Biz Of The Month: It’s Easy Being Green At Green Envy

OF THE MONTH

Don’t Be Jealous . . . There’s Plenty Of Eco-Friendly Products In Store For All At Green Envy Story And Photo By Ujjwal Sharma

With today’s eco-conscious climate, people are caring more about how the products they purchase are affecting the earth, and are working harder to reduce their carbon footprint.

Kristina Patrick-Khan hopes to provide an opportunity for locals to live a “greener” life through her thriving business, Green Envy. “If living a more eco-conscious, green lifestyle has been on your mind, or interests you — along with supporting local small business and supporting Canadian products and companies — then you definitely need to stop by and see us,” asserts Patrick-Khan.

Green Envy, 1277 Grand Marais Road West in Windsor, opened in August 2018.

Patrick-Khan says her business specializes in cruelty-free products, meaning no animal testing has taken place in the making of any of their personal care, cleaning products or cosmetics — most of which are vegan. And their eco-friendly products do no harm to the environment. “We carry a large selection of zero waste products, so if you’re looking to eliminate single-use items, such as dryer sheets, straws, Ziploc bags or plastic produce bags, we offer reusable options,” she adds. “And our bulk station makes us extremely unique in this area. We offer 17 products in bulk — and counting. This has definitely been our most popular asset and we look forward to expanding the bulk section of the store.”

Their silicone storage bags and selection of cruelty-free Elate cosmetics are also extremely popular, she states. They carry a line of vegan handbags as well. “We try and go above and beyond to assist our customers, whether it is their first visit or their tenth, we want them to feel welcome at every visit,” PatrickKhan indicates. “Providing exceptional customer service will make or break a small business. That is why we pride ourselves in making every visit a memorable one.” One such way Patrick-Khan puts her customers first is by collecting their names and email addresses to put in their system. She explains this is done so they can offer a digital copy of their receipt, making their system paperless, but also to be able to greet customers, by name, the next time they visit.

“We believe small things like this make us stand out,” she states. “If a customer has been telling you about a trip they are taking, for instance, we try and remember so that next time we follow up with them. They truly enjoy this.”

She says when customers come to know they are not just a number or sale — but someone special — this builds a great relationship.

“The way they are treated may decide whether they return or not,” she believes.

Patrick-Khan also feels it is important to be active and to give back to the community.

“So far we have organized two clean ups, one at Sandpoint Beach and the other at Devonwood Conservation Area,” she describes. “We have also teamed up with the local cat rescue group, CARA (Cat Advocacy and Rescue Association), and hosted ‘Caturday’ adoption and fundraising events, and we also sell CARA merchandise.”

She is eager to plan and host more similar environmentally friendly events in the near future.

Through her business, she also collects old mascara wands, which are washed and sent to Wands for Wildlife, which supports the Appalachian Wildlife Refuge. “Wands are used to clean and groom rescued animals during their rehabilitation,” Patrick-Khan explains.

When you walk through the doors at Green Envy, you’ll quickly realize you’ve found a “one-stop shop for the eco-person,” according to Patrick-Khan. “We hope to grow our selection of low/zero waste goods, become a must-visit destination shop for the eco-person, widen our customer base and organize more cleanups and events,” she states about the future of Green Envy.

To see the latest products coming to the shelves of this eco-friendly shop visit: Facebook.com/greenenvywindsoressex. As the sole proprietor of Green Envy, Kristina Patrick-Khan knows exceptional customer service can make or break a small business, so she makes sure every visit to her shop is a memorable one for customers.