Latest / The Realtor Who Wines / Creating a Sustainable Home and Building a Brick-and-Mortar Business

Transcript

Creating a Sustainable Home and Building a Brick-and-Mortar Business · The Realtor Who Wines

• 0:00
  Welcome to the Realtor Who Wines podcast.
• 0:02
  I'm Rachelle Newmeyer, your hostess with the mostest a student of life, a connector, a passionate wine enthusiast, and your local favorite guide.
• 0:10
  Join me as we explore the vibrant Pacific Northwest.
• 0:14
  Savor the finest wines and champion the spirit of entrepreneurship.
• 0:18
  Each episode, I'll sit down with inspiring guests, supporting business ownership and uncovering the stories that make this community unique.
• 0:25
  So grab a glass of wine, settle in, and let's embark on a journey of discovery and connection together. Cheers.
• 0:31
  Hi, everyone.
• 0:32
  Welcome back to the Realtor Who Wines podcast.
• 0:35
  I'm Michelle Neumeyer, your local realtor who just loves to whine.
• 0:38
  Today I am with Karlie and I can't wait for her to introduce you, introduce herself to you, but also introduce you to her shop where we are today.
• 0:46
  So if you're watching, you'll definitely get to see Karlie shop and some of the great and amazing products that she carries.
• 0:52
  And if you're listening, I definitely encourage you to go and check out her website.
• 0:56
  But Karlie, thank you for having me, I appreciate you.
• 0:58
  Cheers. Cheers.
• 1:00
  Thank you for having me on. I'm I'm happy to have you on recording a little bit early.
• 1:07
  We were going to do mimosas, but I forgot juice.
• 1:10
  So we're having some bubbles by themselves.
• 1:12
  But, these bubbles.
• 1:15
  Yeah. This is the.
• 1:16
  Yeah, this is the main ingredient.
• 1:18
  And we're drinking bubbles today from your belly.
• 1:20
  Oh. So, which is in Newberg, Oregon.
• 1:23
  They're known for bubbles.
• 1:24
  So if you're looking for bubbles or have something to celebrate and you want a little sparkle, check out memorabilia.
• 1:30
  So yummy.
• 1:31
  Yeah, it's really got dry.
• 1:32
  I like it.
• 1:33
  Yeah, sometimes it can be a little over sweet, but it's really tasty.
• 1:36
  Yeah, it's a good balance. Yeah.
• 1:38
  So I'm glad we didn't add the juice.
• 1:40
  Actually, so if Becky was watching, she would be like, what are you doing to my champagne?
• 1:45
  You're like, oh, sorry, Becky.
• 1:48
  Becky Owens memorabilia.
• 1:49
  So in case anyone's curious, like, who's Becky and why she mad?
• 1:53
  So she's not just wondering, but I kind of put that together.
• 1:57
  Well, thank you for having me.
• 1:59
  Please introduce yourself to everyone.
• 2:01
  So, my name is Carly, and I'm the owner.
• 2:05
  And founder of Melia Hillary.
• 2:08
  We're located right off the Bridgeport Village exit on the Lake Oswego side.
• 2:13
  But kind of technically into Washington.
• 2:16
  So we're in, like, a really good location.
• 2:19
  And Melia is a store where you can refill products for your home and body.
• 2:25
  We have a lot of different options for you that are all clean and toxin free.
• 2:33
  Everything from shampoo and conditioner to lotions to cleaning supplies and laundry detergent, all kinds of stuff.
• 2:42
  So you are welcome to bring in your own containers to the store and you just pay per ounce, cool for the products that you buy.
• 2:50
  And then we also one of my big passions is to, support local wherever I can.
• 2:56
  So we have a ton of local Pacific Northwest vendors in here.
• 3:01
  So I always like to say that you're not just supporting my local business.
• 3:05
  You're supporting a bunch of local businesses.
• 3:08
  Definitely shopping here.
• 3:10
  How did you decide that this was like, the type of business you wanted to go into?
• 3:13
  Like the refill area?
• 3:16
  Yeah.
• 3:16
  So I had read a, I always say about five years ago, but then time passed.
• 3:23
  So. Yeah. And I'm like, wait, no, this was like seven years ago.
• 3:25
  I mean, we didn't just graduate from high school.
• 3:27
  We didn't. Or college or for that matter.
• 3:30
  Yeah.
• 3:30
  So I, had read this article maybe like before the pandemic sometimes.
• 3:38
  So it's like a, like a time warp to me.
• 3:40
  But, I had read this article about, grocery stores in Europe that were changing to this model where you could bring in your containers and refill, like, your everyday products.
• 3:52
  And I was like, wait, why don't we all do that?
• 3:54
  Why don't we just make sense?
• 3:56
  It makes sense to do that.
