Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kathleen Hotmer. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Kathleen , thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

Before starting Pink Moon Goods I had a terrible dilemma about adding more consumerism into the world. I knew that I was a consumer but I also knew that my needs as a consumer were changing. I was more driven to find ways to make sure that the money I was spending was going towards something good and beneficial for the planet and the communities around the world that produce goods. So I figured if I was feeling that way certainly there were others out there feeling that same thing. I was not wrong. I am constantly encouraged by customers that reach out to let me know that they are moved by the intention through which I stock my inventory. They are pleased that they have found a source for goods that is reliable and transparent. It reminds me that although we all do consume goods many of us want our gift giving and buying of supplies and goodies to be more thoughtful. Pink Moon Goods is here to ensure that continues to happen.

Kathleen , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I retired from a career in theatre to open this small but mighty retail shop and I have never looked back. I spend my days creating an environment that is welcoming for all filled with goods that are made with intention and care. Whether it is something for you or a gift for someone you can rest assured that the item was created ethically and that it is well made and works as it should, or even better. The thing that sets Pink Moon Goods apart from other retail shops is that just about everything in the shop serves a practical purpose while also being beautiful. So many folks these days are trying to reduce spending by only purchasing goods that serve a purpose. This is a really foundational part of being a green consumer and we are never surprised to see how customers react when they learn this truth about our shop. I am really proud of maintaining this standard while also providing a unique collection of goods from all over the world.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

Pink Moon Goods was my side hustle for two and a half years. During that time I set up at markets, festivals, in other shops and basically anywhere that would let me. Although I didn’t think of it in terms of building a clientele that is what resulted. Being out in the community gave me the confidence to know that I could make a full time business out of this shop. And it also meant that on day one in our brick and mortar we had a built in audience. Thankfully that grew and grew. Working my shop as a side hustle also meant that I could save money from my full time job to help support myself in the first years of running my business full time.

Can you share one of your favorite marketing or sales stories?

My favorite stories are the ones that are personal. People want to know that there is a real person just like them with strengths and weaknesses behind their favorite shop. Anytime I share something personal I get a ton of hits on social media, people write me emails and share how my personal life, beliefs, and values make them fall more in love with my shop. People also really react positively to the support that I show to other businesses, artists, and kids! We recently had a 9 year old from the neighborhood come into the shop to interview me for her newspaper. The afternoon of the first release of her paper I received an email from a lady that lived close by my shop and had never heard of my shop until she read about it in “The Rainbow News”. She told me that any shop that supports young people’s creative efforts is a shop that deserves her money!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.pinkmoongoods.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pinkmoongoods/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PinkMoonGoods/