Stephanie White started
Z Bear Diapers in Holt when her first child was a year old and the woman from whom she purchased her cloth diapers and accessories was moving out of town.
“I honestly started the whole thing as a hobby,” White says. “When she moved, I decided to start up.”
The hobby grew into a business operation out of White's home, which then expanded into an office space in Holt. The business is now in a brand new location, with a new name and expanded inventory. The new location is next to Play and the East Lansing Food Coop. Little Green Branches celebrated its grand opening last week in its new 950 square foot spot.
“It’s right next door to Play, which is the exact same market I want to be in,” says White. “We’re also so fortunate with the community gardens and the East Lansing Food Coop right here. It’s a fun little strip.”
In addition to cloth diapers, White now carries a variety of eco-friendly baby items, such as toys made from recycled plastic and cornstarch runoff, nursing covers and pads, reusable lunch kits and more.
“The Okemos and
East Lansing area is a community that is getting into the eco-friendly side of things,” White says. “I’m really excited about being here.”
With the opening of Little Green Branches, White has added four new part time positions to help staff the store. Eventually, she would like to expand her inventory to include more home goods and continue to grow into her new location.
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