May 2008
Its easy being green
By Annemarie Donnelly

Danny Judy, owner of Dannys Organic Marketplace in Willoughby, sells organic products ranging from fresh fruits and vegetables to baby food, pet food and coffee.

Sustainability. It’s the word that seems to be on everyone’s lips these days, from those loitering at the office water cooler right up to the executives attending expensive seminars on the topic. Soccer moms at home are contemplating the benefits of fluorescent light bulbs, just as businesses are realizing the economic and environmental rewards from sustainable efforts.

In Lake County as in the rest of Northeast Ohio, businesses are increasingly marketing products and services geared toward “green” or sustainable initiatives, both for the everyday consumer and for the commercial community.

Organically grown

For Willoughby business owner Danny Judy, launching Danny’s Organic Marketplace in 2003 was the ideal answer for both his entrepreneurial and environmental interests. The store sells exclusively organic products ranging from food, to clothing, personal care products, cleaning agents and whole food supplements.

“I was at a place in my life where I was ready to start a business, and I wanted to do something that I was personally interested in,” says Judy, who had been using organic products for some time. “I researched the opportunity and saw that it was a growing industry.”

Judy thought he would start with a “small, 16-page catalog” but found that it quickly expanded into a 72-page catalog reaching consumers in 18 states, along with a Web site.  Next came the bricks and mortar store at 37111 Euclid Ave. in Willoughby, which today represents about 80 percent of the business, Judy says. The store now employs six full-time workers.

“Danny’s is pretty much a true family experience. We want you to feel like you just came over to our house for dinner, and we have things that you can taste and try in the store,” he says. “We are very open to someone coming in and asking for something specific that is organic. If we can find a product that meets our integrity standards, we’ll get it.”

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ADVENTURES IN DINING
Be sure to vote for your favorite place to eat in the LCBJ’s first ever restaurant survey. Vote online or mail in your completed survey. .

FOCUS ON HEALTH & SAFETY Grief in the workplace, panel discussions on the Healthy Families Act, an autism fund raiser and other health and safety information are in the special section on Health & Safety.

BUSINESS BRIEFS
Family Karate in Mentor added Olympic-style Tae Kwon Do to its programs with the addition of the students and staff of Mentor’s Xtreme Sports and Fitness… Mentor-based vision aid store Magnifiers & More now is providing consultation services for low-vision patients at Lang Optical in Elyria… Lake Hospital System has completed a nearly $2 million expansion project at its Madison Medical Campus… Jones Printing Services Inc. in Eastlake, co-owned by brothers Jim, Ralph and Bob Jones, got a loan with help from the Mentor Economic Assistance Corp. for a digital color waterless press… Brandt's Candies Inc. in Willoughby is celebrating its 60 th year in business … and read more Lake County area business news in the print edition.

MOVERS AND SHAKERS
Sequoia Realty Corp. in Mentor hired Mindy Fletcher of Madison as administrative assistant… Natalina Andreani, M.D., an obstetrician/gynecologist practicing in Chardon, was elected chief of the medical staff at University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center for the 2008-2009 term… Christi Farmer has been named to head Lake County’s new Mental Health Ombudsman Program… Avery Dennison Corp., a producer of pressure-sensitive labeling materials, has named Donald A. Nolan as group vice president at its Roll Materials headquarters in Mentor… James A. Stover, M.Ed., C.R.C, joined Auburn Career Center as a vocational rehabilitation counselor in the Career Resources Department…read about more Movers and Shakers in the print edition.

Pick up a copy of the print edition and read all this and more including Lori Valyko Weber’s Alpaca Dreams column, Awards & Honors and other Lake County Business Journal features.

May
Financing
Retirement & Estate Planning Community Focus: Mentor Industrial

June
Community Focus: Mentor Commercial/Living
NEW Feature! Favorite Restaurants Survey Results