• 3:58
  And I think no matter where you stand, you can probably agree that we have an overconsumption problem.
• 4:05
  You know, like Teemu and Amazon didn't rise to fame because people don't love stuff, right?
• 4:12
  You know, so I, it was always in the back of my mind this, like, idea of, a refill shop.
• 4:20
  And then they kind of started becoming a little bit more popular, and I was like, I feel like I could do that.
• 4:25
  But at the time I was in a really, really great career.
• 4:28
  I worked in the dental field for, almost 20 years, and I, and I loved it.
• 4:33
  And then, you know, like a lot of stories, the pandemic happened and priorities shifted.
• 4:39
  And I really started thinking about what what I really wanted to do.
• 4:44
  And I'll be honest, dealing with insurance companies was like, just killing my soul.
• 4:51
  Like, just.
• 4:52
  It was rough, you know?
• 4:55
  No money, no offense.
• 4:56
  And insurance people don't come for us.
• 4:59
  Yeah, but, like, no.
• 5:00
  Nine to, like, call you every day.
• 5:02
  No, it's it was it was rough.
• 5:04
  And I was just feeling, you know, burned out.
• 5:08
  So I approached my husband and I was like, hey, what do you think?
• 5:12
  Like, we're never going to be this young.
• 5:14
  We were very, very.
• 5:15
  I can absolutely recognize that.
• 5:17
  We were very privileged in where we were like financially stable, had a home.
• 5:22
  But we also have like a lot of family that's around that could kind of help us.
• 5:26
  Totally.
• 5:26
  So we decided to take this leap.
• 5:30
  And I remember being in a, book club that I'm actually still in, and someone saying, try to do for one what you would what you want to do for everyone.
• 5:40
  Oh, yeah. And I was like that.
• 5:42
  That's that's what I want is I want to try and help in my community in any way I can.
• 5:49
  So, you know, we're not changing the world right now, but I feel like, you know, a little bit, better in my soul that I am trying to contribute to a solution, rather than, you know, always adding to a problem.
• 6:05
  So that's where Amelia was born out of.
• 6:08
  Yeah.
• 6:08
  And then, my husband being the number guy, he was like, come to me with a business plan. Yeah.
• 6:14
  He was like, put together a PowerPoint presentation, so I did.
• 6:18
  You did, I did.
• 6:20
  I'd love to see the home video of this.
• 6:23
  Please sit down.
• 6:24
  Yes, I just see on chart.
• 6:25
  Hey, you married me.
• 6:28
  Unchurched me.
• 6:30
  It's kind of an inside joke between the two of us.
• 6:32
  Because when we were first dating, he wanted to invite me to go to Vegas with him and his friends, and he put together a PowerPoint presentation.
• 6:41
  Oh my God, I'm like, why I should go?
• 6:43
  And so it was kind of love that I know.
• 6:46
  Have you seen this trend also like on social media where friends are getting together and presenting on something that like they love or passionate about, and some of it's just like, why?
• 6:55
  Like Disneyland is better than Disneyworld or vice versa or something.
• 6:58
  And some of it's like the case of bla bla bla bla like like, so it's like the most random stuff.
• 7:04
  But I was like, I'm kind of here for this.
• 7:06
  I really want to do this.
• 7:07
  I, I love to learn and you do.
• 7:10
  I was the other day, I was listening to your podcast with Liz, women to women.
• 7:15
  And you guys were talking about, how she loves to learn and she had said something about if you stop learning and that's when you start dying or something along those lines.
• 7:24
  And I was like, I feel that in my bones. Me too.
• 7:26
  Yeah.
• 7:26
  And I had seen this like where people were getting together and like doing presentations for stuff that they're super passionate about.
• 7:34
  And I was like, yes, please.
• 7:36
  Yeah.
• 7:36
  Also, I just love that, like as a grown up, unless you are in like corporate and even when you are in corporate, you're not the one presenting anything, right? Like your job.
• 7:44
  So I kind of just like also seeing your friend's presentation style, like if you had to put together a PowerPoint, what would it look like?
• 7:50
  Oh my god girl. Yeah, the first.
• 7:54
  This was so funny.
• 7:55
  The first deck that I made, for like presenting to, a different location that I was trying to get into.
• 8:04
  It looked like a collage.
• 8:05
  Oh, really?
• 8:06
  It's like this.
• 8:07
  It's like a dress, because I really like deck.
• 8:10
  Was kind of a new that's new terminology to me.
• 8:14
  And I was like, okay, so I just like it was like a Pinterest collage.
• 8:18
  I was like, this is my vibe. And this is what I did.
• 8:21
  This is my vision, and I don't know why they passed on me.
• 8:25
  Yeah, that's doesn't make sense.
