by Sara Berg, General Merchandise Category Manager
In recognition of Women’s History Month, here are some of women-owned businesses in the General Merchandise department.
NutriGold
Founder & CEO: Priya Khan
Started in 2010; based in Orem, Utah
NutriGold is a family-owned and -operated supplement company which focuses on sustainability, accountability, quality, and transparency. Their supplements are made with organic, whole food, and non-GMO ingredients. And they are tested by a third-party lab to ensure their products are pure, safe, and free of contaminants. Some NutriGold products you can find at the Willy Street Co-op include; womens’ and mens’ multivitamins, vitamin C, magnesium, omega-3 fish oil, turmeric curcumin, and ashwagandha.
LuSa Organics
Founder: Rachel Wolf
Established in 2002; based in Viroqua, Wisconsin
LuSa Organics specializes in handcrafted herbal balms, soaps, and baby care products. They are dedicated to crafting safe and sustainable body care products for you and your family. Some LuSa Organics products you can find at Willy Street Co-op include: soap bars, lotion bars, sugar scrubs, mineral tooth powder, lip balms (which are in compostable), plastic-free tubes, and their signature ‘Hey You, Shoo’ bug spray, which is in an aluminum bottle. We also carry some of their pregnancy products: booty balm, baby wipe juice, and postpartum herbs (peri bottle and sitz bath blend).
Sock It To Me
Founder: Carrie Atkinson
Established in 2004; based in Portland, Oregon
Sock It To Me makes fun and whimsical socks in a variety of designs for women, men, and kids.
Party In My Pants
Founder: Luci Daum
Established in 1999; Woman-owned and -operated in Ashland, Wisconsin
Party In My Pants has created a fun and sustainable alternative to disposable menstrual products. They make reusable, cloth (flannel and cotton) pads in a variety of sizes with a vast selection of unique patterns.
Stasher
Founder: Kat Nouri
Started in 2016; based in Emeryville, California
Stasher offers reusable, food-grade silicone bags available in a rainbow of colors and multiple sizes which include snack bags, sandwich bags, and half-gallon bags. Stasher bags are dishwasher safe, microwave ready, freezer-friendly and oven-strong.
Four Elements Organic Herbals
Founder: Jane Hawley Stevens
Established in 1987; based in Freedom, Wisconsin
Herbs are grown and harvested on Jane’s (and husband David’s) 130-acre certified organic farm in the Baraboo Bluffs of Wisconsin. Celebrating 35 years in business and certified organic since 1989, their products are handmade, in small batches by dedicated local women. Some Four Elements Organic Herbals products you can find at the Willy Street Co-op include: boxed herbal teas, herbal tinctures, soap bars, lip balms, and functional creams (for example, their best selling Look, No X Ma! Skin Soothing Cream).
Madison Soap Co./Madtown Soap Co.*
Founder: Laura Daly
Established in 2014; based in Madison, Wisconsin
A women-owned and operated business which creates small batch, handcrafted, sustainable body care products. You can find the following Madison Soap Co. products at Willy Street Co-op: soap bars made with organic plant oils, plastic-free shampoo and conditioner bars, and lotion bars made with fair trade organic shea butter, cocoa butter and sunflower oil.
*In March of 2022, Madison Soap Co. will start a slow transition to a new brand name: Madtown Soap Co. Madtown Soap Co. will stay true to the best sellers of Madison Soap Co., but with updated recipes and a new look for the soaps. The updated recipes will not only be palm-oil free, but each recipe will also be multi-use!
MamaP
Founder & CEO: Suzan Hernandez
MamaP has created eco-friendly alternatives to everyday products that give back to environmental and social justice groups with every purchase. You can find MamaP’s bamboo toothbrushes at Willy Street Co-op, available in both kids (soft) and adult (soft and medium). Below is a list of the colors and the corresponding cause:
Purple = LGBTQ+ Equality (kids and adult)
Blue = Ocean Conservation (kids and adult)
Yellow = Save The Bees (kids and adult)
Green = Mental Health (adult)
Red = Womxn’s Rights (adult)
eeBoo
Founder: Mia Galison
Established in 1994; based in New York, New York
eeBoo offers a variety of educational and screen -ree activities for children and adults.
They are committed to making eco-friendly products by using recycled materials, vegetable-based inks and FSC-certified paper.
