Evergreen Collective: Taylor Hall

In the second episode of Not So Small season two, hosts Sam Bauman and Adam Rondeau visit Taylor Hall at Evergreen Collective, her sustainable retail store on Grand Avenue in St. Paul. What began as Taylor's personal struggle to find products that aligned with her values has become a carefully curated space where customers can shop sustainably without having to research every purchase themselves.

Taylor shares how reading "The Story of Stuff" in high school opened her eyes to the true cost of consumer goods and sparked a decade-long journey toward opening her own store. After gaining experience in marketing and customer service while saving money, she finally took the leap three years ago to create the space she'd always wished existed.

The conversation explores the real barriers people face when trying to make sustainable choices: availability, convenience, cost, and simply knowing which products are truly better for the environment versus those that are "greenwashing." Taylor's role becomes that of a neighborhood expert who does the research so her customers can "turn their brains off" and trust that everything in the store meets her sustainability standards.

Taylor candidly discusses the daily struggles of small business ownership, from the financial pressure of investing time and energy into a business that takes years to become profitable, to competing with big brands that have massive marketing budgets and social media influence. She reflects on the challenge of customers asking for trendy products she can't access due to her size, while highlighting the unique advantages she offers: personal relationships, responsiveness to customer needs, and the peace of mind that comes from expert curation.

This episode beautifully illustrates how one person's personal values can evolve into a business that makes sustainable living more accessible for an entire community, proving that small businesses can create meaningful change one relationship at a time.

Guest Info

• Business: Evergreen Collective
• Guest: Taylor Hall (she/her)
• Links: Website • Instagram

Community Shoutout(s)

• Fair Anita (Website • Instagram)
• Spoils of Wear (Website • Instagram)

Host & Show Info

• Host Name: Sam Bauman (she/her)
• About the Host: Sam is the President of Mellowlark Labs, a Twin Cities-based small business consulting agency. She has a masters degree in counseling psychology, a field she worked in for several years before applying her skills in business, and is certified in Organization Development.

Podcast Website

Sound Editing By: Adam Rondeau
Podcast Art By: Andy Bauman (website)

Transcript

Sam Bauman: 0:09

Hey, everyone, and welcome back to not so Small, the podcast where we ask small businesses the big questions. I'm your host, Sam Bauman.

Adam Rondeau: 0:16

And I'm Adam.

Sam Bauman: 0:18

And season two is off to a great start. And today we've got another fun one for you. We're talking with Taylor hall of Evergreen Collective, a sustainable retail store in St. Paul. Taylor spent years dreaming of a trusted place where people could shop for sustainable home goods. And she finally took the leap to make it happen herself. During our conversation, we dive into the challenges of running a values driven small business. The daily grind of managing most of the business all by herself, and also some of the magical moments that she's had with customers that make it all feel worthwhile. Hope you enjoy the episode. Us, where we are and what your business is.

Taylor Hall: 0:55

Yeah, sure. So I'm Taylor Hall. We are in Evergreen Collective, my little sustainable store on Grand Ave. In St. Paul. It's still wild to me that I own a store on Grand Avenue. That just seems like such a big thing. And yeah, we're all about just helping people find more sustainable options because it can be really hard and taxing to try and do it yourself. And I love researching. And so the fact that I get to just research sustainable products and make sure that they're not greenwashing, it's a fun way for me to spend my time.

Sam Bauman: 1:29

Oh, I have to ask, what is greenwashing? I've never heard that term before.

Taylor Hall: 1:33

Oh, yeah. So greenwashing is when a brand tries to, like, uses marketing to make something look more sustainable than it is. So like a really good example is when you see a bamboo toothbrush wrapped in plastic. Like, it's like it's better than a plastic toothbrush, but it's still wrapped in plastic. It's wrapped in plastic.

Sam Bauman: 1:54

Yeah, yeah. So at the risk of hearing an obvious answer, what is the problem that you set out to solve when you started your business?

Taylor Hall: 2:06

Yeah, I guess I just always. I never had like a spot where I could go and find the things that I needed most in life that like, really aligned with my values. And I felt just like I just wanted that to exist. And I guess that's the problem I was trying to solve.

