Meet Summer O’Neill | Owner of Country Surfer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Summer O’Neill and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Summer, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I am originally from South Orange County, California but moved to Australia when I was young. My dad is an Aussie, so it was amazing to be able to live over there. After returning to Southern California, my family and I moved to Hawaii. I have been raised as a beach loving gal and have been blessed with being able to live in such amazing places. A couple of years ago I met my husband, who is originally from Missouri. He brought the “country” in Country Surfer no doubt! We now reside in San Juan Capistrano and I can’t see us leaving unless it’s to travel. We love our little town and it has the rad mix of country and surfer. It’s the perfect Country Surfer town!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I have always loved candles, but I have never loved the headaches that came with them. I wanted to dive deeper to figure out why my head would pound from them and realized that there were so many toxins added. Once I found out that coconut wax and beeswax were the only clean waxes you could get, I had to try it. I started making candles with every candle safe container in my house and experimenting with all different essential oils. Friends and family would come over and slowly I would see candles disappearing because they loved them so much as well. Finally, my husband came up to me and said I should finally launch Country Surfer (a name I had been sitting on). We were then in business! It wasn’t easy but it was worth it. Starting a business is always a risk but if you never take risks in life, you will never know what could have been. “Mistakes” are going to be made (no one is perfect) but use them as a lesson and that is how you continue to grow!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would start off every day with a morning surf at San Onofre then venture along the coast back to San Juan Capistrano. I recommend grabbing a pastry from FKN Bread and a coffee from Hidden House Coffee. The Mission is right next door and we even hear the mission bells from our home. Strolling through downtown and down Los Rios Street is a great way to explore the local shops, boutiques, and galleries. The Cottage Gallery is an excellent recommendation for unique finds and of course they carry Country Surfer candles. Enjoying a tea break at The Tea House is a perfect way to unwind. Plus, who doesn’t love a good tea party? A trail ride is a fantastic way to experience the natural beauty of the area. Once night time comes, there is no question that you have to stop at Swallow’s Inn Bar to watch live music and do some line dancing.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First, to my husband, who has always been my rock, encouraging me to chase my dreams and standing by my side, especially during challenging times. Your unwavering faith and love drive me forward every day. To my family, thank you for the boundless love, support, and the opportunities you’ve given me to live in such wondrous places. And to every friend, family member, and customer who has supported my candle business, I am eternally grateful. Your belief in me and my creations has been the wind beneath my wings. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Website: www.countrysurfer.com

Instagram: @thecountrysurfer

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/countrysurfer