Meet the Maker: Good Life Juice

Wrapping up our Meet the Maker series, this week's feature is a well-known (and well-loved!) Nanaimo business — Good Life Juice! Read Founder and CEO, Andrea Dershin's story below. 

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When and where did Good Life get its start?

I was making cold-pressed juice for my husband while he was working in NYC as a DJ as a way to help him recover each morning. I started bringing it for my yoga students, and they loved it. Soon, I was selling it and realized I had a possible business. When we decided to move home from NYC to Nanaimo and I learned there were no cold-pressed juice companies on Vancouver Island at the time, I took it as my sign to launch Good Life Juice.

What inspired the creation of Good Life?

I have always loved to cook and create. After studying plant-based nutrition at Cornell University, I learned about the powerful healing benefits of plants and started making cold-pressed juice for me and my family. We felt amazing, and I wanted to share that feeling with my friends and community.

How has the community shaped your business?

The community has been at the heart of our story from the beginning. Local families supported us long before we became a destination for visitors, and their loyalty and feedback have influenced our products, our growth, and the way we operate. For the past five years, Coombs Country Candy has been a social enterprise owned by Community Futures, which has strengthened our connection to the community even further. Our mission now includes not only making great candy, but also creating local opportunities and supporting community development.

What does being local mean to you?

Being local means being rooted in the place that helped build us. It’s about supporting other local businesses, creating jobs in our community, and offering products that feel familiar, comforting, and connected to Vancouver Island. It also means staying true to the values that make small businesses special: authenticity, craftsmanship, and genuine connection.

If you had to start the business over, what would you do differently?

We would have leaned into community partnerships even sooner, because those relationships have been some of our greatest strengths.

What advice would you give to other local entrepreneurs/business owners?

Stay true to your values, listen to your customers, and don’t be afraid to adapt. Build real relationships with your community, your suppliers, and your team. And remember that being a local business isn’t just about selling a product; it’s about creating something meaningful that people feel connected to.

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We're proud to carry Good Life products at select Mid Island locations:

Nanaimo — Bowen Rd

Nanaimo — Harewood 

Nanaimo — Woodgrove

Nanaimo — Brooks Landing

Nanaimo — Cranberry Ave

Parksville — Alberni Hwy

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