Sam Bauman: 2:28

Yeah. So it started out as a problem of your own, a need that you had that you wanted to fill. And. And what made you decide to turn it into a space for other people?

Taylor Hall: 2:41

That's a great question. When I was in college, I studied abroad and when I came back, I had like two months in between classes. And so I. I've always been like, a maker, and I loved upcycling things. And so I started upcycling burlap bags into purses and selling them at a local boutique where you would work at the shop. So you wouldn't. Instead of, like, getting paid, like, hourly, that's how they staffed the store was like, the makers would work the store, and then you'd get more of your commission back on the products that you would sell. And I just really, like, kind of fell in love with retail. I liked connecting with customers. And so when the problem came up where I couldn't find products, that really lined up my values for the things that I used every day. And then I also discovered I liked working retail. It kind of just clicked that one day I wanted to open a store. And that took about 10 years from the idea to conception.

Adam Rondeau: 3:47

Wow.

Taylor Hall: 3:47

Yeah.

Adam Rondeau: 3:49

Where do you think you, like, where do you think the values that you were looking to serve came from? Like, how did those values make their way into your life?

Taylor Hall: 3:59

Yeah, I think growing up in a rural community, and my dad is a forestry guy and so very big into nature. And he's also, like, a contractor. He's very handy, builds a lot of things and would always use what's laying around. So very into upcycling. And so that kind of, like, was the impetus of. It was just spending a lot of time in the woods at my uncle's house and camping and. And then knowing that you can, like, take things and upcycle them and be creative with how we get things into our lives. And then I. When I was in high school, I read a book called the Story of Stuff, where it kind of changed my whole perspective. And that was, like, the impetus of, like, I need to change my shopping habits. And then it took a really long time because I was 18 and had, like, no money and didn't really do anything, so wasn't buying a lot for myself either. But the book went through the process of, like, how a pair of jeans comes into being. Like, and a bunch of other things too. So, like, how we extract the products from the ground. So, like, farming of cotton, or it also talked about, like, farming of mining of minerals to the actual production and, like, the waste and exploitation that happens there. And then continued into how we, like, how things travel across the world, how we sell things, and then the disposal, what happens at the end of the life cycle. So it really goes through, like, the whole story of a few items in particular. And I was like, this is not. Like, I just don't want to contribute to this. Like, I want my life to be doing something different than like, shopping is. Like, we all shop and we all need things. And so if we're all just like kind of going along with the status quo, with the way things are, that's not gonna make the world better. Like, it's actively causing harm. And I didn't like that.

Adam Rondeau: 6:04

That makes sense.

Sam Bauman: 6:05

Yeah.

Adam Rondeau: 6:06

There's a lot to not like with that part of our system in our world. And it's pretty easy to fall into those habits when there's so much else.

Sam Bauman: 6:16

Yeah.

Taylor Hall: 6:17

Because it's so hard to find things that maybe align with your values a little bit more. Like, and I'm not perfect. I mean, there's no way. And like, I have a little sign on the wall that says progress over perfection. Because I just like, we all. Life is really hard and we all just have to get through it. And so if I can just make it like a little bit easier for people, that's my goal.

Adam Rondeau: 6:40

Yeah.

Sam Bauman: 6:41

So you said that one of the barriers for you with making some of these choices about your, you know, your buying habits was just kind of knowing what things were more sustainable. And that's a lot of what you're doing here is creating a space where people can come and feel confident that the items that they're purchasing are better for the environment. What are the other barriers that you find customers or just individuals encounter when thinking about how to make purchases? What to purchase?

Taylor Hall: 7:16

Yeah, I think knowing what's sustainable is obviously a big one. And then just finding the stores that carry the products or the brands, because there's, I mean, in the 10 years since I had the initial idea, it's actually become like, popular. Like, people are no longer making fun of me for being like a sustainable freak, like, which is great.

Sam Bauman: 7:41

So having things available is kind of one part of it. But I was thinking the other day, eating meat or eating mass produced meat can be problematic for different reasons. Animals aren't treated well. Maybe it's worse for our environment. But I do it. I am not a vegetarian. And so I think about what are the things that to stick stops a person from changing that behavior or that habit? Or what are the things that help them make the choice to purchase more sustainable things other than just having them available.