• 8:27
  Did you not see my vision?
• 8:28
  And then I was like, what is the deck?
• 8:30
  And okay, what I want for any of you listening.
• 8:36
  And that's like, what are you talking about?
• 8:38
  A deck is a presentation.
• 8:39
  Yeah, it's a presentation.
• 8:41
  Yeah.
• 8:42
  It's like on PowerPoint.
• 8:43
  Yeah, I can, I have like it's another way of saying can I have the slides.
• 8:46
  Can I have the deck as like the whole thing. Yeah.
• 8:49
  Yeah. That's so funny.
• 8:50
  So you did a presentation.
• 8:52
  I mean obviously it was like okay.
• 8:54
  And he was like, you know what, let's do it.
• 8:57
  And so I started really researching like, how the hell do I get the products that I need?
• 9:04
  Yeah.
• 9:05
  To have a refill shop.
• 9:07
  And there was stuff out there.
• 9:09
  And so that was incredible.
• 9:11
  Like there's already people who are building systems around this.
• 9:14
  And, I learned what like a closed loop system is with refill products.
• 9:20
  So it's one of the things that I love about this store is, when I bring in these products, they come in these like a big, huge, like, jugs.
• 9:30
  Yeah, like minimum five gallons up to like 30 gallons.
• 9:33
  And once I'm done with them, they go back to the business that I bought them from.
• 9:38
  They were sanitized, they refill them and ship them back out.
• 9:42
  So it's not like wasting product anywhere.
• 9:46
  Yeah.
• 9:48
  So we started doing this and then, or researching and then I quit my job and it was terrifying.
• 9:58
  And sometimes still I'm like, why did I do that.
• 10:01
  Yeah.
• 10:02
  Why did I leave my very stable job.
• 10:06
  Yeah.
• 10:07
  But for the most part I'm like hell yeah I love that.
• 10:09
  Yeah.
• 10:10
  Well and it's weird once you're in business for yourself, the idea of going back to work for somebody else is also like kind of jarring.
• 10:18
  Yeah.
• 10:18
  As much as I say I would like someone to make decisions for me every once in a while, I really don't.
• 10:24
  Yeah, that's a lie.
• 10:25
  I don't want you to make decisions. Right.
• 10:27
  I just want one more day to relax.
• 10:28
  Yes. That's all I'm saying is I need a little mental break.
• 10:31
  I need a mental break.
• 10:32
  But I don't actually want you to. Bosnia.
• 10:33
  I think you.
• 10:36
  It's very true.
• 10:37
  Yeah, that's very true. Yeah.
• 10:39
  That's funny.
• 10:40
  So how do you, now that you've been, when was your official open date?
• 10:44
  I guess I should start with.
• 10:45
  We opened in March of two of last year, 2024.
• 10:50
  Okay.
• 10:51
  Our original open date was supposed to be October of 2023.
• 10:57
  But there were all these, like, delays with permitting.
• 11:00
  And honestly, I think what happened was I was a very small project for a very big, company.
• 11:06
  And so I just kind of got pushed off to the side a little bit.
• 11:10
  So I didn't end up getting keys until like January of 2024.
• 11:15
  And I was like, I'm not opening the store in the middle of an ice storm.
• 11:19
  Yeah. Like, yeah.
• 11:21
  So we waited until spring a little bit, like, who wants.
• 11:23
  Yeah, yeah.
• 11:26
  Put the chains on the car.
• 11:28
  Come get your shit. Exactly.
• 11:30
  Yeah.
• 11:30
  So we waited a little bit and then opened and, Yeah, we've been open for a year and a half now.
• 11:37
  And since that time, have, how's your experience changed with, like, products or like.
• 11:43
  Oh, I thought I'd really love this one, but actually, I'm going to go with this one.
• 11:46
  Yeah. Stuff like.
• 11:46
  Oh yeah. Absolutely.
• 11:46
  It's very interesting.
• 11:50
  It's kind of humbling when I am like, oh my God, I love this.
• 11:54
  I'm going to bring this in.
• 11:55
  It's going to sell out like immediately.
• 11:57
  I just know it.
• 11:58
  And then it says, yeah.
• 12:00
  And I'm like, oh okay.
• 12:03
  That one's just for me.
• 12:04
  Yeah. Noted.
• 12:06
  Duly noted.
• 12:07
  That definitely happens.
• 12:09
  But I try not to take anything personally.
• 12:11
  Well, yeah. Yeah.
• 12:12
  You know, like, everybody has their, their things that they really like.
• 12:17
  Like I have a lot of lavender products in here.
• 12:19
  Lavender is not really my jam.
• 12:22
  Like, I, I'm not a lavender girly, but, I do have a lot of lavender products in here, but I, I definitely have changed.
