Change Makers is series of interviews with people famous and obscure who are creating a more sustainable world through their work. Meet more Change Makers here.
Courtesy of Claire Hall
After ten years as a practicing attorney, Claire Hall knew the time had come to make a change. Fed up with long hours and thankless clients, she left the legal world behind. Though she didn't have a clear plan for her future, she knew that she wanted to do something that married her passion for the green movement and one of her favorite pastimes—leisurely reading labels while shopping at Whole Foods. Then, while sitting in a coffee shop one day, she gazed across the street at an empty store front and her plans unraveled before her: She'd open her very own eco-store that would offer not only eco-friendly stock, but would also make a point to educate shoppers in a fun and friendly manner. Voila, The Did You Know? Store was born in Wakefield, Rhode Island. Today, Hall's retail Mecca is stocked with everything from lipstick to cleaning supplies to kids lunchboxes. Cheerful signage around the store informs consumers with trivia about how the products work and why they are green. Another good sign? Hall's success has been confirmed: She recently opened a second shop up the road in East Greenwich.
How did you get into this line of work?
After practicing law for ten years, I needed a change. I have always had a passion for natural and organic products and for taking care of the Earth and treating it with the respect that it deserves. The Did You Know? Store allows me to have an outlet for all of those things, and to connect with my community.
What was your "a-ha" moment?
My biggest a-ha moment happened years ago, when I was newly married. We had a real ant problem in our house. At that point, I wasn't aware of all the natural ways to rid your home of ants, so I contacted a pest control company for a consultation. An employee of the company came to the house to "inspect." While I was in another room, he proceeded to treat all of the baseboards with a pesticide. There was a white residue of chemicals throughout my home and the vision of actually seeing all the chemicals along the baseboards was too much to handle. I couldn't stop thinking about the harm it might cause us, our animals, or the children that I would one day have.
Who is your green hero?
My children are my green heroes. They have developed great habits at such a young age and I know it will stay with them as they grow.
What is your ultimate green goal?
My ultimate green goal is to encourage everyone to make small choices and changes in their lives with the objective of making our world greener. A bunch of small changes can make a huge impact! I want everyone to realize that the small changes, such as switching to natural cleaning products, using reusable bags when shopping, and drinking out of reusable containers will have an enormous impact on the sustainability of our earth!
What is your motivation?
My motivation is my children, my children's children, and their children's children. When I think about how much I love my kids, I can't imagine how much I'm going to love their kids, and their kids' kids. I want to be able to leave them with a healthy and beautiful planet.
What is most important to you, ecologically speaking?
I think that we need to appreciate and respect what we have. We have the ability to make things a lot worse, but we also have the ability to make things a lot better. The choice to make things better will protect future generations. I'd like to see everyone make choices for the better.
What is the most challenging part of your job?
The most difficult part of my job is time management and trying to balance the retail store details with the educational components of my business.
What is the most rewarding?
When I see people making changes based on what they've learned from the store. When customers come into the store and read the facts and information and then use to make a positive change, it is awesome!
Of the people you have worked with, who impresses you most?
The manager of my Wakefield store has been with me since the day we opened. When she started, she was not very green. However, she took it upon herself to research and research and research. She has now made significant changes in her life that will have a tremendous impact on our world. She realizes that the choices we make each day really do make a difference.
What green thing do you do everyday?
I send my children to school with waste free lunches. They do not bring anything to school that will be thrown away, and in turn they keep at least 90 pounds of garbage out of our landfills each year.
What do you wish you could do?
I wish that I could put a windmill in my backyard.
What is your biggest eco-sin?
I used to drive a big SUV because I thought I needed it to fit my family and friends.
If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?
Unfortunately, many people believe that as individuals they cannot make much of a difference in helping to protect our world. I wish I could make everyone realize that their actions and the examples they set really do make a difference.
What is your best green advice?
Don't worry about becoming 100 percent green or having to change your entire lifestyle. Do what you can and be conscious and you will see amazing things happen.