Taylor Hall: 8:12

Right. And I do think availability is like one of the biggest issues, but just like the lack of knowledge of like, what you can do timing. Like, my store has limited hours when you compare it to Target, so it's harder to get here than it is to go to other stores. But we're a small boutique. I've got one staff member. We're just doing what we can do. And then I think, like, knowing how to use the products, because a lot of our products, especially when it comes to cleaning and personal care, can be a little bit different. And then also, of course, some products are going to cost a little bit more than your traditional products do.

Adam Rondeau: 8:54

Yeah. That the convenience of the less sustainable options has got to be like the biggest mountain to overcome.

Sam Bauman: 9:04

Right.

Adam Rondeau: 9:05

I mean, we think about why we make the decisions that we make that are less sustainable. A lot of times it's because, you know, we're feeling overwhelmed or something in our lives, and then we're like, well, this thing's right there, and it's easy. So I'm going to do that, you know, And I think that having a store like this is great. You know, it's good to see more places that are. That have these values. Like you said, it getting popular is a big deal. You know, I'm not sure. I haven't looked around the store just quite yet to see if you've got some of the stuff, But I know there's, like, the tear market. That's in south Minneapolis, at least, and there was one in Denver when I was living there. But having places like that where you're like, I don't buy a new tube of toothpaste. I refill my toothpaste or whatever, and that can, you know, as more of those places become available, you go, oh, actually, I'm maybe even saving some money. And it's not that inconvenient to go do. It's just a change of habit.

Taylor Hall: 10:05

Yep. And I think that changing habits can be really hard.

Adam Rondeau: 10:09

Yeah.

Taylor Hall: 10:10

Yeah. I remember I was thinking about going vegetarian for, like, years. But I love meat. Like, it's delicious. And I have a lot of friends that are vegetarian, and they're like, I never want to eat meat. And I'm like, no, I miss it. And the way that I did it was. I just was traveling with two vegetarian friends, and so I just, like, ate what they ate for a month.

Adam Rondeau: 10:29

Yeah.

Taylor Hall: 10:29

And then when I came back, I was like, well, I did it. I'm gonna keep doing it. And so it's like, that initial hump is hard.

Adam Rondeau: 10:36

Yeah, absolutely.

Taylor Hall: 10:38

Yeah.

Sam Bauman: 10:39

So having this idea more than 10 years ago, what was the point at which you finally got to, okay, I'm going to take an action to make it happen.

Taylor Hall: 10:48

Yeah. So I had the idea in college, and then I graduated college and with a degree in sociology and sustainable studies minor. And I did a research project on, like, how people talk about ethical consumption. And that connected me to my first employer in, like, my first, like, real job out of college. And I just worked for, like, five or so years saving money and gaining experience. And when I felt like I had enough money saved to open the store and have enough to fall back on because, you know, you don't really pay yourself, so you need a safety fund, I just. I did it. I was like. I felt like I was in a comfortable enough position that I could take the risk.

Adam Rondeau: 11:40

I imagine that still felt scary, though, that moment.

Taylor Hall: 11:44

It's still scary.

Adam Rondeau: 11:45

It's still scary. Yeah.

Sam Bauman: 11:47

How long has the store been open now?

Taylor Hall: 11:49

It'll be three years in September.

Sam Bauman: 11:51

Wow, that's awesome. So some. Some of the preparation and sort of getting that experience and also having a bit of, like you said, a safety net that kind of got you to that point of being ready to take the leap. Yeah.

Taylor Hall: 12:07

Yeah.

Sam Bauman: 12:08

Awesome. What have you learned in the time that you've had this store open? Just about sort of the process of running a business. I mean, taking that risk. And like you said, it still is a little scary. Three years in. What lessons have come from that?