• 12:31
  It's actually funny, if you looked at pictures from when we opened to now, it's a very different looking store.
• 12:37
  Yeah, yeah, it's grown and changed and I've had to adjust and adapt to the needs, you know, like, I, I didn't know what to expect on a share because even the business advice that I got, it was like very generalized because it's such a new concept that people couldn't give me like real, tangible, like numbers and stuff.
• 13:01
  Yeah.
• 13:01
  So I didn't know what to expect.
• 13:04
  What, like, are people are gonna refill their laundry detergent?
• 13:07
  Is everybody just, like, hooked on their laundry detergent, right?
• 13:10
  That they use. Right.
• 13:12
  But I can't keep it in stock.
• 13:14
  Like, really, it flies off the shelf.
• 13:16
  I was just gonna ask you, like, what was one of the products that you were, like, surprised was like, super popular.
• 13:21
  Yeah, probably the laundry detergent.
• 13:23
  And it's great. Laundry detergent.
• 13:26
  I just, you know, you get really stuck on even my mom is like, she's a tired lady.
• 13:32
  She's a darn sure she's got her staples, and that's what she uses.
• 13:37
  And so I was like, oh, I don't know if people will be willing to change, but the laundry like, yeah, gone.
• 13:44
  Well, I think one thing that helps too is like sustainability is a top of mind topic for a lot of people right now.
• 13:50
  So I think people are leaning towards that.
• 13:53
  But then also there's just continues to be more and more conversation around, like what's in the products are using that we're putting on our bodies, our kids, kids as bodies and stuff like that.
• 14:02
  So, it doesn't surprise me that more people are open to, like, changing.
• 14:06
  Yeah, it's been it's been really encouraging for sure.
• 14:10
  And my whole goal with Melissa is to make sustainability practical, right?
• 14:19
  Because I think that with a lot of the things that we do in our life, I always like to equate it back to new Year, new me.
• 14:26
  Oh, sure.
• 14:27
  Everybody's like, I'm going to hit the gym, I'm going to eat right.
• 14:29
  I'm going to do all these things.
• 14:31
  And then like day three or like, this doesn't work for me.
• 14:33
  It's too many things. I sub on. But yeah, the gym's overrated.
• 14:39
  my goal with Melissa.
• 14:41
  And encouraging people to get into more sustainability is really, focusing on making small changes.
• 14:51
  Not going for perfectionism, which I think is a hard thing for people to, like, actually grab on to.
• 14:58
  But I always like to think about it as I kind of equate it to New Year, new me, where everybody's like, hey, I'm going to do all of these things.
• 15:07
  I'm going to be a totally different person this year.
• 15:09
  And then by day three you're like, yeah, this is terrible.
• 15:12
  This is the worst thing I've ever done.
• 15:14
  So for me, if you come in and you're like, I need to change my laundry and my hand soap and my shampoo and conditioner and all these things, I usually even though this is probably not like financially smart, I'm usually like, whoa, whoa, let's take it one step at a time.
• 15:29
  Yeah, let's change our hand soap.
• 15:31
  Because hand soap is the easiest thing to change, right?
• 15:34
  No one's like, I know.
• 15:34
  I have to have this hand soap, right?
• 15:37
  It's fine.
• 15:38
  So I usually try and encourage people to make a small change.
• 15:41
  And once that becomes a habit, let's add something else, right?
• 15:44
  Instead of trying to go all in all at once, I think that's where people get like, if if you can't do it, then it's not sustainable, right?
• 15:52
  Right.
• 15:53
  So I think that's where people get stuck, with or intimidated by making changes like this is they think they have to do like, all the things all at once.
• 16:04
  And then you're like, this is so expensive.
• 16:07
  And this is just really hard on my life.
• 16:09
  And I'm like, no, like, okay, let's get you some new hand soap.
• 16:12
  And it's like six bucks, right?
• 16:15
  Which is what you would spend that large change.
• 16:18
  Yeah too. Yeah. So let's just make these small changes.
• 16:22
  And that's really been the, the big push in the store is like, I, I want you to make changes that last for a long time because we need people doing sustainability.
• 16:35
  We need a lot of people doing it imperfectly and not just a few people who are like, zero waste.
• 16:40
  I only created like an inch of garbage this year.
• 16:43
  Right?
• 16:44
  Well. And that.
• 16:45
  Oh, my earring just decided to jump out.
• 16:48
  You're watching.
• 16:49
  I'm nodding so much to what she's saying.
• 16:51
  I my earrings like, hey, girl, hey, I'm gonna hop on out of here.
• 16:55
  But what I was gonna say is, small changes are better than no changes.
• 17:00
  And small changes can make an impact, too, over time. So.
• 17:04
  Absolutely.
• 17:05
  Yeah, that's kind of this is like, really silly.
