Every week we profile one of our retailers. It’s our way of giving back and calling attention to the myriad of dedicated and inspirational people we’re lucky enough to do business with every day. This week we’re profiling Allan and Linda Semmler of Winter Park, Florida.

Linda Semmler founded Earth Inspired Living, in Winter Park, Florida, with her husband Allan, in 2009, to provide eco-friendly options to shoppers looking for the right gift. She also wanted to provide artists that work with sustainable and recycled materials an outlet to the public. The store is mostly brick & mortar but also has a shopping cart online.

“I focus on gifts because I know that gift-giving is very personal and that folks are looking for unique items to give to their loved ones.  Giving gifts with a story behind them shows thought.  Giving gifts that are eco-friendly shows a lot about the gift giver.  We love to offer a collection of unique gifts made from recycled, reclaimed and sustainable materials.  Customers love the product and feel good about the eco-sensitivities behind them,” says Linda.

Linda says her secret weapon is the great team of people working at Earth Inspired Living and loving what they do. “They’re excited about the product we sell, and love to tell each item’s story,” explains Linda. That explains why families love to shop together at the store. Both parents and children are fascinated by the stories behind the product and the staff loves to share those stories!

“We’re most known for our recycled, reclaimed and sustainable home and personal accessories; children and baby gifts made from organic cotton, bamboo, and recycled materials,” says Linda. She also teaches school classes about recycling when they visit on field trips. Earth Inspired Living collects water and 2 liter bottles out in front of the store and then gives them to their artists to turn into beautiful sculptures, jewelry, etc…  They also recycle all cardboard and have worked to gain recycling bins for guests on our street. By Fall 2011 Linda says she’ll have those in place.

Allan and Linda look for unique and different items that they haven’t seen before. “That these items happen to be eco-friendly is the icing on the cake!  We love to support local artists, local charities, and our community,” says Linda.  “Sustaining our business, sustaining our community, sustaining our planet….”

 

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