Taylor Hall: 12:26

I mean, I've learned so much. My previous experience was in marketing and customer service for another small business in town. And that's very different from running your own financials and having to order inventory. And I remember when I started at this other business, it was very small, and I was kind of doing everything. And then eventually my boss was like, okay, we're going to get away from operations, and we're going to put her into the more creative things. But then when I opened my own store, I had to do it all, and so definitely figuring out systems on how to make sure I have everything in stock, which I still don't know quite how to do that, but which categories should I buy more heavily in? Which categories should I take a risk on and invest more money in? Because that's what my customers are asking for. That's definitely something that I'm still learning a lot about. But I'm. Last year, I joined a retail mastermind that's been incredibly helpful of just spreadsheets and group calls. And we have a Facebook group, so you can just ask questions. And they're from all over the US and from all different types of businesses. So it's not just like. Like, sustainable boutiques, it's like, all kinds of boutiques. So you get to learn from people with different types of businesses who run things differently. So it's not just like a feedback loop of the same things.

Adam Rondeau: 14:05

Yeah.

Sam Bauman: 14:05

So is it like a. Just like a support network or is it a program that you're going through the mastermind?

Taylor Hall: 14:12

Yeah, I did a coaching, one one coaching with somebody in it for about like eight months. And then it's also. She has like a bunch of lessons, like recorded video lessons, and then a bunch of like, spreadsheets that you can use, a bunch of templates. And then it's also like a support group on Facebook where you can just reach out and ask questions about, like, anything.

Sam Bauman: 14:38

We talk a lot about community and the importance of community, and I think that it can be hard in our current world to find that and create that. And so seeing places where there's sort of the structure that's been put around community to help facilitate those connections is so valuable. It's not the first time we've heard about the impact of a program or a setup like that where you get focused networking time with people who are kind of in the same boat as you in one way or another. Not necessarily doing exactly the same work, but generally encountering the same challenges and getting to share with each other.

Taylor Hall: 15:20

Yeah. It's been game changing because I can just post a question in the middle of a workday if I'm feeling any sort of confusion or anxiety or anything. And by the end of the day, I'll have, like, at least five people that have commented on it with helpful tips.

Sam Bauman: 15:34

That's amazing.

Taylor Hall: 15:35

So it definitely, especially as, like, a retail owner where, like, I am here at least seven hours a day and I can't leave. So no more like, walks in the middle of the day to calm my brain. Like, I am here, which is very important for the convenience of my customers, that I have reliable hours. Even though sometimes I want to just go and take a nap or go for a walk around the block. So having something that is digital makes it a lot easier.

Sam Bauman: 16:03

Yeah. What keeps you motivated when you're here for seven hours and you'd rather be home napping? What keeps you going?

Taylor Hall: 16:12

I think I just really want to be here for my community. And then, you know, some days you have bad days. And when that happens, I swear in the next, like, couple hours, I'll get a customer that is just like, I am so happy you're here. And I'm like, okay, where we're on the right path.

Adam Rondeau: 16:30

Yeah, yeah. I imagined earlier you used like or you were talking about. It's nice to Be able to have that group there if I'm feeling some anxiety or whatever. I imagine that one of the things, like you've probably had several moments where you are sort of reminded by the customers or some interaction on probably even social media where people are saying things that are like, ugh, this is, you know, I know there's this thing that's hard. I know that I'm learning about what is the right thing to stock, what is, what have I, you know, investing too much in that's maybe not worth the time or money or whatever effort. And then you get a post on social media or someone walks in and says that thing. That's got to feel so great.

Taylor Hall: 17:17

It really does.

Adam Rondeau: 17:19

Yeah.

Taylor Hall: 17:19

Yeah. I've gotten a few Google reviews where I'm like, okay, we're just gonna get like half happily cry now. That's so pretty.

Adam Rondeau: 17:27

Are there any in particular that you remember, like specifically that pop into your head pretty regularly?

Taylor Hall: 17:33

No, but I feel like I should make a list. So then when I'm having a bad day, I can just look at it and it can, you know, because the customers are why I'm here. I'm here to serve my community.

Adam Rondeau: 17:44

Yeah, yeah, that's great. We love that.

Sam Bauman: 17:49

What's one of the best moments that you've experienced? Like a specific moment that just really sticks with you of being exciting or energizing or feeling like, oh yeah, this is exactly where I'm supposed to be.

