Northwest Source (a Seattle Times Company)

CRAVE Seattle book publishing

Seattle Magazine, September 2007
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Products and projects combine delightfully in owner Charlotte Wintermann’s garden boutique, flourishing off the radar in West Seattle since summer 2005. In the soothing store with sea green walls, concrete flooring and the sound of gurgling water, well-designed outdoor-living goods and gifts share space with classes for closet crafters.

The happy mix of merchandise includes beehive tea-light lanterns ($8.99–$11.99), mini glass vases ($9–$11) for filling with lucky bamboo ($3.99–$7.99) and Wintermann’s own lightly scented organic body and bath indulgences ($9–$19). Craft classes run one to two hours, and fees include supplies. Gather with the group and try your hand at decoupage ($32), container gardening ($40) or creating a tabletop fountain ($52). For those who’d rather fly solo, project kits are available online, complete with easy instructions.
Seattle Magazine, Lei Ann Shiramizu

Northwest Source Article
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Wander inside this West Seattle home-and-garden oasis, and the soothing sound of trickling fountains puts frantic shoppers at ease. Green, leafy trees and soft lighting complement brilliant bubble glass, earthenware pottery and grass basketry.

First an online mail order catalog, Basic Green Box has grown to include a brick-and-mortar store complete with retail space, a craft room and an outdoor patio garden.

Owner Charlotte Wintermann says products must have three attributes: quality, uniqueness and an element of timelessness. Almost anything you find at Basic Green Box has passed this test, from the Italian wall sconce planters to the Turkish tumblers and scroll candelabras.

This store also offers project classes to inspire customers to create their own professional-looking items, including tabletop fountains, serving trays and centerpieces (which happen to come as "kits" inside green boxes, hence the store name).

Designed to be made at home or at an in-store class, the projects use natural materials people tend to have around the house, encouraging the use of creative resources versus going out to buy more materials.

Kits are designed for the non-crafter who likes to decorate and create, but doesn't have time to spend coming up with ideas, gathering materials and going through the whole trial-and-error process.

"People look at something like (the tabletop fountain) and don’t think they can make it themselves," says Wintermann. They are surprised that they can create this wonderful, soothing element for any room. And when friends come over and compliment them on it, they can reply, 'Thanks, I made it myself.'"

Note: Subscribe to the monthly newsletter at www.basicgreenbox.com and receive information on in-store projects, special events and sales or promotions designed just for subscribers.
By Lori Hinton, Special to NWSource

CRAVE book publishing
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basic green box is a CRAVE featured business, the ultimate guide to the places that women crave in seattle! "CRAVE Seattle is a quality-of-life manifesto that will connect YOU with more than 240 extraordinary service professionals and boutique retailers in Seattle."

MY ROLE MODELS/MENTORS
I am always inspired, to be inspired. Several colleagues and friends were great sounding boards as we determined if there was a need for our sense of style, combined with product and ‘craft’ handiness.

HOW MUCH MONEY DID IT TAKE TO START?
$60,000

ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE TO WOMEN STARTING THEIR OWN BUSINESS?
Always reach out creatively for new ways to build your business - word of mouth is a powerful marketing tool. Don’t underestimate people’s willingness to get creative with you to build your business.

WHAT I LIKE MOST ABOUT OWNING A BUSINESS.
I am really big on the importance of feeling great in the space you’re in; big on creating a lifestyle feel in my environment and I am so thrilled when our customers get excited and creative about repeating the experience in their own home and garden to suit their lifestyle. When I achieve this, I know all the work is worth it!

WHAT I LIKE LEAST ABOUT OWNING A BUSINESS
Oh there’s so much work! The balance of all the activities can certainly be hectic.

PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED THAT I...
Found all my store displays for free by scouting the city (you should have seen them when I found them!)With a few power tools and paint, I was able to shave off a chunk of my starting capital to invest in product.

Purchase this must have guide to the best in Seattle for yourself or as a gift!