Catherine Minshull #savethebreeze Butterfly Mover

Catherine Minshull- Save the Breeze and Butterfly Mover

About our Nominees

Catherine Minshull moved here when she was about 1 year old and raised right here in Gulf Breeze. She has moved away but always comes back to the area. Gulf Breeze is her home and she loves every part of it. She loves it so much, in fact, that when the bridge got shut down, she felt she had to do something to help our wonderful community stay on its feet. She realized that Gulf Breeze Proper isn’t getting hardly any traffic anymore, since the bridge is out. The local businesses are struggling there, so she decided to start up a Facebook page, called #SaveTheBreeze from the #bargeblunder. This page is all about saving Gulf Breeze and Pensacola Beach businesses and to help keep businesses open.

She is also an inventor, creating the Butterfly Mover for her Mom. The Butterfly Mover is a plant caddy with a detachable handle which makes moving flower pots very easy.  No more messes or flower pots getting broken; less bending, too. You can even use it for your trashcan, boxes or other various objects.

Q & A

Q: What inspired you or led you to your current career/owning your business?

So, if you’re referring to motivation for Butterfly Mover, my mom always asked me to move plants which can be difficult. One night I had a plant that dumped over and I felt like there had to be a better way. I immediately got to work by creating a prototype. My mom and I both tried out my prototype and it worked. I’ve come up with ideas since I was a kid and this was the first one that my mom said was great! This year I have been working more on the Butterfly Mover rather than my insurance investigation business. 

Before my mom passed away, she made me promise that I’d get this product on the market. Every time I’ve wanted to give up, her voice keeps telling me to not give up.

As far as the #savethebreeze from the #bargeblunder Facebook page, I had gone out to pick up my takeout for the evening. It was about a week and a half after the bridge was knocked out. It was a Saturday night and Gulf Breeze was just a ghost town. There were no cars around, no people walking around. Where I picked up my take out, there was only one table. I was in shock it was already like this. What’s going to happen in a couple of months?

I grew up in Gulf Breeze, I’m from here originally. I did not want to see our town destroyed because of the bridge. I lived through the 1989 issue when the barge hit the bridge. That was bad! It had a huge impact on the economy. I felt bad for business owners who lost their businesses. Being a business owner, I understand how scary it is, for one to invest your heart, your soul, and your money into it and then have something happen that is beyond your control and destroy it. It’s heartbreaking.

When I got home that evening, I thought about it since it was bothering me and that feeling didn’t go away. The next day I went and made a post to see how my friends would respond about having events to help the businesses in the area. After my original post generated a lot of response, I decided to create the page and it just exploded. In 24 hours, we had 1,000 people following the page. One of my friends reached out to me-Jenni Arnold, she and I grew up together- and asked what I was doing and if I wanted any help. At first, I told her no, but ended up calling her back a few hours later to tell her I was adding her on as an admin because I can’t handle this on my own. I ended up asking another one of my friends to help- her name is Teresa Helms.

Since we had such a large and positive feedback, we contacted the city and they were very much for the idea and proactive. They had already talked among themselves about hosting an event. The city is sponsoring and hosting Barge-O-Ween which is the first of several events. There will be $10,000 worth of gift cards & vouchers given away through various forms of prizes to the people that attend the event in support of the businesses in Gulf Breeze. This event is happening on Halloween from 4 to 8 pm. It will be a trunk or treatCatherine Minshull #savethebreeze Butterfly Mover if you will. All of the vendors will be handing out candy and then there will also be prizes, costume contests, and other things of that nature. It will be in the Dolphin’s football stadium. The city has arranged for the Astronauts to perform, which is a local band. We have also had a couple of businesses that wanted to help with this event and support the community.  Gulf Winds Credit Union is sponsoring gift cards for the giveaways and providing great bags for the kids to carry their candy in, as well as Covenant Care providing candy for the kids.  It’s going to be a fun event!

This came up pretty quick, but we want to focus on getting some help for the local businesses including out on the beach. It’s like a dead-end road in Gulf Breeze and the beach, there is a big difference since the bridge was knocked out.

Q: How long have you lived or worked in Gulf Breeze?

My parents bought their house here when I was about 1. I’ve moved away and have come back. The last time I did that, was when my father had Alzheimer’s. He was a very strong man. He was fully involved with the city as a fireman eventually became the Fire chief, intern police chief, city council member, mayor pro-tem which was all volunteer work, and then he had his regular job, as well. He was a huge influence in my life and we were really close.

 

Q: Who is the most interesting person/business owner you’ve met here in Gulf Breeze/Navarre?  Who would you like to see nominated as a Face of Gulf Breeze/Navarre?

They’ve all been amazing!

 

Q: What advice would you give a crowd of people starting their own business?

You only live once and you never know what could happen without trying. My dad always told me, “Nothing’s impossible!”

 

Q: What current/former local business makes you the most nostalgic about (or what is most iconic in) Gulf Breeze/Navarre?

The beach sign.

 

Q: Where do you see yourself (and your career/business) in 5 or 10 years?

I hope that people find out about the Butterfly Mover and that they find it helpful, so I can grow my business. I will still be here in Gulf Breeze, but I do love to travel.

Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Gulf Breeze/Navarre, and what do you love there? (What is your favorite dish, and where do you get it?)

Lillo’s in Gulf Breeze. I get the eggplant parmesan and it’s amazing! I also enjoy Dave’s Oyster Bar, which I always get some form of shrimp.

 

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?  And why?

Iceland! It is absolutely beautiful!

 

Q: What is your favorite movie OR what is the first movie you remember seeing in a theater?

I think the first movie I saw in theaters was Star Wars or Bad News Bears. My favorite is When Harry Met Sally.

 

Q: What is something on your bucket list?

Getting my product on Shark Tank, QVC, or HSN. I also want to travel as much as possible, traveling around the world.

 

Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about Gulf Breeze/Navarre?

I love the beaches and being around the water. Also, I love being around old friends.

 

Q: Choosing anyone, with whom would you love to have lunch?  Why?

My parents, because I miss them. I would take them to Sideline’s, my Dad and I use to go there almost every Friday.  My Mom loved their shrimp po boy.

 

Q: What is your favorite music or 3 bands that you would love to see live?

Matchbox 20, Boston with the original singer, and the original members Journey group!

 

Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?

The amount of places I have traveled to.

 

Q: What 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?

Gulf Breeze, Florida.

 

Q: If you were cast into a major motion picture and had your choice of anyone to be your co-star, who would you choose?

I would probably say Rob Thomas or Pierce Brosnan. Oh, also Clint Eastwood

 

Q: If you had a full-time staff member that was fully paid for, who would you choose? Chef, Housekeeper, Driver, Coach, Physical Fitness Trainer, or Nanny?

I want a housekeeper that can also cook!

 

Q: Who is your hero?

My dad!

 

Go check out her Butterfly Mover and order one today! 

Don’t forget to like #SaveTheBreeze on Facebook and to support your local businesses!

 

Be sure to check out what our other nominees had to say!

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