As we approach Earth Day, we we want to highlight a local business dedicated to sustainability and keeping things “down to Earth”. We had the pleasure of speaking with Tiffany Norton, Owner of Juniperseed Mercantile. One of the most interesting discoveries was that Juniperseed’s busiest day of the year, in terms of sales, is Earth Day. This is rare among small retailers, but given the emphasis on sustainability, it makes perfect sense. Continue reading to find out what we learned about Tiffany and Juniperseed Mercantile, including their upcoming 3rd Annual Earth Day Community Event.
Who is Tiffany and Juniperseed Mercantile?
Juniperseed Mercantile began as somewhat of an entrepreneurial accident: as a chemistry nerd, science teacher, and young mother, Tiffany was frustrated by the high premium environmentally conscious consumers like herself were often paying for everyday essentials branded as “natural”. She grew up in a family that made their own products, so this is very much a passion for her entire family. She started a small Etsy shop where she sold a collection of her own lotions, soaps, and other body care products. Things progressed from that little Etsy shop to the Juniperseed Mercantile store we know today. Tiffany is no longer teaching and works on her business full-time. She loves crafting things that solve problems in sustainable ways and loves the Littleton community’s support of Juniperseed and their offerings.
What makes Juniperseed Mercantile unique?
Tiffany is a hands-on owner and makes everything onsite — she is the CEO, salesperson, and formulator of all Juniperseed products. She is very transparent about their process and ingredients — this makes customers feel comfortable about coming in and asking questions, as most folks who are passionate about natural products want to know exactly what ingredients are used and how they are made. One of the most unique things about Juniperseed Mercantile is that customers have access to their stock ingredients and can purchase them to make their own products at home. For customers who aren’t local or are unable to shop in person, Juniperseed Mercantile’s product line is fully accessible online and does quite a bit of business via their digital storefront. Customers can shop online anytime and get free shipping on orders over $35.
How and why Downtown Littleton?
Tiffany, a resident of Littleton for nearly two decades, managed a shop at the intersection of Broadway and Arapahoe while simultaneously working as a teacher. During the pandemic, she and her wife found solace in adopting a puppy and frequented Smokin Fins, enjoying the patio with their new furry companion. One day, as they parked on Nevada Street, Tiffany noticed a sign in front of a line of newly constructed condos advertising a “live-work space” on the ground floor. Intrigued by the concept, Tiffany had long entertained the idea of opening a store in downtown Littleton but was deterred by the large spaces available for lease. Initially considering downtown as a potential second location for her shop, she briefly operated both stores before consolidating her operations to the guest room in her and her wife’s condo above the downtown location. This transition led to her becoming a full-time entrepreneur with a downtown brick-and-mortar store. Juniperseed Mercantile has since thrived exclusively downtown for three years, now boasting two part-time employees. Discover more about Tiffany’s journey with Juniperseed Mercantile here.
What do you want people to know?
The sign out front says “sustainable sundries” and everyone wants to know what sundries actually are. Tiffany says it’s an old-fashioned word for “too many things to list; miscellaneous” and she defines it as a little bit of everything. So, staying true to that definition, Juniperseed Mercantile has a little bit of everything — cleaning supplies, soaps, lotions, balms, salves, and more. All products, remedies, and refills are sustainably packaged.
Why is Earth Day your biggest day of the year?
Tiffany has worked hard to promote this day over the years and has become somewhat of a master in marketing for this important day. People generally want to do something on Earth Day that makes a difference in the world and there aren’t too many of these activities in Littleton, so Tiffany decided to make Earth Day a community celebration by hosting an event for the entire community. In its third year, the Earth Day Community Event will provide tons of activities for people to participate in Earth Day in meaningful ways. See more details about the 3rd Annual Earth Day Community Event.
