EcostoreUSA

What a Fox

My fabulous PR assistant Connie of eco PR Group  called me last week to let us know that FOX News was coming out last week to do a story on our new facility and to learn a bit more about what we are doing in Auburn Hills.

  I like to chat with reporters before interviews so that I know the direction the story is going in. Robin Schwartz the reporter was kind enough to give me some telephone time even though it was her day off and she was heading to the pool with her two year old. I tried to make it brief because that baby is the priority, right?

Learning that I would be working with the Mother of a young child was great. When Robin came in and we gave her the tour of our 37,000 square foot facility her questions and thoughts were spot on.  She immediately grasped the significance of  No Nasty Chemicals (tm)and was impressed when we told her about the results of our Baby Safety Testing.

One of my biggest gripes is dealing with people that don't do their homework.  I was delighted that Robin had done hers.  She made the interview easy and fun to do.  I was only sad that she had to leave to report on a homicide elsewhere (actually I wanted to go with her but the Dinosaur needed me for other things).

Take a look at our segment.



This has run four times since Wednesday. 

I received a wake up call from Wendy and Jeff calling me a STAR and a text from Dan calling me a SNOB!!

I am having a Blast!!!!

Thank you Foxy Robin and adorable Jim (her great camera man)..................

See For Youself

We have been moved into our new offices now for about six weeks. In celebration  of the acquisition of Greenblendz, Inc which in short means that we have finally found US manufacturing right here in our home state of Michigan we scheduled  a ribbon cutting event.  That event takes place Thursday, July 29.

So much of what we have been trying to do at ecoSTORE USA is to develop the opportunity for our home state of Michigan to get back on its' feet, to thrive again.

The “Dinosaur” often points out to me that while the rest of the country is in a recession, Michigan is in a depression.  As I have traveled the country now for two years on ecoSTORE business his words often ring true to me.  I go to restaurants, shops and offices all around America that still hum with activity and ringing phones.  I eat at local haunts in my hometown of Birmingham where I once needed a reservation and walk right in.  I see the faces of people that I am related to and that I care about who are fraught with worry because they have lost their jobs and their homes.

By partnering up with Meijer as our first exclusive relationship at retail we felt a kinship with the needs of our state.  By acquiring Greenblendz Inc, Steve Berry and his remarkable team we are excited to bring jobs and a renewed sense of vitality home.

And finally by creating projects that include our children ~that are about our children that will stimulate our children there is no looking back.

 

Daniel Cascardo is a local Michigan artist who also teaches children, many who are   disabled.  Daniel told us that his mission is to bring out the intuitive and creative sense in people who often lose that ability at the young age of 7 years!
I know myself that I am mortified to draw anything more than a stick figure out of shear fear at being laughed at and have felt that way for as long as I remember.

Daniel makes things happen.

Last Sunday we brought 40 people together, led by Daniel Cascardo to paint a mural that he designed.  We all painted and even the shyest and most timid of the group became a veritable Van Gogh as the day progressed.  In less than three hours we collectively painted a masterpiece that now hangs on the walls of our International Headquarters.

I want to share this with you because it is events and "happenings" like these that bring energy and yes, hope back to people who are frightened. When I walk around our offices I feel more than excitement, I feel opportunity and direction.  We are creating an atmosphere where disillusionment is discouraged and brainstorming and teamwork is everything.

I could write forever about this perfect afternoon but you know the old saying "a picture is worth a thousand words...."

 

What Really Matters: Our Children

When I was contacted by the folks at www.childhelp.org to be a sponsor for their annual event given by the Michigan chapter ecoSTORE USA immediately agreed to partake.  It is fun to donate samples of our One Wash Laundry Liquid, our Baby Moisturizers (my personal favorite)and bars of soap. It is a great way to spread the word about our products and you always feel good when there is a cause attached.  We also submitted one of our Gift Baskets for the silent auction.  My very best friend in the whole world makes all of our baskets. ....I would like to give you her name and address but then for sure....she would have to kill me.