• 17:07
  But I was thinking about people always say like, don't drink.
• 17:10
  Well, you're not supposed to drink soda or whatever, but like don't drink diet because it has all this and I don't drink regular because there's all this.
• 17:17
  So I always drink half diet, half regular.
• 17:19
  And I feel like either way, I'm halfway winning.
• 17:21
  So I'm just like, I mean, if I'm going to have the soda, I'm just going to go half and half.
• 17:25
  So I kind of feel like it's the same thing with sustainability.
• 17:27
  Like, is that how do I do it when people look at me so weird?
• 17:31
  But I'm just like, it's half the calories, half the sugar, half the chemical, I don't know.
• 17:35
  And it still tastes good to me, so I don't care.
• 17:37
  Like, this is a great movie.
• 17:38
  Like, why don't they come out with something like that?
• 17:41
  And if you do, my name is Rachelle.
• 17:42
  Anywhere that can be found here in Oregon.
• 17:46
  But 10% in royalties or just sponsor a podcast episode by us.
• 17:52
  By us, a bottle of wine.
• 17:54
  But yeah, but I feel the same way about sustainability.
• 17:56
  Like, it's almost like girl math or something.
• 17:59
  You're like, well, I did do this, so I am, like, helping, but like, it isn't realistic, at least for me to, like, change my whole house and to be in sustainable.
• 18:08
  Yeah, but I do want to help.
• 18:10
  Yeah. Right, right.
• 18:11
  I think I think it's just about turning off that mindset where you're like, let's I think it's all or nothing.
• 18:18
  I, I am so anti all or nothing.
• 18:21
  Yeah. Mind mindsets. It's just you can make a small change and yeah maybe it's not going to change the world.
• 18:30
  But if everybody made that small change right.
• 18:33
  Yeah it freaking would change the world.
• 18:36
  So why not make that little tiny change, right.
• 18:39
  You know. Yeah, absolutely.
• 18:41
  What has been one thing over the last year and a half that like, surprised you about opening up your own store or I'm sure there's more than one, but like, what are a couple that have, like stood out?
• 18:51
  I think the, that probably one of the things that surprised me about opening my store is the loneliness.
• 18:59
  Oh for sure. Yeah.
• 19:01
  Very silent. It's very I mean, I saw, entrepreneurs.
• 19:05
  Yeah. Solopreneur.
• 19:06
  Solopreneur is is a word that I cannot say.
• 19:09
  Oh my gosh, you know, add it to the list, right?
• 19:12
  Yeah.
• 19:13
  I have a lot of words I can't say or spell.
• 19:15
  So there's a, I wasn't expecting that.
• 19:21
  Yeah, I went from managing a team of typically 5 to 7 people every day and then seeing like 30 patients.
• 19:32
  So I was constantly around people to be by myself.
• 19:36
  Oh yeah, a lot.
• 19:37
  And so when I first started, I was like, okay, I'm gonna need something like, I'm going to have to do something not just to get my name out there, but to like, combat this.
• 19:49
  Yeah, yeah, this like crazy loneliness.
• 19:52
  So I feel like that was really surprising to me as a new business owner.
• 19:56
  And I'm really glad that I, I because I'm not a very extroverted person that's like this.
• 20:03
  I have to do this. Right.
• 20:04
  And I joined some chambers, I joined some networking groups and some events, and it's like, oh, I found people who are in the same boat as me, right?
• 20:12
  And like, I also need that outlet.
• 20:14
  Well, and it's nice to, to reach out to other solopreneurs, like what's working for you, what's not, and then to still have in your sphere the corporate goals, because they'll have a totally different perspective and guidance versus a solopreneur and stuff.
• 20:27
  So it's nice to have a full a full range.
• 20:30
  I saw this meme.
• 20:31
  Actually, my mom sent it to me where, it's a person that looks like they're yelling at themselves.
• 20:37
  And it says, if you see me yelling at myself, mind your business, I'm having a team meeting and I'm a solopreneur.
• 20:46
  Yes. That's like yeah, that's sounds like we're not hitting the numbers.
• 20:49
  And you have like no one to talk to you about it, about yourself.
• 20:51
  Like what are we going to do about these numbers. Fault. Is this.
• 20:54
  Oh, shoot.
• 20:56
  Whoo hoo! Closed last night.
• 20:57
  The story doesn't look how I wanted it to, like.
• 20:59
  Oh, it was me.
• 21:02
  Yeah.
• 21:03
  It's hard to get good help these days in your life are the help.
• 21:06
  Yeah. That's so funny.
• 21:08
  She's the biggest thing in my mind.
• 21:10
  Like, oh, the boss, there she comes.
• 21:12
  Yeah, everyone's like, what is going on?
