Wendi and Bart Lindsay opened B. Lime in November of 2008. As the one year anniversary of the store approaches, they look back on the adventure of the last ten months with gratitude for the community’s response and no shortage of ideas for the future of their business.
As a couple, the Lindsays have backgrounds in zoology and environmental sciences (Bart), retail (Wendi), and wellness (both). They opened B. Lime to showcase some of the products they personally felt were beneficial to the environment, but were difficult to come by locally.
Says Wendi, “We knew there were amazing companies out there that were striving to make eco-friendly products. Unfortunately, most of those products were not available in Central Illinois. You had to find them in bigger cities or online.”
Another goal the Lindsays had was to raise awareness about sustainability in a consumer-friendly way. Wendi states, “We wanted a space that was inviting to everyone, no matter what his or her level of green living was. It’s about opening a dialogue and showing others that there are better consumer choices out there.”
This is the first business venture for Wendi and Bart, and Wendi feels that the response from the community has been “amazing.” She adds, “What keeps us going is the incredible people that walk in the door every day.”
She reports that the store enjoys a diverse customer base. “Our customers come from all walks of life, and from every end of the ‘green living’ spectrum. Some are simply in to purchase durable convenient items like rain barrels and water bottles, while others prefer to shop at B. Lime for gifts and fun items like jewelry and candles.”
According to Wendi, they’ve also had a great reception from other area businesses. She says, “There is a sense of camaraderie, not just in downtown Champaign but in Urbana and the surrounding areas too. It’s been very welcoming, and we love being a part of that.”
Although the name of the store is a play on the “Go Green” mantra, Wendi likes to steer clear of using the term “green” in reference to the specific products they carry. She feels it has become overused and unclear as a way to describe consumer goods, and prefers to focus on descriptors such as “recycled,” “reclaimed,” “biodegradable,” “organic,” “sustainable,” “locally-made,” and “low-impact.”
Most importantly, the Lindsays feel, is to have a good understanding of the companies whose products they sell. They look closely at the way those businesses produce their goods and their commitment to environmental issues in general.
Wendi states, “We have criteria we use to decide what products should live in the store. We have turned down some companies,” she adds.
As for the future, Wendi says that she and Bart would like to continue using the store to host talks on such topics as cloth diapering and harvesting rain water for home use. She also envisions expanding their business operation to include more products and to make online shopping available.
Wendi adds, “We have a vested interested in this community and want to see it thrive. We love being here.”
B. Lime is located in downtown Champaign at 12 East Washington Street. For more information on B. Lime, including store hours and available products, visit their website at blimegreen.com.