 I digress.... There was an afternoon party for kids from 2 to 4pm that we could attend followed by a black tie dinner/silent auction. With me being a bachelorette for 10 days and most of my friends doing something for Father’s Day I was going to have to fly solo. However when Kasey, Rand and I hit the daytime kids party I thought...I'm going to bring them tonight too! So from sloppy and sweaty at 4 we were glam and cool at 6pm. 

Cocktails outdoors on a perfect summer night with my two favorite girls on each arm were perfect.  But learning more about what www.CHILDHELP.org does and that we were able to make a difference meant so much more. I recognized old friends and made new.  The winner of our Gift Basket was a delightful Mom to be who was interested in the fact that our products contain No Nasty Chemicals™. I on the other hand was interested in her shoes. A girl can't just ALL ABOUT WORK now can she?

P.Ss The shoes were Steve Madden!

ecoKIDZ gettin Down and Dirty!‏

I am using the quiet moments in my house to play catch up.I should really be attending to bills, laundry, walking Lotus and tearing apart closets but as you all will agree with me  it is much more fun to sit down in front of the computer and play. After all girls gotta have some fun!

So I look to my last blog post and realize with horror that I have not written since early May and here we are approaching Fathers Day. Well!!! Adios Husband. The Bear just took off for the woods. He has gone fishing for 10 days....!! Where does he go? I have no idea...he claims that there is very little reception on the lake and it is just as well. You can only listen to tales of fishing in the cold rain so long....Kasey leaves for Camp Tamarack on Tuesday and my heart is already aching as she has been there in her mind for the last two weeks. Where is my little girl going?  How is it that the bathing suits with the CUPS fit her?

So what you read from me is no different than your story...right?  I was walking Lotus two nights ago and passed a man smiled "How are you?" and his instant response was a grim "Surviving...." I have never met this person before and I was taken aback! OK! Here in Michigan we have been surviving and working hard at it. Many of you know that the economic picture for the last few years has been beyond grim.  The new normal is husbands and wives working overtime and double time. And you are lucky if you have the work.  The new normal is husbands and wives who are in their 50s and 60s working these long hours whether we wanted to or not.

From my perspective I never considered NOT working.  I have been one of the very fortunate to always love the work I have been doing all my life.  You that have been following the evolution of ecoSTORE USA from being just an extension of a marvelous New Zealand company to a growing up business that is standing on its' own legs know this from my blog post that I write.

 

 Late last year we were able to acquire a manufacturing company, Greenblendz Inc right here in Auburn Hills, Michigan.  So we are able to utilize many of Michigan's resources such as water (we do have the Greatest Great Lakes) we can INVEST in our state.  But my favorite resource of all is Michigan folks themselves and most of all the kids.

Because the mission of our company is to  bring awareness and education to people that there are really wonderful products that are safer and healthier for your family and the planet it is a personal goal to work with children as much as possible.

So, last Saturday we asked local kidz to come to our new international headquarters to help plant flowers and beautify our grounds.  The weather was warm, humid and perfect to get down and dirty.  We had a great showing.  Green and Clean Mom and her sister drove all the way from Petoskey to be a part of the event bringing their precious babies! Kasey Madelyne rounded up 6 of her BFF's who helped the little ones and devoured the pizza.  Connie from www.ecoprgroup.com got jiggy with the Begonias.

The Bear (my husband) and the Dinosaur (da boss) showed up and made trouble. What else do men do?

 MAGIC does not happen just because you want it so very badly.

No matter what you envision the night before if it goes well that is truly as good as it gets.

But when it goes perfectly and everyone around you is full of joy and having a great time and thanking YOU for inviting them then your vision has been realized.

The photos speak for themselves.

Mother's Day Giveaway

A little girl, asked where her home was, replied, "where mother is."
-- Keith L. Brooks

Mom's are so important. Mom's work hard and we want to say thanks to all of you out there for your love, support and effort in saying, No Nasty Chemicals™! We're giving one lucky mother a gift basket similar to the one pictured here (ecoStore USA products and book may vary) valued at $100.00 retail dollars to help mom pamper herself in some eco-friendly products with a good read!

To Enter:

Leave us a comment on our Facebook Fan page or tweeting us @ecostoreusa telling us what you think of our new U.S. manufactured product labels and what your favorite product is or what you would love to try and where would shop for it (Whole Foods, Meijer, Duane Reade, Trader Joes,Online, etc.) Check everything out here.

