DESTINATION SUCCESS
Masters of their own universe, local marrieds Leslie and Aaron VanHauter are that married couple you meet and wonder how they do it. Each with varied interests, a combined love of travel and experiences, as well as a passion for learning, the VanHauters are both strong individuals and an enviable couple that clearly enjoy being together. Proving that a sense of curiosity counts, they’ve both created and achieved different personal and professional goals that have allowed them to live what they call their best lives together. Inspired—and a little envious—we dig deeper into this wedded bliss.
By Hayley Hill
We’ve all sat at a restaurant near a couple that seem to have nothing to say to each other. Dining with Aaron and Leslie, we dare you to get a word in. Simply put, they make a happy marriage look easy. Gracious, educated, and charming, the couple recently celebrated their 24th wedding anniversary and still hold hands like newlyweds. Of course, it’s never as easy as it appears, and Aaron and Leslie are a testament to making both a relationship and a business a success.
Traveling the world and seeking knowledge has paid in dividends and is the tie that binds them. Witnessing how people in other cultures embrace health, relaxation, and the simple art of breaking bread and sharing good wine, Aaron and Leslie became purveyors of what’s best described as the good life. We actually refer to them as the Chip and Joanna Gaines of the CBD world. Why? Because they’ve worked hard to incorporate their worldly experiences into becoming brand ambassadors of better living through their business, Simply CBD. “Constant travel, continuous learning, and shared experiences are our not only our bond, they’ve become an integral part of our business,” beams Aaron.
Guided by curiosity and with a thriving digital advertising agency, it all began when Aaron quickly responded yes when asked to present the ins and outs of digital advertising at a national CBD store owner convention in Tampa in 2019. “In the weeks before, I studied the industry and ended up staying for the entire conference because I was absolutely blown away by how tremendously well these products work for people when they’re using the right ones in the right way,” he says. Inspired, he opened Simply CBD that same year.
“Upon my return, I talked with Leslie and we made it our goal to not just find CBD products, but to locate and sell only the best, top-quality products.” Knowing many people are confused by or don’t trust CBD and have low expectations met by shops filled with tacky décor reminiscent of an old school headshop, their mission has been to provide an upscale location with a spa vibe that offers the very best products and a knowledgeable staff that incudes himself.
“I want people to understand I’m not at the store because I have to be, but because I want to be. I could have an online-only business and still have robust sales. I’m here because the affirmation I receive from people coming in and telling me I’ve changed their lives—which still happens frequently after three years in business—sends chills down my spine. I believe I’m making a difference and that what I do matters,” Aaron tells us.
They’ve since franchised, but still ensure everything offered is up to the standards they’ve set. By the end of the year, they’ll open a store in Foley, and best of all, have a truck that travels from events to festivals and more, allowing people to easily access premium CBD products.
Although Leslie is busy pursuing her interests, her influence is felt throughout the entire business, as Aaron relies on her input for every decision. “Working as a team not only ensures our clients receive the best possible advice, her engagement makes our lives better, as well,” Aaron claims.
For Leslie, her love of learning is baked into her DNA. Even a master’s in education wasn’t enough. An elementary teacher at Baldwin County Virtual School since its inception in 2020, when Baldwin County was forced to exponentially ramp up its virtual elementary school during the pandemic, tech-savvy Leslie was at the forefront, taking it as a personal challenge to help new teachers and to give each of her students the educational tools they needed to succeed. Just like her husband, Leslie wanted to meaningfully impact her school, her students, and (thank goodness) their parents when virtual learning was not at all common. Add this as one of the many reasons we adore her. And, basically, their different paths allow each of them to encounter all kinds of people which in the end shapes their success.
This is where the couple’s love language, travel, comes in as well. “The excitement of visiting new and different places, appreciating cultural differences, trying local cuisines—everything about it is appealing and inspiring,” says Aaron. “Everywhere we go, whether it’s Hawaii, Italy, Mexico City or Montreal, we visit CBD stores from the low-end to the high-end to see how they operate, what products they have, and what their best performing products are so we can bring that knowledge back to lower Alabama, taking the guessing game out of researching products for the consumer.”
And, it’s personal, too. Knowing that traveling often involves planes, trains and automobiles as well as delays, language barriers, lost luggage, and more, Aaron and Leslie have had ample opportunities to put their products to the test. Just like the rest of us, Aaron knows that oh-so-familiar stress that can easily rob the most experienced traveler of their joy. Through his journey, he’s tested and found the most effective anxiety-reducing products that allow him to simply enjoy himself and avoid getting frustrated by what, in the end, is the small stuff. For Leslie, it’s the pain salve that soothes her sore muscles after walking for miles in a new city.
Hailing from a large Sicilian family, Leslie is the only girl out of five children, which might explain her fearlessness and take-charge personality. “They’ve become Aaron’s family, as well. “My family not only loved him, they also introduced him to travel,” Leslie explains. Also Sicilian, Aaron laughs, “There’s always a party, whether it’s for Christmas, Arbor Day, or Flag Day—any reason to get 30 or 40 people together.” It’s important to note this large family also serves as product testers and Aaron even has a story about using a CBD pet product to successfully bring peace to a neurotic family dog!
As for a favorite place to visit? “Positano on the Amalfi Coast, hands down,” the couple agrees. This year alone they will visit Hawaii, Ireland, New York City, and Punta Cana. Next year? Greece, Brussels, Copenhagen, Budapest, and Prague. What an itinerary! And, while the couple aren’t your typical influencers, they share many of the same traits. They’re authentic, original, and do what they love. Leslie sums it up, telling us, “Bonding through knowledge and learning has taken us around the world and our CBD adventure has only made it better.”
Naturally, people wonder if their CBD is legitimate, third-party tested, made in FDA-compliant labs, and if it’s U.S. hemp. “It’s my job to understand these products, so a big part of our travels is to go to not just the stores, but to meet the scientists who create them at their facilities. There is no product in our stores that we haven’t been to the scientific facilities where they’re made. And these aren’t little storefronts—think more along the lines of college campuses where dozens of scientists are working to create the best products, staying one step ahead,” Aaron shares, adding “These products work differently and have different applications depending on what you need them for. One person may have tweaked a muscle and a topical salve will work for them. But if they have deep inflammation from rheumatoid arthritis, topical salves won’t work, but an oil will. My knowledge paired with the right product is effective at alleviating countless symptoms.”
Aaron’s highlight? “The icing on the cake had to be when a client came in with a prescription pad paper from their doctor, who’d written ‘Simply CBD, the only CBD store I send patients to.’” So, we guess Aaron and Leslie’s prescription for a happily ever after can be found somewhere between Positano and their lower Alabama Simply CBD stores. And, if their influence grows, perhaps the book A Life Well Traveled is a Life Well Lived will add a chapter about CBD, too. After all, sleeplessness and stiff joints aren’t on our travel itinerary. How about yours?
Simply CBD | 2005 US-98, Daphne | 251.586.8890 | Simply-CBD.Net
