Want to see pictures of our office and warehouse? Click here.

About the shopOrganic Team

The team comes from a variety of complementary backgrounds. Our skills, experience and interests cover a wide range - but we're all committed to natural and organic products. We have expertise in the organic and natural foods business, as well as in start ups, e-commerce, technology, marketing, budgeting and financial planning, inventory and warehouse management, purchasing, customer service, search engine optimization, and, well, you get the picture. We love what we do and we've all been doing it for quite some time. This latest adventure is the best of all worlds for us - the blending of our experience and passion - and we're thrilled to be able to do what we love and share that with you.

• Lisa Mainz, Founder
  
• Susan Snedaker, Founder
  
• more coming soon...

In the past when people asked me where I was from I used to say “nowhere”. Now I say a little bit of “everywhere”. My dad was in the military and my mother is Swiss, so I grew up around the world. And because my parents never wanted to live on military bases, we were able to enjoy different cultures, nationally and internationally. Some of my most treasured times are of my adolescent years in Tripoli, Lybia and my teenage years in Izmir, Turkey. Those experiences are the foundation of how I see the world, knowing that different cultures have different ways of living life but that we fundamentally all want the same thing - a happy, healthy life for ourselves and our loved ones. Simple stuff, really.

I've worked in the natural/organic food business for over twenty years, so it's fair to say I grew up in this business. I love working in this business because I believe so strongly in what I'm doing. Every time we bring in a new product line, every time we pack an order, every time we ship an order, I know we're helping people live healthier, cleaner, greener lives. Every time we get an order, I know that someone else is making a difference as well. Over the years, I've learned a lot from the people I've worked with in the natural and organic food industry. I'm really excited to have this opportunity to start up shopOrganic and build this business from the ground up and hopefully make the world just a bit better in the process.

My Perspective
There is no such thing as a state of perfection, only perfect moments. It is up to me to recognize those moments…enjoy them and continue on.

Favorite Quote

• "It is a bit embarrassing to have been concerned with the human problem all one's life and find at the end that one has no more to offer by way of advice than 'Try to be a little kinder.'"- Aldus Huxley

Random Factoids

• Learned to drink strong, sweet Turkish coffee while living in Ismir, Turkey. Now, decades later, I'm just coming down from that caffeine.

• Love to go birding; it’s a kind of meditation for me. Walk, listen, look up, identify; walk, listen, look up, identify (maybe)…you get the idea.

• Kayaked next to a baby humpback whale once in Olympia, Washington.

• Was better than Donna Rooney at box hockey, but couldn't beat her in the 50 yard dash in 4th grade.

• Prefer riding my motorcycle when temperatures are below 100.

• Once worked as a farrier (horse shoer), wasn't my best skill, but I still love horses.

• Am known to many of my friends as "MacGyver" for my ability to fashion odd tools out of found scraps to get myself out of a jam.

Current faves on my iPod

• Pat Metheny
  
• Rufus
  
• Etta James
  
• Leona Lewis
  
• Pink
  
• Cecelia Bartoli
  
• Bryn Christopher
  
• A3
  
• Jamesz
  
• Bering Strait
  
• various mash ups
  

Thanks for stopping by shopOrganic. We're proud of what we've accomplished so far and we welcome your comments.

Healthy regards, Lisa

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I was born and raised in New York, just outside of Manhattan. I loved the proximity to New York City - the museums, theatre, food and diverse cultures - for me, it was the best of both worlds. I've lived in Massachusetts, Vermont, California, New Mexico and Arizona. I settled in Tucson, AZ and found home. I love the desert, I especially love the heat. I don't know why, but I'm happiest in June when it's insanely hot (100+ degrees), dry and sunny day in and day out.

My background is in business and technology. I've worked for several large technology firms in the past and in recent years have consulted with companies on implementing technology solutions, especially in companies involved with health, wellness and natural foods. Starting this business was a perfect fit with my background, experience and interests and so far, it's been a fascinating and rewarding experience.