Rules:

You must of course be a mommy.

All comments must be made by May 11, 2010 at 12pm EST.

U.S. residents only.

One comment per mommy.

One comment will randomly be drawn by the ecoStore USA team via our @ecostoreusa replies or Fan Page comments. The winner will be notified via Facebook or Twitter and have one week to reply via the direct message!

It's All Happening at the Zoo

Spring and summer is the time for trade shows....people come out to relax and hang...enjoy the weather (assuming it is decent) and Michigan is beautiful this time of year.
 

 

When the incredible Judy Davids of the MyDols Mom rock group contacted me to have ecoSTORE USA be a part of the Mampalooza event at the Detroit Zoo I had to say yes.

 
It was an event for parents to bring their kids, to have their face painted, to hula hoop and listen to grown adult rock bands sing children’s songs.  My personal favorite were
The Grateful Dads.....singing songs that were so old even I could not remember them.
 
Never the less, the Meijer coupons and samples of laundry liquid and ecoSTORE USA baby moisturizer samples flew out of our hands.  Once again we were able to chat with concerned parents who want safe alternatives for their children and the planet.  Many of these parents told us about their infant and young children’s skin issues...eczema and psoriasis to name a few.  It seems to be getting worse.
 
I am so proud to say that ecoSTORE USA can help.

WELL EAST COAST GIRLS ARE HIP!

YOU ALL REMEMBER THE BEACH BOYS SONG CALIFORNIA GIRLS ....WISH THEY ALL COULD BE CALIFORNIA GIRLS...I GREW UP ON THAT SONG. IT WAS A HUGE HIT.  I COULD NOT WAIT TO SPEND TIME IN CALIFORNIA TO SEE IF I FIT THE BILL.

AS YOU HAVE READ IN MY PREVIOUS POST I SPENT FIVE NIGHTS IN NEW YORK WITH A TEAM OF ACTORS, ACTRESSES AND ARTISTS OF EVERY TYPE HANDING OUT OUR SAMPLES ON THE STREETS OF MANHATTAN AND IT WAS NOTHING SHORT OF AMAZING.

WHAT I DID NOT TELL YOU THAT ON FRIDAY MORNING I FLEW TO THE CITY OF ANGELS, NORTH RIDGE, CALIFORNIA, TO WORK ON EARTH DAY AT THE WHOLE PLANET EXPO IN THE VALLEY. 

GOING FROM NEW YORK TO L.A. IS SO FUNNY FOR ME....YOU CALL THIS --UH--WORK? YES I WAS HEART BROKEN THAT I MISSED KASEY'S FIRST TRACK MEET AND BEING AWAY FROM MY FAMILY (THAT IS KEITH, LOTUS AND BLACKPAWS) IS NOT ONE BIT EASY BUT IF YOU HAVE TO DO IT...DO IT IN RIGHT? RIGHT!

I ADORE LOS ANGELES. MY BROTHER LES LIVED THERE FOR MANY YEARS SO I KNOW IT WELL. 

IT TOOK ONLY A FEW MINUTES TO GET MY FEET WET AGAIN AND IN A FEW SHORT HOURS I WAS TOOLING AROUND IN A FORD FOCUS LOOKING FOR THE HIGHLAND HALL WALDORF SCHOOL. I FOUND IT AND WAS OVERWHELMED AT ITS BEAUTY. THE PERFECT SETTING FOR AN EARTH DAY EVENT!

WHEN I OPENED MY EYES SATURDAY MORNING I COULD SEE BLUE SKYS OVER MOUNTAIN TOPS.  I COULD NOT WAIT TO BE LET OUT OF THE GATE AND
START SHARING ecoSTORE USA WITH THE WEST COAST.

CALIFORNIA GIRLS AND MOMS! YOU ARE SO EASY! THIS IS WHERE IT ALL COMES FROM, THESE ARE THE TRUE ECO~MOMMAS! THIS IS WHERE THE PRODUCTS AND THE MISSION NEEDS NO EXPLANATION....THIS WAS THE EASIEST 14 HOUR DAY THAT I HAVE HAD IN AGES AND OUTSIDE IN BRILLIANT SUNSHINE LOOKING AT MOUNTAINS.