• 21:15
  So the being like, in a siloed environment, you also mentioned the permits.
• 21:21
  I'm sure that was something that was a little bit mind blowing, like, yeah, how many permits do I need to open a shop that's already in a building?
• 21:28
  Yeah, I think there's a little bit of like, naivete, like I, I was like, that's not going to happen to me.
• 21:36
  You know, I read your journal.
• 21:37
  Yeah, yeah.
• 21:39
  Seriously.
• 21:40
  I remember when, I put in my notice.
• 21:44
  So I gave my notice that, the dental office that I was running, but I gave them, like, three months because they had to replace, like, a business manager.
• 21:53
  It was a big role, right.
• 21:56
  And I know I had help with that transition.
• 21:58
  Yeah. Conversation the right thing to do. Yeah.
• 22:00
  And so I was having conversations with, the dentist who owned the practice.
• 22:05
  And her and I were really close.
• 22:06
  And she was like, just remember, construction takes twice as long and costs twice as much as you're planning.
• 22:12
  And I was like, okay, well, that's because you're a terrible planner.
• 22:16
  Yeah.
• 22:17
  Nope.
• 22:17
  Said every first business first business business owner.
• 22:22
  Yeah.
• 22:23
  So that was that was a wake up call.
• 22:26
  I am not special.
• 22:28
  It happened to me too. Yeah. Yeah.
• 22:31
  So there's been there's been a lot of, like, lessons learned over this last year.
• 22:40
  Some of them, you know, a little bit surprising, I guess.
• 22:44
  But, Yeah, I mean, it's just par for the course, right?
• 22:49
  Totally. Yeah.
• 22:50
  Yeah, it'll be fun in a couple years when someone reaches out to you.
• 22:55
  And I was like, I'm thinking about starting a business.
• 22:56
  You're like, oh, pull up a chair.
• 22:58
  Yeah, let me tell you all the things that I learned permit.
• 23:01
  Yeah, it's a thing. It's a thing.
• 23:03
  Yeah, it's the worst.
• 23:04
  Yeah, yeah.
• 23:06
  One of the things that I didn't really even think about, because I sell weighted products.
• 23:12
  I have to have someone come and make sure that the scales are all, like, up to par, up to par.
• 23:19
  And they're not like over weighing or under weighing stuff.
• 23:25
  There's an actual like state regulation regulation and, and group that comes out and that's it.
• 23:33
  I had no idea.
• 23:34
  Weights and measures.
• 23:35
  That's a thing. Yeah. For sure.
• 23:37
  Also, so you ship products people can order on your website.
• 23:42
  Is that the same to with shipping.
• 23:43
  Like does that add a lot to shipping since all of your stuff is weighted?
• 23:48
  So right now I do not sell the refills online.
• 23:54
  I sell most of my other products, anything that's packaged.
• 23:57
  And that is really because I have not figured out a cohesive way to make that work for people.
• 24:04
  Right.
• 24:04
  You know, and, and it's probably me getting stuck in my head about it because even though I, I preach, like, don't go for perfectionism and, like, don't let good get in the or great get in the way of good, right?
• 24:21
  I'm like, well, what if there's a plastic lid on this pouch that I send my product in and someone's upset about it?
• 24:30
  You know, yeah.
• 24:32
  That thing you could just, like, say, just, you know, there's going to be a plastic lid.
• 24:35
  Yeah, to keep the lid.
• 24:37
  And I get, like, inside my head so that the liquid isn't just free flowing.
• 24:41
  I would I thought maybe a hesitation would have been more your refillable company. So.
• 24:46
  Yeah.
• 24:46
  Are they supposed to ship containers back to you?
• 24:50
  Yeah. Or are you just shipping out, like, starter kits and then they'll have to come in.
• 24:53
  But then how do they come in?
• 24:54
  Or can they take it to a local place?
• 24:57
  Oh, that's a good, idea or question.
• 25:00
  Have you connected with other refillable like, stores across the United States, or is there like a way so like, let's say someone's living in Portland and they relocate somewhere else, but they have all of your jars and they want to continue that kind of product.
• 25:13
  Like, do you have a list that you can like refer them like, oh, I'm Boise, you should go.
• 25:17
  Yeah, yeah, I do have a lot of, I follow all kinds of refill shops across the country.
• 25:24
  So I do love to give recommendations because I am a very big, proponent of community over competition.
• 25:32
  Oh, for sure.
• 25:33
  Yeah.
• 25:33
  There's enough people to go around. Yeah, I worked at a dental office that was a block away from another dental office. Oh, yeah.
• 25:38
  And we were both swamped.
• 25:39
  So I'm in real estate. Yeah.
• 25:41
  Everybody. Every 22. Really? Yeah.
• 25:43
  Yeah, yeah.