Taylor Hall: 18:06

There is this moment. I don't do a lot of like off site or pop up sales, but I did one over the holidays and there's a family that comes into the store pretty frequently and they've got a little girl and they were at the market and I just heard from behind me, the little girl was like, it's the ego girl. And I just felt like, yeah, like we're building something. And I have another customer who she was pregnant one summer, was coming in to pick up her CSA basket and then, you know, in a few months she was bringing in a baby. And I just, I, I feel really blessed to be a part of people's lives in a way that it's just so minute. Like, you know, I know some people's names, but not everybody's names and, but you're still like a part of their lives and you get to have little conversations. There's just little moments like that mean a lot.

Adam Rondeau: 19:07

Yeah. Where it feels like, you know, when you think about retail, your own experience as like a consumer walking into a retail space. Space. Most of the Time you're like, I'm a stranger to this person who is working behind the counter or walking around the store. And with the type of place that you've built here, because it's you that's here practically all the time, then you know, if that person keeps coming back, you're slowly building these relationships with people in your community. And it's like I imagine, you know, we talk a lot about, you know, when I say we talk a lot, I sort of mean like there's a lot of conversation around. Like the idea of third spaces right now and having this sort of relationship with customers who are coming in regularly is sort of a form of that, right?

Taylor Hall: 19:55

For sure. Yeah. I think it's a necessary part of our community. I know I've got my own favorite third space. That's.

Adam Rondeau: 20:04

Yeah.

Taylor Hall: 20:05

And you just go in there and you know the bartenders, Right, exactly.

Adam Rondeau: 20:11

And that can be so meaningful.

Sam Bauman: 20:13

I do think that's really the power of small business. You know, we don't always think about it consciously when we step into a retail space, but the feeling that you get as a customer when you come to a place where, you know, you recognize the person behind the counter, even if you're not on a first name basis with them or you know, you get sort of this feeling that it's close to home, it's familiar and it's not anonymous. That is so powerful. And I do think that it's felt by your customers, even if they're not really aware of it themselves.

Taylor Hall: 20:51

I hope so. I really designed this space. I mean, when you walk in, like I've got a couch right away that I bought a few years before I even opened this store. Cause I really wanted to yellow couch and I really wanted the shop to feel like when you walk in you just felt like you were at home.

Adam Rondeau: 21:09

Yeah. Well, as two people that walked into this space for the first time today, I would say that was apparent and felt absolutely.

Sam Bauman: 21:18

So we've talked about a best moment. Is there a hardest moment that sticks out to you? A moment of crisis or something? Didn't go as planned. Planned or something like that.

Taylor Hall: 21:29

I think it's just a lot of daily struggle. I mean, as a small business owner, I think one of the biggest mistakes I did was quit my part time job about four months into it because I really just felt like I wanted to dedicate more of my time and energy into the business to see it grow faster. But that's just not how it works. And so the financial and emotional effort I put into the store, knowing that it's gonna take a really long time to be able to fully support me is just, like, a daily struggle.

Adam Rondeau: 22:11

Yeah.

Taylor Hall: 22:12

Just to be, like, brutally honest and. And that's taxing.

Sam Bauman: 22:19

Yeah, well, it's not. There's not really an easy answer to that because, as you said, you're spending most of your time here. I mean, that is the other side of running a small business. It's this beautiful thing that provides this amazing energy and resource to your community. But it takes a lot of work, and you can't. Like, there's only one of you. You only have 24 hours in a day, just like everybody else. And if you're having to spend it here and you have to put in more time up front to get it to a place where it can support you, I mean, that's such a challenge.

Taylor Hall: 22:54

Yeah.

Adam Rondeau: 22:55

Yeah. And I feel like, you know, a lot of times we don't think about these things. I mean, especially for someone that's clearly as intentional as you are. Like, as consumers, we don't necessarily always think about how much sacrifice goes into making something like this work. And, you know, part of the. Honestly, part of the reason that we started this podcast was because we, in some ways want to shed more light on that, because, you know, we talked to. In our work, we talked to a lot of people and have found out from them, you know, not that weren't. That were already. We already knew that this was sort of happening. But, you know, the amount of sacrifice you, you. It changes your perspective when you're interacting with businesses, and then when you also interact with one that has a lot of intentionality behind it. You're like, I want this place to keep going. I want that person's life to get easier because I want more of this sort of thing in my community. And I feel like, you know, the more we're witnessing that, the more people are thinking about that, the more we'll foster that sort of thing, that sort of feeling that we all have acknowledged that we've lost some in the social media era.

