Michael Gregor and Lillie Wolff combined one part social consciousness, one part web savvy and one part Michigan ingenuity to drive their business venture, Great Lakes Goods.
The
online store sells chocolate, coffee, granola, honey, preserves, body and bath products, detergent and much more, and its administrators seek out only the best products, those made with the community in mind.
"It's really a values-driven model for business," says Wolff, 28. "As young, local entrepreneurs, who are staying here (in Michigan) and trying to make a life here, we really have our hearts in this. It's about connecting the conscious consumer with these small businesses that have a lot of integrity in how they run business and treat their employees."
Gregor, 24, a freelance web design and communications consultant working with Wolff, a jewelry designer and yoga instructor launched the website this summer.
A company that exemplifies social values and type of product Great Lake Goods sells is Higher Grounds Trading Company. The fair trade coffee company from Wolff's hometown, Traverse City, puts part of its profit back into the community from which the coffee beans were harvested. It started a clean water project in a Mexican village, for example.
Food for Thought, a Traverse City company that is a proponent of organic farming and sustainable ways of living, specializes in preserves, mustards and salsas. Great Lakes Goods features the preserves portion of its product line on the website. The preserves include varieties like apricot Chardonnay, blueberry lavender, strawberry basil and more.
Great Lakes Goods is particularly concerned about providing those with limited mobility, or those living in remote areas, with a centralized source for Michigan-made goods. For that reason, the online store has a $5 flat rate shipping fee allows people to stock up in one order.
Writter: Rebecca Bakken
Source: Lillie Wolff, Great Lake Goods
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