TO MAKE IT EVEN MORE FUN I HAD THE FABULOUS TIGER MAMA, EVITA AND HER 5 MONTH OLD SON, JONATHAN, WORKING WITH ME. IF YOU DON'T KNOW TIGER MAMA PLEASE LOOK HER UP. HER STORY IS AMAZING AND SO PROFOUND THAT IT IS ALMOST HARD TO BELIEVE. SHE BROUGHT ME HER FRIEND TIFFANY WHO SPENT THE ENTIRE DAY WRIGGLING HER NOSE AND TELLING EVERYONE NO NASTY CHEMICALS!!! AS IF SHE HAD BEEN DOING IT ALL HER LIFE.....

AND I JUST MET THESE LADIES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE AT 9AM THAT DAY. NEW FRIENDS FOR LIFE.

I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND A SEMINAR WITH DR. ALAN GREENE AND ANNA GETTY WHO TRY TO MAKE THE ECO / HEALTHY PATHS OF OUR LITTLE ONES SIMPLE AND LESS GUILT RIDDEN. I RAN SMACK DAB INTO JENNIFER TAGGERT WHO LOOKED BEAUTIFUL AND WAS SPEAKING THAT DAY...HER NEW BOOK IS A MUST READ!

I WANTED TO STAY LONGER. I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME NEAR THE OCEAN. BUT MY GOALS FOR THIS TRIP HAD BEEN ACHIEVED. IT WAS TIME TO GET HOME...

CARRIE BRADSHAW AND CALIFORNIA GIRL...IN ONE TRIP.

CAN'T REALLY ASK FOR MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

 

LOOK AT MY GIRL FLY!!

AND WHILE I WAS OUT OF TOWN ROAMING THE COUNTRY KASEY MADELYNE WAS SPREADING HER OWN WINGS.  NOTHING HURTS A MOM MORE THAN NOT BEING WITH THEIR KID EVERY STEP OF THE WAY ESPECIALLY FOR SOMETHING NEW.

 

NO FEAR -NO WORRIES....LOOK AT MY BABY LEAP! CAN YOU HEAR MY HEART SOAR?

Vroom! Vroom! Earth Week in NYC!

I LEFT FOR NEW YORK TO TRAIN OUR TEAM OF ECOVISORS LAST SUNDAY, APRIL 18.  THE DINOSAUR WAS CONCERNED THAT I WOULD BURN MYSELF OUT IN MANHATTAN WORKING 12 -14 HOUR DAYS TRYING TO HAND OUT 200,000 ONE WASH LOAD OF LAUNDRY LIQUID TO THE DUANE READE SHOPPER. IN MY MIND I HAVE IT ALL WORKED OUT.....NO PROBLEM!

 I KNEW THIS WAS JUST THE WARM UPS!  THE FIRST THING THAT I HAD TO DO WAS MEET WITH THE TEAM THAT KRISTAL (MUSTARD LANE) HAD HIRED TO HELP US BLITZ THE CITY.  KRISTAL AND AMY HAD A DINER BUFFET READY AND WAITING WHEN I ARRIVED.

TOO IMPATIENT TO USE THE CRANKY, USELESS ELEVATOR I FLEW UP THE 10 FLIGHTS OF STAIRS TO THE OFFICE (QUADS GIRLS! ITS ALL ABOUT ROCKING THIGHS) AND SPIT OUT AN HOUR AND A HALF DIALOGUE THAT WOULD MAKE JIMMY FALLON LOOK WEAK...WE ENDED THE TRAINING SESSION WITH A CALL FROM THE DINOSAUR WHOSE FINAL WORDS RANG IN OUR EARS "ECOVISORS---START YOUR ENGINES!!"

AND START WE DID.

