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Staff Profile: Sonya
Dewitt
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| Cashier and Cosmeticist |
by Andrew Elder
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Sonya Dewitt is an Honest
Weight staff member who works part-time as a cashier Sundays, Mondays
and Tuesdays. But week in and week out, her knowledge of holistic
cosmetics has provided Co-op shoppers and workers insight into good
health and beauty.
An Albany native, Sonya has been a member since 1997. When a staff
position opened up in 2000, she was quick to apply for the opportunity.
With only a short break for maternity leave, Sonya has been a
consistent part of the Co-op's front line: the cashiers. Although every
position in the Co-op touches the shopper's experience from time to
time, the cashiers are a guaranteed point of contact for every
customer, every time.
Before she became a staff member, Sonya worked in HaBA (Health and Body
Aids), now called the Wellness department. It complimented her growing
interest in natural cosmetics and, in 2006, she filed a DBA for her own
business-- Environmentally Conscious Cosmetics. Even though she has
moved on from Wellness, she brings her knowledge with her in the form
of workshops held once or twice a month, educating shoppers about
natural moisturizers, hair dyes, mascara, lipstick and other cosmetics.
She doesn't sell many products of her own, but rather enjoys educating
customers and spreading her passion for natural alternatives, teaching
all comers how to make holistic moisturizers and makeup from
ingredients they can buy right at the Co-op.
"People are big on the good oils," says Sonya. "Grapeseed oil and
others can be used to make natural moisturizers. People are always
surprised at how simple it is. Coconut oil is one the kids like. It's
safe for consumption, but I tell them not to eat it!"
Besides customers, members of the Wellness department often ask Sonya
for advice on ingredients, and she is quick to point out the
shortcomings of most commercially available cosmetics. "The current
rage of antibacterial soaps has left people with pretty rough skin, so
the moisturizers are big," says Sonya. "One ounce of a natural
moisturizer you can make yourself with natural ingredients lasts as
long as six ounces of store brands. They contain alcohols and salts
that are drying agents.
"I like things as simple as possible," says Sonya. "I have brochures
and business cards, but I prefer to interact with people directly." To
that end, she uses the food demo cart indoors in cold weather, and the
picnic table outside when it's warm, for her workshops. She's been
asked to come to the Woman's Building and demonstrate her business, and
does workshops at her daughter's school as well.
Sonya does most of her shopping at Honest Weight, where she gets
ingredients for her cosmetics. "It's a great community- based store,"
says Sonya. "I buy ingredients at the Co-op, bring back something new,
and teach others with what I've made. It brings the circle back around."
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