On a nondescript side street in Grass Valley’s industrial area, there’s a nondescript warehouse with a few cars parked outside. The outside may not be worth seeing, but it’s what’s inside that sets Floracopeia (an e-commerce company that ships worldwide) apart from its neighbors.
Founded in 2004 by acupuncturist and clinical herbalist David Crowe, Floracopeia sells a wide range of premium essential oils, flower essences, aromatic waters, traditional Indian perfume oils, and other natural fragrances and medicinal blends. Masu.
While the products are manufactured within a small laboratory in Grass Valley, the ingredients themselves are sourced directly from “cottage industry” distilleries or harvesters in far corners of the globe. Many are individual family farms, and Crowe said they take care that all of their farms are thoroughly vetted and tested for quality, purity and sustainability. A key element of the company’s mission is to financially support and “uplift” environmentally responsible farmers.
“David (Crow) has personal relationships with all of our harvesters and distillers,” said Wendy Johnson, whose title is “Fulfillment and Operations Diva.” “Part of our goal is to help preserve the ethnobotanical wisdom of different cultures that might be lost without a market for raw materials. We focus on more unusual varieties. I tend to guess.”
Thanks to technology, Floracopeia has developed close collaborations with farmers and other “hyper-local economies” in countries such as Morocco, Iceland, Ecuador, South Africa, India, Croatia, Bulgaria, and Fiji. Johnson said the organic plants are sustainably sourced and most are “wild-grown,” meaning they are harvested directly from their natural habitat. They don’t buy their ingredients from middlemen.
Conor Nolan, Floracopia’s “Customer Relations Jedi and Wholesale Manager,” said each source around the world has an inspiring story that is shared with customers on a daily basis.
“We care about the distillery. We have a personal connection,” he added. “When Nepal recently experienced an earthquake, we called local distilleries to make sure they were safe. Thankfully, they were.”
The small company of 15 employees carries approximately 200 products, including well-known essential oils, flower essences, perfumes, and body care collections. Roughly one-third of the company is devoted to wholesale and one-third to retail stores (such as California Organic and his HAALo in Nevada City), but there is a third element: education.
“The safe and effective use of our oils is a top priority for us,” said Alexandra Heller, General Manager and Marketing Director. “We believe in grassroots medicine and everyone should know how to safely use essential oils and herbs to support their health.”
As a result, a wide range of books, e-books, videos, articles, blogs, and certification courses are available on the company’s website. Crowe himself continues to lead workshops and conferences.
The business originally grew out of Crow’s Acupuncture and Herbal Clinic in Venice, California, before relocating to Nevada City. A certified acupuncturist and clinical herbalist, Crowe studied Chinese, Ayurvedic, and Tibetan medicine primarily in Asia. He was also an avid student of South American ethnobotanical traditions.
“Originally, I used essential oils and aromatherapy as part of my clinical practice and incorporated them into acupuncture, herbal medicine, massage, hydrotherapy, and other treatments,” Crowe said. “I was also traveling and teaching at workshops and conferences, where there was a huge demand for aroma products and this was the main reason the company grew.”
Crowe is the author of four books, including In Search of the Medicine Buddha, which describes his work with Tibetan and Ayurvedic doctors in the Himalayas. He has been involved in grassroots medical efforts for many years, including establishing a learning garden at Venice High School and teaching his Farm to Pharmacy program at an herb farm in Massachusetts.
He continues to lecture throughout the country on a wide range of natural health topics. His wife Sarah is also an acupuncturist specializing in flower essence therapy.
Despite the challenges of a company that is growing rapidly at about 25% a year, Crowe said he has no plans to relocate.
“We are based in Nevada County because of the people who work here. We have a very positive, progressive and fun company culture, and we are all locally based. “That’s one of the big reasons,” he said. “We have a great management team and a wonderfully dedicated team, otherwise none of this would be possible.”