My Perspective
What I want for myself, I want for everyone. Life's more fun that way.

Favorite Quotes

• "In the end, only kindness matters." - Jewel

• "You never know when you're having good luck." - Ancient Tibetan quote, I think

• "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful people can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead

Random Factoids

• I was the goalie on my high school field hockey team. I was not very good, but then, neither was the rest of my team. What we lacked in skill, we made up for in high school attitude.

• I hiked the Appalachian Trail with two friends. We met a lot of great people and one really huge, scary bear (no injuries, just a lot of adrenalin).

• Went to the same high school as sportscaster Jimmy Roberts and football Hall of Famer Art Monk. I'm sure their websites say "Went to high school with entrepreneur Susan Snedaker...."

• Study Shotokan karate and Kodokan judo.

• Worked for Microsoft, never met Bill Gates. (Bill, there's still time - now that neither of us is with Microsoft anymore....call me).

• Make a pretty tasty ciabatta thanks to a one week baking course at the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley with world-renowned (and really nice guy) Chef Stephen Durfee.

Current faves on my iPod

• Bryn Christopher
  
• Leona Lewis
  
• Adele
  
• Pat Metheny
  
• Santana
  
• Counting Crows
  
• Diana Krall
  
• The Fray
  
• Usher
  
• Rob Thomas
  
• vintage Bonnie Raitt
  
• Sara Bareilles
  
• Keith Jarrett - The Koln Concert

Thanks for stopping by shopOrganic. I hope you'll come back often and as always, contact me if you have any questions, comments or suggestions.

Healthy regards, Susan

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We do business as shopOrganic.com, but the formal name of our adventure is Border & Black Ventures. We chose this name for the best of reasons - two of them really - our dogs. One's a Border Collie named Jackie Brown. The other is a regular ole lovable black dog named Rosie. Together, they are Border & Black and they embody the qualities we admire - smart, agile, affable, lovable and always in a good mood. We bring them down to the office once or twice a week where they bark at falling palm fronds or scampering lizards. Mostly they sleep in the conference room and await samples of organic dog treats.

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About shopOrganic

Formed by a small team of people committed to a sustainable future, shopOrganic's management and staff have many years' experience in the natural and organic products market. We have a strong commitment to contributing to clean food, clean water and a clean planet through sustainable and responsible business practices.

Our company is founded on the notion that we do best when we consider our own self-interests and the interests of the larger group. We believe we can do well by doing good and we want to ensure that our children and their children have a safe, clean and peaceful world in which to live. What we want for ourselves, we want for everyone. We're doing our part and invite you to join us on this exciting adventure.

We encourage you to sign up for our email list as well. Subscribers will receive occasional coupons for discounts as well as helpful news, information and other content that will amuse, inspire and educate you about the world in which we live.

We're located in the amazingly beautiful Sonoran desert in Tucson, Arizona. More specifically, we're located in a wonderful business park, nestled between a solar company and a global warming research company at 3450 S. Broadmont Drive, Suite 114, Tucson, Arizona 85713. (We're not a retail location but you can order online and pick up locally if you'd like. Please read our Customer Service information for more on that).

Sincerely,
Lisa, Susan & The shopOrganic Team

"If corporations were to analyze their prospects for social responsibility using the same framework that guide their core business choices, they would discover the corporate social responsibility (CSR) can be much more than a cost, a constraint, or a charitable deed - it can be a source of opportunity, innovation, and competitive advantage."

Michael Porter and Mark Kramer, "Strategy and Society: The Link Between Competitive Advantage and Corporate Social Responsibility" Harvard Business Review, December 2006.

Our Committment To Organics

You can read more about this in our "Community" section (or click here), but here's the bottom line. We're committed to organics and our product offerings reflect that. Whenever possible, we offer products that are organic - 100%, 95%, 70% or made with organic ingredients. In some cases, products cannot be labeled as organic and in those cases, we look for clean, natural products.