Happy New Years everybody! This is the first episode in 2019, and today we'll be talking all about starting + operating an ethical + eco-friendly company, which is really on par with one of my big goals for this year to continue expanding my business, Bestowed Essentials, as well as helping other start their own sustainable business. I actually have an interview series on my blog called How To Start A Zero Waste Store, which as it sounds, is interviews I've done with zero waste store owners around the globe, so if the idea of opening your own zero waste shop, or any type of eco-friendly business, is something you've been dreaming about, take this as your sign that you should definitely go for it, listen to the rest of this episode, check out that interview series on my blog ahippieinavan.com, and together let's make 2019 the year of zero waste businesses! Today's guest is Sharon Rowe, founder + CEO of Eco-Bags Products, an award-winning, certified B corporation that began in 1989 selling responsibly made + sourced bags as reusable alternative to plastic grocery + produce bags. Sharon is also the author of The Magic of Tiny Business, where she uses the success story of Eco-Bags Products to share her step-by-step process of building a profitable and sustainable company that doesn't compromise your values. Sharon + her company have been featured in Time Magazine, Glamour Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, on NPR, on the Oprah Winfrey Show, and in the award-winning documentary “BagIt”. Sharon has received numerous awards, including the National 2012 Enterprising Woman, CBS Radio Women’s Achievement, and Westchester Business Council Entrepreneur of the Year, and she is an active member of the Social Venture Network, and the Women Presidents' Organization. In this episode, we talk about her company Eco-Bags and how it's evolved over the years, including their sustainable manufacturing, eco certifications, and what's next for the company. Sharon also shares tips from her book The Magic of Tiny Business on what tiny businesses are, how to start one, how to not quit when it gets tough, and some of her favorite tiny businesses to support.