New Eco-Friendly Shop Is Good For You, Good for the Earth
Eco-Minded, a new all-natural shop in Eau Claire, offers sustainable swaps
Sawyer Hoff, photos by Andrea Paulseth |
“We don’t need a handful of people doing zero-waste perfectly, we need a million people doing it imperfectly.”
So reads the sign hanging up in Eco-Minded, a new Eau Claire shop specializing in all things eco-friendly and sustainable. That sign is what owner Geoff Davis believes is the foundation of the store.
Eco-Minded carries it all: from kitchen supplies to toothbrushes to beauty supplies to paper products. They have a children’s section full of all-natural kids’ products, laundry supplies, blankets, shirts, and towels that are all made from organic cotton – and even organic coffee and teas that are all fair-trade. According to Davis, it’s the perfect place to start living more sustainably.
After selling lumber for 25 years and owning a hot tub and pool company with his family, Davis decided it was time for a change. He and his wife have four daughters – three of whom attend UW-Eau Claire. Their daughters’ passion for the eco-movement rubbed off on their parents, pushing them to open Eco-Minded.
“I’d like to see more people be aware of some of the stuff they’re using. Whether it’s the ingredients in their product or zero-waste packaging,” Davis said. “The little bit you do is better than nothing.”
The Davis clan is still learning all they can about the different eco-friendly products on the market right now and are willing to try and bring in any new product that customers would like to see. Any steps they can take to help Eau Claire lower its waste is a win for Mother Nature.
“It’s what the world needs,” Davis said. “I think people are becoming a little bit more conscious about it. It may not fit your billfold right now, but the prices of this kind of product are going down.”
Become more eco-minded and check out Eco-Minded on Instagram (@ecominded_eauclaire) or visit them at 2919 Mall Drive, Eau Claire.
