Find A Green Store

Interview with Lana Vivant of Bon Vivant Baskets

Bon Vivant Baskets offers quality organic cookies, fruits, nuts, candy, cider and more tasty treats. Everybody loves a gift basket full of fresh fruit and choosing organic products shows how much your care about your friends health and the environment.  Give a gift and make a statement with Bon Vivant Organic Gift Baskets.

My favorite basket is the Caribbean Vacation, complete with organic pears, apples, oranges, bananas and a mango served in a cute straw hat. This is a great gift for anyone stuck in an office 5 days a week.

What service or products does your business/ website offer?

 Bon Vivant Baskets  is a retail gift company that offers gourmet and organic gift baskets

 

When did you start your business?

 In Jan 2008. Valentine's Day'08 was my first major holiday and I remember being very excited about receiving my first order.

What encouraged you to start a business that is environmentally friendly?

 I started my business with a thought of being health-friendly first, but if you think about it, it is all connected. People who lead a healthy lifestyle care about the health of the planet as well. As a business owner, I strive to keep it environmentally friendly from all aspects: starting from products and ending with shipping supplies. For example, we use biodegradable packing "peanuts" made from cornstarch and shipping boxes made from recycled materials.

 

What (if any) challenges have you faced in keeping your business green?

 One of the challenges I face is a lack of eco-friendly packaging for organic products. Also, ideally I would want to get all organic products for my baskets from local sources, however, it's not always the case.

 

What differentiates your business from others in your industry?

 Transparency. I put myself in shoes of the person who is receiving my gift basket. I don't want them to be disappointed. I've seen many gift baskets out there that appear to be full of products, but all you get is beautiful packaging containing a 3 cookies or 2 pieces of chocolate. Appearances can be misleading. I make sure I list the content and weight of each product on my website so that customers know exactly what they are getting.

 

Do you have a favorite product or services?

 One of my favorite services that Bon Vivant Baskets offers is imprinted ribbon. We can imprint any message on the ribbon, and I like when people take advantage of that and add cute or romantic ribbon messages to their gift baskets.

 

What (if any) new products will your company be offering to customers?

 I would like to add organic bath and body gift baskets to my existing  line of gifts.

 

Are you part of any green business organizations?

 Yes, The Green Group among several other "green" networks on LinkedIn

 

Add anything else that may be of interest to our readers.

 It is so easy to be "green" - all we have to do is be environmentally conscious of our own everyday actions.

 

 

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Interview with Amy Welder of eOrganic Baby

eOrganic Baby offers parents peace of mind by offering non-toxic eco-conscious products. You will find organic cotton clothing, eco-friendly furniture, bedding and cloth diapers. Many products are made locally in the USA. 

They also have great gift baskets, my favorite is the Natural Baby Organic Sprout Cake -Giraffe gift set!

What service or products does your business/ website offer?
    Organic & Eco friendly clothing, bedding and furniture for babies and toddlers.

When did you start your business?
    2 months ago (October 2008)

What encouraged you to start a business that is environmentally friendly?
    In searching for these products for our own children, my sister and I were finding not that we couldn't locate the products, but that they weren't available all in one place...this just made sense to us.

What (if any) challenges have you faced in keeping your business green?
    None - people are very responsive!

What differentiates your business from others in your industry?
    Instead of turning into the "Big Box Store" of Green Living, we want to stay as a Boutique.  We love high-end fashion and want to be the springboard for innovative, unique designers.


What (if any) new products will your company be offering to customers?
    We are constantly searching out new and hard-to-find designers.  Since organic living is becoming more popular, more innovative people (and a lot of Moms) are designing their own, high-end organic lines.

Are you part of any green business organizations?                                The Green Group (LinkedIn) Green (LinkedIn) and The Green Business Facebook Group

Visit  www.eOrganicBaby.com today!

 

 

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Interview with Erich Degner of Treecycle

   What service or products does your business/website offer? Eco friendly office supplies, home , cleaning and food service products

   Why and when did you start your business? Started in 1989 to offer environmentally products to eco-friendly businesses and organizations in Northern Rockies

   What encouraged you to start a business that is environmentally friendly?  These organizations wanted products but had no suppliers.