• 25:44
  And there's, there's just enough people to go around.
• 25:46
  So I really I mean I've definitely met some people who are more competition based and I'm like, what are you doing or what are you doing?
• 25:54
  The competition never serves a client.
• 25:56
  And if you're not in business for the client, what are you doing?
• 25:59
  Yeah, right.
• 26:00
  Especially when you're in a service business.
• 26:02
  You know, honestly, even if I had, And I will hopefully get to the point where I'm shipping our refillable products.
• 26:11
  But even if I had a way of doing that, if someone moves, like go to someone local, right?
• 26:16
  Support your local community, right?
• 26:18
  Put your money into your community.
• 26:20
  I appreciate you supporting me, but let's let's put your money where your community is right?
• 26:27
  Yeah, I know the only way with like, we're going to have to I want to brainstorm on this with you.
• 26:33
  Yeah.
• 26:33
  So that like, you can be shipping the people that don't have something in their local community that want to do this.
• 26:39
  And just so like the logistics of like, how do you get them refillable?
• 26:42
  Otherwise you're still shipping multiple bottles, which kind of takes away right from it.
• 26:46
  But yeah, there's got to be a way around.
• 26:49
  Yes, there's there's some way.
• 26:51
  And I'm just I'm fairly sure I'm not even here to.
• 26:55
  Yeah. So like we'll get there.
• 26:57
  Yeah. I'll definitely get stuck steps.
• 26:57
  Yeah.
• 27:00
  The holiday season's around the corner.
• 27:02
  Do you have any hot suggestions for stocking stuffers?
• 27:06
  Gifts especially like stuff like this?
• 27:08
  I feel like would be really great gifts for people at work like that.
• 27:12
  Teacher gas, things like that.
• 27:15
  What are some gift suggestions you have for everyone?
• 27:18
  So I'm a huge lover of practical gifts.
• 27:21
  Oh for sure. Me too.
• 27:22
  You know, like, I remember one time a roommate of mine buy me windshield wipers for my makeup one year, and I was like, this is the best, right?
• 27:31
  I don't want to spend my money on my garbage, you know?
• 27:33
  Right.
• 27:35
  So I love a practical gift.
• 27:37
  And one of the things that we're, kind of launching, like soft launching right now, our, home sweet sustainable home boxes.
• 27:47
  I started putting them together, actually, for, a real estate agent that I know. Yeah.
• 27:53
  She gives them as, like, housewarming gift or.
• 27:55
  Yeah, I was seeing gifts. Yeah.
• 27:57
  And so I'm gonna have them available during the holidays as, like, you know, like a start your sustainability journey.
• 28:05
  It'll have, like, a couple of, like, the really easy staples to incorporate into your life.
• 28:11
  It comes in a really beautiful, like, wood box, and it has.
• 28:14
  It's, like, customized.
• 28:14
  It's really pretty.
• 28:16
  So yeah, we're going to do that.
• 28:17
  And then, we have a lot of like fun spa stuff.
• 28:22
  Definitely.
• 28:22
  You know, like sugar scrub sugar scraps in the shower.
• 28:25
  Steamers are so popular.
• 28:28
  One of our most popular giftable items during the holidays is like, what I like to call, like, our sleepy time sense that we did last year.
• 28:38
  And it has a magnesium butter that is like to die for if you have any kind of trouble sleeping.
• 28:43
  It's so lovely.
• 28:44
  Both on your feet.
• 28:46
  And like a sleep mask and, some tea.
• 28:50
  Super time too, I love that, like, just something to just, like, kind of pamper yourself, so.
• 28:55
  And relax.
• 28:55
  Yeah.
• 28:56
  Yeah, we have a ton of really great local gifts.
• 28:59
  And again, like, these are local artists.
• 29:01
  So you're supporting so many different local businesses.
• 29:05
  Yeah I'm here. Yeah, yeah.
• 29:07
  So for the holidays don't forget to shop local.
• 29:10
  Shop small.
• 29:12
  You also have a podcast I do have I had her co-host on an episode and I, we just got rambling about other stuff and I totally when we were done, I was like, we didn't talk about the podcast.
• 29:25
  So I promised I would not forget when I was talking to you to talk about the podcast so everybody can tune in. Yes.
• 29:31
  Katie Foster and I, who is the owner of Northwest Accent, which is a screen printing business.
• 29:38
  I'm wearing one of her sweatshirts right now.
• 29:39
  It's so cozy.
• 29:41
  But you can also buy here.
• 29:41
  Yes. Your shop. Yes.
• 29:44
  We always have her stuff in the store.
• 29:46
  A her and I started a podcast to talk about, like what it's like to be women in in business and.
• 29:54
  Yeah, owning brick and mortar.
