by Jesse Holth | photo by Janis Jean Photography –
When Daniel and Amanda Welch first moved away from their hometown of Victoria, they had no idea they’d return as entrepreneurs. While working in aviation in remote northern Canada, the couple fantasized about living in Hawaii together and running their own business. After researching E2 investment visas, Amanda started taking apart her old jewelry, thinking there could be a way to repurpose it, and the idea to start a jewelry business – or better yet, a brand – was born.
What began as a dream in that northern Saskatchewan basement evolved into Pachulah, a luxury brand offering jewelry, accessories and bespoke footwear. “It started off as a website, with the intention of moving back and opening up shop in Victoria,” explains Danny. A few months later, in 2016, they were able to open their first kiosk at Uptown. “It was a huge success,” adds Danny. Amanda would make the jewelry in-store and at home, and Danny would come home from his day job, change into a suit and head to the shop. “It was a grind for the first couple years,” says Danny.
“Mandy was the artist and I was the business guy – she would design and make the jewelry, and I’d do the behind-the-scenes stuff like bookkeeping, training and general oversight of the direction of the business. We just worked really great together.”
With the business a success, they revisited their plans for Hawaii – in 2018, the couple flew to Toronto for their big E-2 Investor Visa interview to gain the right to live and do business in the state of Hawaii. “It felt very difficult for two young kids without a business background; you have to make the investment prior to receiving the Visa, which felt quite risky. But we were successful! That was a really special moment,” adds Danny. “We were out crying in the streets in January.”
They travelled back and forth to Hawaii, and began to expand their product lines including engagement rings and fine jewelry collections, as well as bespoke footwear. When Covid hit, Danny and Amanda decided to come back to Canada to be close to family. “It was quite a stressful situation: we were forced to close down our business locations multiple times due to the emergency mandates, while still maintaining employment for our staff and keeping up with online orders – it was a hard time for us just like for so many others.” Shortly after, they found out the news that Amanda was pregnant with their son Dante, who is now two-and-a-half. “It was perfect timing,” says Danny. “We got to lock ourselves down at home, relax together and dream about who the new addition to our family would be. These memories are incredibly special to me now!”
Once markets began reopening post-Covid, they felt the need to return to Hawaii and get their business kickstarted again. After six months of getting things back up and running, they eventually found their dream property on Salt Spring Island. “Then we found out Mandy was pregnant, again! I was renovating the old farmhouse while she was raising our son Dante, and working endlessly with staff and continuously building our brand. We were getting things ready for Baby Dante’s little sister. And then tragedy hit … .”
After Amanda and their baby passed away from a tragic pregnancy complication in August 2022, Daniel was determined to keep their dream alive. “I know she had to go be with our little baby girl Rachelle, and they’re our two guardian angels now – it gives me extra motivation, knowing that they’re watching over us.”
The couple had been negotiating opening a larger space at Uptown, with a lease agreement already set up – they wanted to expand beyond the kiosk, and a new store opened in March this year. “The community here in Victoria has been incredibly supportive. The mall has been incredibly supportive, and I chose to bring everything here to Uptown; we pulled out of Hawaii, which was really hard, but we’re focusing here in Victoria, where our support system is.
“I’m very grateful for my team here at Pachulah; I’m so proud of every single one of them and I know Mandy would be as well. We are just a wonderful family, I feel very blessed and fortunate.”
Although this new shop is the focus, Danny says it would be really special to reopen a store in Mandy’s honour in Hawaii, one day. “I’ve been through something absolutely indescribable, but I’m here, I’m alive and the sun is shining – you’ve just gotta push forward. My little boy is my lifesaver: he comes to work with me and he brings so much joy.
“Mandy was a naturally beautiful soul and the love of my life. She was a dreamer and she lived with reckless abandon – she would dream big and instill confidence in others. I just did my darndest to make her dreams and ideas a reality.”