Taylor Hall: 24:10

Yeah. Yeah, It's. I think when I think about social media, that's an interesting point, because one thing, when I'm online on Instagram, I see a bunch of, like, really big brands that are more sustainable, which is amazing. And then I see influencers that are getting paid to promote these big brands, which, yes, they should. Like, we need everything. But then I get customers coming into the store that are like, why don't you carry that brand? And I'm like, because they don't sell to me, because I can't. I've attempted to. And, but because social media is so much like, I mean, like, take, was it the Yeti mug? Like, everybody wanted the Yeti mug. When there's like a thousand great brands of mugs and water vessels out there, we don't all need the same mug, but we trust the Internet. And it can be kind of frustrating when I'm like, why are you trusting the Internet and not your friendly, like neighborhood expert?

Adam Rondeau: 25:13

Yeah, absolutely.

Sam Bauman: 25:14

Well, you're pointing out another barrier. I think, like, there are a lot of different values at play when people are making buying choices. So obviously, you know, a big one for many people is how sustainable is this product? But that's not the only thing that they're considering. Like you said, they're considering price, they're considering convenience. They're also considering like their self image a little bit. Right. It feels exciting to us to get that cool thing that we see somebody we admire having. And that is a really hard force to work against, I think.

Taylor Hall: 25:50

Yeah. And then also, like, I mean, it's a great review like that Instagram is giving these products that I don't necessarily, I can't necessarily carry in the store because I also have a limited shelf space. So I can't carry 10 different brands of one type of product. I try to have many options because I do believe, like, we all have different needs. And so I want to serve my customers with their specific needs, but I just can't do it all.

Sam Bauman: 26:18

Yeah.

Taylor Hall: 26:19

Which, yeah, it's kind of sad to me because I want to. I really want to.

Adam Rondeau: 26:25

Yeah. I mean, I think with, you know, the advantage of this type of thinking, sustainable thinking, getting more popular, is that it's just out in the ether more. But then also capitalism, existing the way that it does now, says, okay, what is the cool thing right now and how do we sell it? I mean, that's what's led to greenwashing because some people go, all I have to do is look like I'm doing that thing and then people will buy my product. Or there are people that fully commit to it, but also have a lot more resources than a place like yours. And so then you're sort of like, oh, I'm excited for this. Except for now, it's making the work that I've wanting to do harder. And you know, I do think that they're like, I'm grateful that there is more investment from larger corporations in this, like, space. But I Also think that when I'm thinking about my own personal priorities, I would value local more than. I don't know. I don't know. Yeah, you probably have a better answer to that. Right?

Taylor Hall: 27:36

I mean like, it's really hard because like it needs to be convenient. So the fact that like Blueland is at Costco and Grove Collaborative is at Target means that more people have access to plastic free products, which I think is really important. And then I'm like, what am I doing here?

Sam Bauman: 27:54

But to me it goes back to the other things that small businesses have to offer. Like were talking about, you know, it's not just about the products that you have on your shelf. It's about the experience that you offer and the way that you are engaging with your community. I mean the, you are going to be able to be more responsive to your customers requests than a place like Target.

Taylor Hall: 28:16

Yeah.

Sam Bauman: 28:17

So even though you have some different limitations, you can have more of a relationship with the people you're serving. And if they ask for a certain type of product, you're like, okay, well I'm hearing that this is something that people want, so let's make some changes.

Taylor Hall: 28:32

And I'd definitely do that. There's a few products like I did not start out with High Bar, which is a local company that does shampoo, conditioner, deodorant. They started face wash and body wash because I thought personally it was a little on the pricier side. It's not, it lasts forever. But I brought it in because many people were asking. And same with liquid shampoos. I didn't have that. People asked for that. I brought that in. But also going back to you said something about the advantages that I have as a small business. And I think like going back to, you know, because grow up collaborative is at Target. When you walk into Evergreen Collective, you don't really have to think that hard because I did that for you. So like when you go into a bigger store, you have to be more selective about like is this really like sustainable? Is this greenwashing? This is available here and that's great. But you kind of have to be a little bit more thoughtful. And the goal here is that people can kind of just turn their brains off.