FROM MORNING TO NIGHT THE TWINS, THE JENNIFER'S, THE SHAKESPEAREAN, JILLIARD, CUTE CHRIS IN THE YELLOW T SHIRT, SARA (WHO IS IN SHALOM STREET ON TV -A MUST SEE!)AND THE NAMES I CANNOT PRONOUNCE OR RECALL ....LOVELY HADLEY, JESMILLE, ABLE, MATEO (you crazy man) DESTANIE, CHINYERE, SHAUN, THE GORGEOUS DANIELLE, NICOLE, GEMMA, RONIT BLASTED THE WORD OUT  FROM MANHATTAN TO THE BRONX AND YOU KNOW WHAT WE FOUND OUT….

ALL OF YOU DUANE READE SHOPPERS WANT PRODUCTS THAT CONTAIN NO NASTY CHEMICALS™. YOU ARE ACTIVELY SEARCHING FOR SAFER ALTERNATIVES FOR YOUR FAMILIES AND THE PLANET.  YOU ARE DOING YOUR RESEARCH ON WEBSITES LIKE HEALTHY CHILD AND FINDING OUT WHAT PRODUCTS YOU CAN TRUST AND BELIEVE IN.

NOT ONLY DID THE ECOVISORS HAVE FUN  WITH THE DR SHOPPER BUT THE STAFF AT THE DUANE READE STORES COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE HELPFUL.THEY LOVED THE ENERGY AND THE ATTITUDE THAT WE BROUGHT TO THE STORES AND GOT IN THE GAME WITH US....WHATEVER WE NEEDED THEY PROVIDED AND WERE ALL ON BOARD.

IF I SOUND PUMPED UP IT IS BECAUSE I AM.  THERE IS SOMETHING VERY UNIQUE THAT HAPPENS WHEN THE RIGHT GROUP OF PEOPLE FROM EVERY WALK OF LIFE COMES TOGETHER FOR A SIMILAR CAUSE.  LAST WEEK--THE STARS WERE ALIGNED, THE FIT PERFECT AND THE SYNERGY BETWEEN MUSTARD LANE AND DUANE READE AND OF COURSE ECOSTORE USA WAS TANGIBLE.

AND IF WE ARE NOT BLESSED WHO IS?

Who Would Have Thought??!!

IN MY SEARCH TO FIND WAYS TO GET THE WORD OUT IN NEW YORK CITY ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO START YOUR NEWBORNS OFF WITH PRODUCTS THAT CONTAIN NO NASTY CHEMICALS™ I STUMBLED UPON THIS GREAT EVENT THAT WENT DOWN LAST WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

THE BIGGEST BABY SHOWER!!! AT A TEMPLE ON EAST 67TH STREET RIGHT IN MANHATTAN.

 I CALLED MY GIRL KRISTAL WHO OWNS MUSTARD LANE AND WHO HAS BEEN OUR NEW YORK TOUCHSTONE FROM THE FIRST LAUNCH AT DUANE READE DRUGSTORES IN OCTOBER.  KRISTAL IN HER TYPICAL FASHION WAS ABLE TO PULL TOGETHER EVERYTHING THAT WE NEEDED AT THE LAST MINUTE WHICH IS NO EASY JOB WHEN YOU NEED TO COORDINATE

SAMPLES, BROCHURES, SIGNAGE AND RAFFLE GIFT BASKET.....

 SHE HIRED AMY TO HELP HER AND WHEN THEY FINALLY CALLED IN TO LET ME KNOW HOW THE EVENT HAD GONE HER VOICE WAS VERY WEAK....WHICH FOR ME IS AN EXCELLENT SIGN.

 400 PLUS PREGNANT MOTHERS COME TO THIS EVENT.  KRISTAL AND AMY WERE RUBBING OUR BABY MOISTURIZER ALL OVER THESE MOMS BELLIES, HANDS AND ELBOWS.  THE RESPONSES WERE INCREDIBLE.  THE INTEREST LEVEL OF WOMEN THESE DAYS IN GIVING THEIR BABIES SAFER AND HEALTHIER ALTERNATIVES FOR THEIR FAMILY AND THE PLANET IS INCREASING DAILY.

AT ecoSTORE USA WE LOVE US THE BIG CITY MOMS...CHECK OUT THEIR SITE  BIG CITY MOMS AND SEE FOR YOURSELF.

 WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT?