Sasha Stone is the founder and owner of Green Life Trading Co., Madison’s premiere refill destination. “In store or online, you’ll find an extensive selection of refillable personal care and home cleaning products and a one-stop shop for environmentally friendly goods. Green Life Trading Co. is on a mission to bring a sense of eco-friendly ease into shopping for everyday essentials.” Learn about Sasha Stone…
Follow at: @greenlifetradingco
Hometown: Milwaukee, WI
First job: Horse camp counselor and trail guide
Favorite ways to spend your free time in WI: Wisconsin has the best outdoors! I love mountain biking, running, practicing yoga and when the weather is not so nice, reading under an oversized blanket.
Your biggest accomplishment and why: My biggest accomplishment was making the decision to downsize my business and change the trajectory of our growth. It’s hard to publicly say, ‘Hey, that thing we started, we’re actually going to call it quits,’ but I knew what was best for my business, my team and my family and am proud that I made the decision when I did.
The biggest obstacle you overcame: I was supposed to open Green Life Trading Co. in the spring of 2020. In fact, what was supposed to be our opening day ended up being the day Dane County enacted the stay-at-home order. In all truth, being forced to stay calm and pivot that early in my career made me a better business owner.
Someone who inspires you and why: I am so inspired by my customers and community. They are kind, curious and just want to be the best environmentalists they can be. It’s an honor to get to be the person helping them make sustainable changes in their everyday lives.
Advice to someone pursuing a career path in what you do: Sustainable–truly sustainable–retail is a far cry from how retail currently operates. When you seek advice from other retail professionals, respect their experience and take it with a grain of salt. You do not need to conform to the status quo.
Favorite quote: “We don’t need a handful of people doing it [zero waste] perfectly, we need millions of people doing it imperfectly.” -Anne-Marie Bonneau (The Zero Waste Chef)
Bonus quote: “I don’t skate through life, David. I walk through life, in really nice shoes.” –Alexis Rose, Schitt’s Creek
Something someone would be surprised to learn about you: I love watching videos of people fishing on YouTube. I can’t explain it; I just find it so relaxing. Sturgeons are my favorite, they’re huge!
What makes someone fabulous: A fabulous person does what they want to do and they do it in their own way. They are kind, considerate and bring a positive energy.
Awesome! What a fabulous entrepreneur!