Sam Bauman: 29:37

Yeah.

Taylor Hall: 29:38

Hopefully I've provided enough knowledge and education and like that people that I've built trust with my customers so they can do that. Because obviously in order to do that they have to see that I'm living and building the store with those values.

Sam Bauman: 29:57

Well, I know that transparency is something that's really Important to you?

Taylor Hall: 30:01

Yes. Yeah.

Sam Bauman: 30:01

And that's a huge part of building trust. Right. You're not just saying, you know, do what I say because I've done the research, trust me. You're also showing them the research, which is really important.

Taylor Hall: 30:13

Yes. I have to update that page on my website. I don't think I have since I opened. Got distracted. But there is a lot of information on my transparency page.

Sam Bauman: 30:21

Yeah. Yeah. So what advice do you have for somebody who maybe has an idea that they've had for years and is thinking of starting their own business or is running a business and running into challenges or finding it difficult?

Taylor Hall: 30:36

I mean, just ask the questions. I think the more that you can learn about your specific problems and finding people. I find that people are generally very open. If you're nice to them and want to have a genuine conversation, just ask other business owners questions. We're probably going to try and answer them, or we'll point you to another direction. Or if we'll stress, we'll say no, and then you ask somebody else. But I think I wouldn't have been able to open my business if I didn't have mentors and other people in my corner to ask questions to.

Sam Bauman: 31:18

Awesome.

Adam Rondeau: 31:19

Yeah, I think that makes a lot of sense.

Sam Bauman: 31:21

Yeah. Just a different way. That community is coming into play for you, I think.

Taylor Hall: 31:25

Yeah.

Sam Bauman: 31:26

Not just with your customers, but for yourself in your work.

Taylor Hall: 31:31

Yeah.

Sam Bauman: 31:32

So what business do you want to highlight today for your community? Spotlight another business that you know of that's doing great work and making positive contributions to the community.

Taylor Hall: 31:43

I have two.

Sam Bauman: 31:44

Great.

Adam Rondeau: 31:44

That's great.

Sam Bauman: 31:45

Okay.

Taylor Hall: 31:47

So the first one is my first, like, retail experience outside of the one I mentioned earlier, the one I was at a little bit longer. She has a store on Selby and Snelling called Spoils of Wear. So the owner is Jill Erickson, and I interned with her after college, learning how to work on websites and uploading product descriptions and pictures to her website. And it's a essentially evergreen collective, but with clothing. And she's just so fun, and her style is impeccable. They also own a shoe store that's, like, next door called Lille Footwear. Yeah, I just. She's a great mentor at Spoils of Wear. And then also where I really, like, spent most of my time after college was Fair Anita, which is a local jewelry company in Northeast that works with women in nine different countries to pay living wages. And really just partnering with women to make sure that they can support themselves and their families in countries that it would be harder to find jobs to do that. And Joy McBrien is the owner and yeah, also just a wonderful mentor in my life that I don't think I would have opened if I hadn't been there.

Sam Bauman: 33:11

Awesome. Thank you so much for that. I'm excited to check them out.

Taylor Hall: 33:15

Yeah. Amazing places.

Sam Bauman: 33:17

Well, thank you so much for your time this morning. It's been lovely and I'm just so excited to get to share your story with our listeners.

Taylor Hall: 33:24

Well, yeah, thank you. I appreciate you listening to me for an hour.

Adam Rondeau: 33:29

Absolutely.

Sam Bauman: 33:30

Our pleasure. Absolutely. That was Taylor hall of Evergreen Collective. If you want to go visit the shop, you can check them out near the intersection of Lexington and Grand in St. Paul or you can find Evergreen Collective online at EvergreenCollectiveFinal or on Instagramcoevergreen.co. thank you so much for listening. Make sure to follow our podcast or follow us on Instagram at to get updates of new episodes. Have a great day.