   What challenges have you faced in keeping your business green? The biggest challenge is limiting our fossil fuel use 

   What differentiates your business from others in your industry?  We preach education in addition to selling eco-friendly products

   Do you have a favorite product or service?  Biodegradable utensils and plates-bowls-cups.

   What (if any) new products will your company be offering it's customers?  We are continually adding products on our office supplies page.

   Are you part of any green business organizations?  National Green Pages

   Anything else that might be of interest to our readers? Every business decision we make we factor in trying to make our final decision be as eco-friendly as possible.

 Visit www.Treecycle.com today!

 

 

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Interview with My Goodness Duds

and Green Start Baby Art

 My Goodness Duds carries adorable organic baby clothes and fun gifts. Cute designs are located on the belly and the bum of each onesie.  These cute outfits are made from the softest 100% organic cotton available. For the holidays they have fun designs, my favorite is the gingerbread men!

 Green Start Baby Art is perfect for your baby nursery or as decor for your older kids rooms. They carry decorative growth charts,removable wall stickers, wall hangings and murals. Most designs can be personalized for special occasions.

 

What challenges/ difficulties have you faced in keeping your business green?
Plenty, it’s hard to find materials actually created in the USA , but so far we have managed to do this.  The price is higher for organics and is difficult to mark up, but we think it’s worth it!

What differentiates your business from other in your industry?  Well since we are organic, that separates us from many other baby stores, but what separates us is that we have organic clothes with the most original, cute designs and sayings for those little belly and bums!

Do you have any favorite products or services?  Well I have a favorite design "Peas on Earth" which can go on any of our organic products, but I like it best on a onesie w/belly and bum saying intact.

What (if any) new products will your company be offering to customers?       We are just now offering organic hats and adding long sleeve onesies.  We are also going to offer red trim to our organic blankets and bibs, nice touch for the holidays and Valentine’s Day!

Add anything else that might be of interest to the readers.  Well we are going to start a line of organic wall décor to try and help moms and dads decorate their baby/kids rooms with organic messages – perhaps help their children understand it more.  We have a growth chart “Organically Grown” in the works.  =)  The materials used are not organic (hard to find), but the message is.

Visit www.My Goodness Duds.com

and www.Green Start Baby Art.com Today!

 

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Interview: Reena Kazmann of Eco-Artware.com

   Eco- Artware.com is a gallery of unique quality made, environmentally friendly gifts. Everything is made from re,cycled, sustainable and natural materials. A wide range of choices are perfect for personal and corporate gifts. They have been in business since 1999 working with artists that use sustainable practices to create gifts that are friendly to the earth.

One of my favorite gifts are the Bowls made from Vinyl Records!

What service or products does your business offer?

  I have an online, eco-friendly gift store, Eco-Artware.com which offers gifts for all occasions and price ranges made from recycled, reused and natural materials.  Additionally, we have an illustrated quarterly newsletter, Recycling Rag which explores the relationship of art and recycling; a bookstore containing relevant non-fiction and craft books for adults and children, DIY craft projects; growing lists of places to recycle household and personal items; and tips for eco-friendly gift wrapping.

Why and When did you start your business?

  I started Eco-Artware.com in 1999.  I was (and still am) bowled over by stunning designs made by two designers from recycled materials.  I loved their originality and vision to find new uses for "throw away" materials and guessed that others would be working on it.  I started the store to showcase the work of present and future eco designs. 

What encouraged you to start a business that is environmentally friendly?

What challenges have you faced in keeping your business green? 

 

  I admire the unique vision and technical skills of good eco-artists and like working with them.  I think this is the way of the future, too. We don't offer anything made of leather, even recycled leather, which is sometimes difficult to do because there are some nice designs made with it.

 

What differentiates your business from others in your industry?

 

  It is difficult to answer that question because it is hard to keep up with the growing number of green stores.  We are web-based and small (like a good 16 table restaurant).  We add new products at a leisurely pace, as we discover new ones that we like.  As mentioned previously, we also offer options for DIY visitors and an arts-centered newsletter to provide a social context for our products.

Do you have a favorite product or service?

 

  I really like all of them.

