We had the good fortune of connecting with Marisa Moore and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Marisa, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
When I made the commitment to have a sustainable business, a lot of challenges came with it. One thing that most people are unaware of is the difficulty of balancing costs with finding ingredients and packaging that are ethical, sustainable, and user-friendly. Hundreds of hours of research go into picking the right ingredients and packaging for a single product!
What should our readers know about your business?
I started my business several years ago as a hobby- I have always been a big time DIY’er and made a lot of my own products out of necessity- my skin reacted poorly to just about anything I bought at the store. As I made more and more I started sharing things I made with others. A lot of people started telling me “You should sell this.” So I set up a little shop online and didn’t pay much attention to it. Then I really started to shift my home and life to be more sustainable- it was only natural that my business should follow. That’s when I launched Sunlit Mountain to reflect what I really wanted- to help others live a natural and sustainable lifestyle by reducing toxic ingredients and plastic pollution.
My products are made in small batches with lots of love and local ingredients, and I take advantage of having a beekeeper for a husband who supplies me with all the honey and beeswax I need.
I’ve learned that I really have to be dedicated to sustainability to make every part of the process sustainable. That part is especially difficult because there are so many facets to consider- from shipping emissions to energy used to create the products, to ethically sourcing every ingredient.
Marketing is also difficult for a small business like mine. I”ve had to learn to not be afraid of talking to a lot of people, to put myself and products out there with confidence, and to be okay with slow growth through organic means (no paid ads.)
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We would go hike up to Horsetooth Rock and do some kayaking the reservoir. We’d grab a flight of chocolate at Nuance, walk and shop Old Town and grab dinner at The Kitchen.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
A shoutout to my family- They put up with the hectic and sometimes unpredictable schedule of a business owner, help out with manual labor when I’m in a pinch, test all kinds of products that aren’t quite there yet, and give me the confidence to continue when I think I just can’t do it.
Website: https://sunlitmountain.com
Instagram: www.instagram.sunlitmountain_ecoshop
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunlitmountain
Image Credits
Colin Shepherd