Site search
sponsored by
Home
News
ENLARGE
Decorations made by hand out of aluminum cans from Kenya, Africa.
When Black Friday came the day after Thanksgiving, Pat Cassidy and Barb Cretilli were immersed in the opening day of their new “green” business.
Being Green, a new store in Nevada City offering environmentally friendly and fair trade goods, is one of the growing number of local businesses offering sustainably produced clothing, coffee and food products.
“For those of us that have children, we’re trying to preserve the planet,” said Cassidy, 49.
Annita Stenken , 53, of Smartville, viewed her shopping experience similarly to the store’s mission.
“We’re destroying so much on the earth that buying a natural product is so important,” Stenken said as she looked through the store Monday. “They have wonderful merchandise here.”
The green marketplace — ranging from green building to organic food to body care products — is one of the fastest-growing business segments: It is estimated as a $228 billion market, according to the Sustainable Business Council, a nonprofit group of business executives.
In Nevada City, Being Green features clothes, paper goods, housewares and body care products from manufacturers who do not mass produce their products, Cassidy said.
“We contact the manufacturers to learn who they are and where they get their stuff,” he said.
Fair trade standards boil down to simple human values, Cassidy said. They want to
avoid companies that pay their workers low wages, he said.
“It’s all about how we take care of each other,” he said.
And Being Green customers have taken care of Cassidy and Cretilli, 35, very well so far.
“It just flies off the shelves,” Cassidy said of their products.
Shoppers can find clothes made from hemp and cotton blends, hemp and jute
blends, soy fabrics, alpaca fiber, organic cotton and recycled silks at the store. Green shoppers also can find socks made from bamboo, candles made from soy, body care products that are edible and paper made from mango.
To Cassidy, most area residents “get it here” when it comes to being conscious of the need for environmentally friendly products.
Being Green’s business was strong for the holidays and during the Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival, he said.
Cassidy and Cretilli are the only attendants at the 600-square-foot shop, but they could add employees in the future, they said.
The store needs to build a loyal following before Cassidy thinks of expanding business, he added. The store is located at 408 Broad St., Suite 7.
ooo
To contact Staff Writer Greg Moberly, e-mail gmoberly@theunion.com or call 477-4234.
Being Green, a new store in Nevada City offering environmentally friendly and fair trade goods, is one of the growing number of local businesses offering sustainably produced clothing, coffee and food products.
“For those of us that have children, we’re trying to preserve the planet,” said Cassidy, 49.
Annita Stenken , 53, of Smartville, viewed her shopping experience similarly to the store’s mission.
“We’re destroying so much on the earth that buying a natural product is so important,” Stenken said as she looked through the store Monday. “They have wonderful merchandise here.”
The green marketplace — ranging from green building to organic food to body care products — is one of the fastest-growing business segments: It is estimated as a $228 billion market, according to the Sustainable Business Council, a nonprofit group of business executives.
In Nevada City, Being Green features clothes, paper goods, housewares and body care products from manufacturers who do not mass produce their products, Cassidy said.
“We contact the manufacturers to learn who they are and where they get their stuff,” he said.
Fair trade standards boil down to simple human values, Cassidy said. They want to
avoid companies that pay their workers low wages, he said.
“It’s all about how we take care of each other,” he said.
And Being Green customers have taken care of Cassidy and Cretilli, 35, very well so far.
“It just flies off the shelves,” Cassidy said of their products.
Shoppers can find clothes made from hemp and cotton blends, hemp and jute
blends, soy fabrics, alpaca fiber, organic cotton and recycled silks at the store. Green shoppers also can find socks made from bamboo, candles made from soy, body care products that are edible and paper made from mango.
To Cassidy, most area residents “get it here” when it comes to being conscious of the need for environmentally friendly products.
Being Green’s business was strong for the holidays and during the Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival, he said.
Cassidy and Cretilli are the only attendants at the 600-square-foot shop, but they could add employees in the future, they said.
The store needs to build a loyal following before Cassidy thinks of expanding business, he added. The store is located at 408 Broad St., Suite 7.
ooo
To contact Staff Writer Greg Moberly, e-mail gmoberly@theunion.com or call 477-4234.
