Creating a Buzz!

Manheim-Lititz Merchandiser – 01/11/2012

What began in April 2009 as a home party business focused on earth-friendly gifts has blossomed into a new shop that opened on Dec. 15, 2011, at 55 E. Main St., Lititz. Not only has the nonprofit business grown into a larger venue, the mission of the business has also expanded to include human-friendly as well as green products.

“I was finding that a lot of recycled products were fair trade (products), and I was thinking, ‘Fair trade … what does that mean?’” said business owner Jodi Conklin, who began to research the concept more. “As I was researching, (fair trade) became my focal point rather than the green,” explained Conklin. “While I want to do my part to eliminate waste and save our planet, my focus actually changed, as I thought it was more important to be human-friendly and look out for (our) fellow man.”

Conklin’s research led her to another surprising conclusion. “What’s interesting is that when you look for human-friendly products, most of them are recycled because … Third-World countries (use) a lot of discarded and sustainable things to make their products,” she stated. “Fair trade and human-friendly products go hand-in-hand with earth-friendly products.”

Conklin’s realization resulted in her opening her first EcoLoco store in Strasburg. But when the construction of a new road caused traffic to be diverted around the town of Strasburg, Conklin was at a crossroad after only a year in business. “I was faced with a decision of (saying) ‘We gave it our best shot and are closing up or finding another location,” said Conklin. “I prayed and prayed about it, and I felt that this was the answer to my prayer,” she said, gesturing around her at the brightly colored walls of her new shop in Lititz.

EcoLoco sells soaps, candles, jewelry, handbags, home décor, products for children, birdhouses, coffee, and more. “We try to offer a bit of something for everybody,” said Conklin. “As a gift shop, if we were too specialized, we’d be cutting out a lot of artists that need their products sold.”

Although many of the products are made from recycled items to benefit people in impoverished areas of the globe, such as beads made from magazine paper or crucifixes made from discarded metal, there are also products made in the United States that offer hidden benefits to others. Among these are candles made in South Carolina. The sale of each candle benefits an organization called Rice Bowls that provides food to orphanages. “The candles are made with all American labor by a very green company,” said Conklin of the soy blend product that comes in a reusable container. “For every candle sold, an orphan child eats for a day, so during the one year we were (open) in Strasburg, we provided almost three years of food just by selling candles.”

Conklin recently visited Haiti with the candle company and Rice Bowls so she could witness firsthand the benefit of selling the candles. “We delivered 50-pound bags of rice to orphanages all over Port-au-Prince,” she said. “I think what makes (the business) a little nicer for me and my family is knowing that we’re doing something (to help).”

Although the candles are Conklin’s biggest sellers, she believes the hidden treasures in her shop are the fair trade coffees and teas. “If you want to support fair trade efforts, the biggest thing you can do (is support the growing of) crops such as coffee, tea, and cocoa beans,” said Conklin.

“(People) can always find paper to make beads, but if (they) don’t get a good income for (their) cocoa beans, (they) don’t have enough money to replant, and (they) can’t support (their) families.”

EcoLoco has recently formed a partnership with the Lancaster Alternative Gift Fair to sell gift fair items in the shop throughout the year. Each month, a different gift fair vendor will be spotlighted in the shop.

 

Originally Published Dec 20, 2011 18:26

By CHAD UMBLE
LancasterOnline.com