• 29:56
  So, it's called second cup sessions and it's available anywhere you can find a podcast.
• 30:02
  And we just really talk about, you know, like the, the nitty gritty of owning a business.
• 30:10
  And also about Katie's cats.
• 30:12
  Yeah, she's obsessed with that.
• 30:14
  I don't know if you know this.
• 30:15
  She's allergic to cats, but now she has two shop cats.
• 30:18
  Yes, she's turning into a cat. Mom.
• 30:19
  She's turning into a feral cat mom, which is so good that.
• 30:23
  Katie make that teach you.
• 30:24
  Yeah. Feral cat mom coin it.
• 30:27
  We get 5%. Yes, absolutely.
• 30:31
  Oh, that's that's hilarious.
• 30:33
  But. Yeah.
• 30:34
  And how often are your episodes out?
• 30:37
  So our episodes are out weekly.
• 30:39
  But we are getting ready to finish.
• 30:42
  Kind of like our first season. Yeah.
• 30:44
  We when we first started this, we kind of didn't know, like, how long we would go for, but it has continued to be fun right now.
• 30:55
  So, it's so funny.
• 30:57
  We had the same conversation where we're like, how long is season one?
• 31:01
  And we're like, I don't know, let's just keep going.
• 31:03
  Let's keep going, man.
• 31:05
  But we thought since we're in retail and the holidays are really busy, we're going to kind of wrap up our season, in October, and then we'll be back in the new year and kind of take the, the two months to just for sure, like focus on store sales.
• 31:21
  Yeah.
• 31:21
  And then, I actually do want to say one other thing that I'm doing in the store, that just recently started is melee or Kitchen, which is something that I'm doing every Saturday.
• 31:31
  We're having a drop from a local baker.
• 31:34
  Oh, cool.
• 31:34
  So we had Hannah with Luke Charles little cookie company.
• 31:38
  Yeah, I don't know.
• 31:39
  She's so wonderful.
• 31:40
  She made back to school cookies for us.
• 31:42
  Oh, and that was, a huge success.
• 31:47
  And then, we also had, Namrata from the space of income, and she's kind of the reason that we started this.
• 31:54
  She had, like an event that got rained out, and she was like, what am I going to do with all this food?
• 31:58
  And I'm saying, bring it to the shower. Yeah.
• 32:00
  Like, let's see if anybody buys.
• 32:02
  And it sold out in like four hours.
• 32:03
  Yeah, I love that. Oh, okay.
• 32:05
  This is the thing.
• 32:05
  So we're doing that every Saturday through the holidays.
• 32:09
  And then if it's a hit, we'll continue it through. Yeah.
• 32:11
  For the new year.
• 32:12
  So if you follow me on Instagram.
• 32:16
  We post who are Baker is very cool.
• 32:20
  I mean you also do a lot of other fun events at the shop too, like you do a book club.
• 32:25
  I've seen. What was the menopause one.
• 32:28
  I had a really cute name.
• 32:30
  It was, hormone happy hour. Yeah. Hormone happy.
• 32:34
  I thought that was hilarious.
• 32:35
  Oh, it was such a good talk. Yeah.
• 32:38
  I love hosting events. Actually.
• 32:40
  Recently hosted a women to women networking events where the host is a service provider.
• 32:46
  Right.
• 32:47
  And didn't have a space.
• 32:48
  And, okay, come in and. Yeah, use my own host.
• 32:50
  It's a really calm environment.
• 32:52
  I had a tarot reading here, one time. Oh.
• 32:54
  Which is very cool.
• 32:55
  Fun. Yeah. Yeah, I love hosting.
• 32:58
  Yeah. That's awesome.
• 32:59
  So definitely. Yeah.
• 33:00
  Okay.
• 33:02
  This airing, it doesn't want to start.
• 33:04
  That's like, who are you kidding?
• 33:06
  Stop trying to be fancy.
• 33:08
  So I'm just going to be a pirate with one airing.
• 33:10
  You're welcome. If you're watching. Sorry.
• 33:10
  If you're listening.
• 33:12
  But make sure to follow the Instagram page or website.
• 33:19
  That's where she posts a lot of the events.
• 33:21
  And specials and things coming up for the holidays and stuff like that.
• 33:25
  I appreciate you so much.
• 33:26
  Thank you for bearing with my jumping earring.
• 33:30
  And I also spilled champagne earlier, and she was very gracious and gave me a lot of grace.
• 33:34
  Mistakes happen.
• 33:36
  Yeah, everyone knows I'm a clumsy girl, so it is girl.
• 33:39
  Same. Don't even worry about it.
• 33:42
  Well, I appreciate you so much.
• 33:43
  Cheers to you and thank you everyone for listening.
• 33:46
  I can't wait to see you next week. Bye.