a special person in our life. We were looking for something beautiful, artistic and personal. Within minutes, Cynthia had us seated at the plant bar where she guided us in making our own special terrariums. Our daughter was 6 at the time - Cynthia and her staff sat patiently with us as we picked out and put together the beautiful pieces of our design.

This year we repeated the experience for Mother’s Day. We spent the morning before Mother’s Day creating beautiful pieces at the plant bar under Cynthia’s tutelage for the special ladies in our life. During that time, we chatted about Covid and its impacts on Cynthia’s businesses, what opening a new location in Vancouver was like and about mothering. Cynthia’s kindness, patience and true passion for the work she does resonated with me.

Cynthia is a horticulturalist, an entrepreneur and a mom. She exudes love and nurturing. She is creative and you can tell she works dang hard. Her store is BEAUTIFUL (my now 8 year old said it was the perfect place for a wedding shower!). Cynthia is beautiful. Shopping at her store is an experience.

Thank you so much for sharing Cynthia! You are an inspiration!!!

1. Tell us about you and your amazing business!

I chose the career of horticulture in my late 20s. I loved plants, but I was very shy and also had a skin disease. My goal was to be able to work in greenhouses where I wouldn’t have to be in the public eye. I could hide in the plants! I’ve been everywhere with this business except hiding in the plants! LOL

Glass Earth really started at the Edmonton home and Garden show. I didn’t even have a store at the time! From there, I started a kiosk in Southgate Mall which ran for a little under a year. Because I had nowhere to keep stock, I found I was constantly running and could not keep up. I was so burned out after the first year in the mall, I decided to only run my store online. However, T8N magazine wrote an article about me which Lindsay Botha (temporary leasing specialist) of Kingsway mall happened to read. She invited me to come in as a pop-up store in kingsway mall. That was almost 4 years ago! With her belief in me, and with the help of family, and friends, Glass Earth just opened its third store in Vancouver!

Glass Earth and WCJungle (the Vancouver stores), have a more of a hands on approach for the consumer. We are now stretching out and doing interior plant designs and installations.

2. What do you love most about the work you do?

My goal was always to educate people about plants and be as amazed by them as I am. I believe plants help us appreciate the world more and in return I think we appreciate the inhabitants including each other a little bit more. Thats the part I love the most!

3. Tell us about operating a plant retail store during a pandemic!

The pandemic brought some surprises to the plant industry. With people working from home, there was a surge of demand for greenery in the homes. The frustrating Side of that, is it made it very difficult to meet those demands. Wholesalers could not keep up, and it made it difficult for us to obtain quality product in the stores and keep our shelves full. Many times, I’d have to travel to the wholesalers and knock on their doors and beg for more plants!

4. What advice do you have for women entrepreneurs?

My advice for other women entrepreneurs has always been to not let a good idea fadeaway. Sometimes when getting an idea off the ground seems overwhelming, I like to say just kick the ball. Once that ball starts rolling, you will be running after it. That will be the start of great things. Also,I believe it’s important to have no regrets of what you could have been or could have done. Listen to the people around you that tell you that you can do it. You really can!

5. Who are the women you draw inspiration from?

Many women have inspired me. One being Megan Lund, the owner of the Extensionist. When her hair salon shut down for the pandemic, she created another business, air B&B’d her van after revamping the inside. Instead of feeling sorry for herself, she accepted the challenge and now has several vans.

Essentially, life isn’t about having a successful business or infinite wealth. It’s about the journey and experiences. Women have been quietened and subdued for so many generations. We have an opportunity to really spread our wings and change the world and create a gentler more caring world. Our strength in creating more women equality is in numbers.

6. Can we come and shop?

Glass Earth is thrilled to have our Plant Bar back open to the public! Bring the child in you and come play in the dirt!! Or, If you need help designing your plants around your home or business,, let us take that stress away.

And just a reminder, we have a horticultural background to help you solve many green mysteries!

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Thank you for sharing Cynthia! We love your store and love our treasures from it! You are truly an inspiring woman, leader and entrepreneur!