Professionals Serendipity 
Christie Scott is the CEO of Crystal Mountain, a business that provides Tamborine with the finest quality crystals and other mineral products for whatever needs may present themselves. Open 7 years this year, Christie has a lot to say about her time as a part of the mountain community and just how fascinating peddling rocks can be.
by Kyle Hitchmough
How did you get started in this business?
I’ve always had a rock addiction, really. My dad took me fossicking at Thunderbird Park when I was 8 years old, and that started it. I still have the egg sitting in my garden. I’ve done a few other things in my past, nothing I enjoyed as much as just playing with rocks. I figured why not?
For those who might not understand, can you explain what it is you do here?
Basically, we specialize in crystals, minerals, rocks and fossils, as well as Australian designer jewelry. We have a good relationship with a really good Australian designer, Preyas Jewellery. We get some stunning pieces of gemstone jewelry from her. We have thousands of pieces that fall under all these categories, including meteorites and tektites and all that. We’re a bit of a specialist store, but we do seem to have something that everyone likes.
There’s definitely a spiritual aspect to the crystal trade, but you have a much more commercial approach to it. Is that something that’s important to you?
Spirituality and business need to go hand in hand, but they don’t need to be driving forces of each other. For me, where I use it as a spiritual statement, it’s a place where people of all walks can come and enjoy natural beauty without having to feel like they need to adhere to a spiritual regime. Basically, just trying to create a space of peace and tranquility that’s separate from any kind of dogma. Everyone has some sort of belief in their lives.
The mountain has a large number of shops specializing in spirituality: do you think there’s a reason that Tamborine Mountain can be such a hub for things like that?
It’s possibly the vibe the mountain gives off. It’s a really tranquil, beautiful place where you can connect with nature, and that tends to bring about an ilk of people who want to be in that energy and they gravitate to each other. Your vibe attracts your tribe. There’s definitely an element of non-spirituality up here, but there’s a very strong spiritual element and we all support each other.
Do you have a personal favourite?
I love pyrite cubes and black ammonites, they’re amazing and super rare… really anything that’s super weird and unusual tends to make it to my house. If it’s weird and it’s created by the earth and you’ve only ever seen one, it’s hard to part with it for a rock nerd.
Are there any particular trends in your clientele?
There is absolutely no trend, no target demographic. We have customers of all collecting for different reasons. Some just like the crystals, some are fascinated by the science behind the crystals. Some like the spirituality of things… All the reasons of collecting. You get to meet really cool people from all different walks of life with all sorts of different backgrounds and stories.
Are you a local? What’s your opinion on the T
amborine Mountain area and community?
Yeah, I am. It’s an eclectic mix of some very interesting, very proactive people. Gallery Walk hasn’t really changed a lot since I was a child, and it’s lovely. I remember walking up this street as a kid thinking what an honestly magical place it was. The Walk in particular has always stuck in my head as being a really wonderful place of awe and inspiration. You meet people from all over the world who have come up here to live and enjoy the same sort of lifestyle, and it creates a sense of unity. People work together quite well in an emergency situation; this mountain pulls together. It’s nice to live in that country-orientated environment, because the second you go off the mountain that doesn’t exist anymore.
What do you think Crystal Mountain really provides to the area?
The shop in itself is unique on a national level. There’s definitely not a lot of dedicated crystal stores that are as comprehensive as we are. Many people have come in and said to me “We come here specifically for your shop, it’s a thing we do with our family.” … so, I think we’re providing a place that can create moments, and build bonds. You have grandparents and grandkids coming in together, it’s a thing for them to go to the crystal shop and look around… I personally am quite knowledgeable on crystals, so I will happily talk to anyone about them, whether it’s geology, minerology, metaphysics, gemology, etymology… What we provide is not even just a shop in that sense, it’s an experience.
What do you enjoy most about doing this?
I love finding things that have never been seen before. I love fossicking, it’s always cool when you find something yourself out of the ground that’s never been seen before. It’s really amazing, a wonderful feeling. Identifying is something I really enjoy doing, I spend a lot of time doing that. “What is this rock?” is a question I get asked a lot. Crystals are fascinating on so many levels, not just spiritually or energetically or chemically, but what humans can actually create with them. So I get to teach people, which is cool. You get to learn things.
What’s been your most memorable moment working here?
The best part, I would say, is I get to spend a lot of time with my family. This is an entirely family business, my mum, my dad, my brother, we all work together. And I get to go on a lot of business trips with my dad, which is really cool. There’s a thousand little stories.
We are always looking for new topics for our blog. If there’s something you like to see more of, email your suggestions to: social@professionalsserendipity.com.au, or email the writer at kyle.hitchmough@hotmail.com.