What (if any) new products will your company be offering it's customers?

 

 We have in hand some new wood pens and letter openers ,handmade from trees planted by George Washington and others from Thomas Jefferson's and James Madison's homes, that either fell down or had to be removed.  I hope to get them up in a week.  Other than that, we will look for more products next year.

Are you part of any green business organizations?

 

  SBNOW (Sustainable Business Network of Washington) 

 Co-Op America

Green (on LinkedIn)

The Green Facebook Business Group

Add anything else that might be of interest to our readers.

 

I really enjoy what I do.  Also, I like to talk to others in the field and if anyone has information, questions, comments or recommendations, or wants to please contact me: 1-877-326-2781 or send an email to reena@eco-artware.com.

 

 

 Visit www.Eco-Artware.com Today!

 

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Interview With Robyn Atticks of Shear Miracles

Shear Miracles is a hair, skin and body product line made with quality organic ingredients. All the products are chemical free and preservative free. The company is located in Lancaster, PA and the products are  available online. My favorite product is the Peppermint Body Butter!

What service or products does your business offer?

  Shear Miracles Organic Salon & Products exists to educate salon & spa owners, as well as the clients they reach, on the dangers of chemicals found in virtually every hair, skin & body care beauty product available. We offer an amazing line of professional products that enhance, protect & care for our bodies.

  We have a full line of skincare & some cosmetics, every product a salon would need for haircare & styling, men's products, baby care, body care, such as salt scrubs, body butters, & even personal lubricants. We also offer massage oils. The newest addition to our line is our Happy Healthy Paws Organic Pet Products. (we had many requests for this)

Why and When did you start your business?

  Shear Miracles was founded in 2005. I had been a hairstylist for over 15 years & became aware of the harmful, unhealthy effects of all the products I was using on my clients. Here I was working to enhance their beauty, all the while, negatively effecting their health! I had to change something. I decided to open the first organic salon in my area. A salon needs products to use. I searched long & hard to become very disappointed in what was available for a salon owner to choose from.    

 Again, taking matters into my own hands, I decided to create my own line of products. Now, not only do I use them in my organic salon, but I offer them to others, who, like me, want to use only healthful products on their clients. 

What differentiates your business from others in yout industry?

   What differentiates Shear Miracles from other product lines on the market, is that most other companies call themselves organic or all natural, but in reality, they  use a few good ingredients while mixing them with harmful chemical ingredients. Shear Miracles Organic Hair, Skin & Body Care only uses healthy, beneficial ingredients.

  All our ingredients are 100% certified organic, organic or wild-crafted. They are completely toxic chemical free, GMO free, & chemical preservative free! Shear Miracles products are manufactured in small batches in a clean, quality controlled environment. All our ingredients are active. Our products are "so pure you could actually eat them"!

Do you have a favorite product or service?

  I love all my products (or I wouldnt have created them). I think actually being a hairstylist & working in the salon gives me a lot of experience to know what other stylist want & need.

  I personally use on a regular basis the Miracles Happen Organic Skincare system, the Eyebright Organic Make-up Remover, the Purely Amazing Organic Shampoo & Conditioner, the Shine Like a Star Leave-in Conditioner, the Pump Up the Volume Organic Mousse (to control my curls) & the Bee Waxed Organic Pomade. 

What new products will Shear Miracles be offering it's customers?

  Our newest products added to our line are

•  Bee Waxed Organic Pomade- this is an amazing pomade that is not greasy, has some hold & smells wonderful!
• Tuff'N Up Organic Protein Boost Shampoo & Conditioner- for those who have chemically abused their hair & would like to repair it.
• Detoxify Organic Clarifying Shampoo- to remove build-up from those chemical products made with plastics & silicone - or for swimmers to remove chemicals or salt built up from the water
  
• Happy Healthy Paws Organic Pet Shampoo & Conditioner - Regular & Flea & Tick formulas - So you can treat your pet in a responsible & healthy way, too.

Are you part of any green business organizations?

  Shear Miracles is a part of the Susquhanna Sustainable Business Network (supporting local business in our area), Co-op America, Compact for Safe Cosmetics & we are Green Office Certified.

Visit www.Shear Miracles.net today!