Exploring Life & Business with Martha Kaiton of Adacus Finch General Store

Hi Martha, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Thanks so much for having me! We had been living in Los Angeles for 19 years, and, as you could probably guess (haha), we were big into social awareness issues and sustainable living. It was important to us. It still is. We want our kids to live consciously and to make decisions that take into account more than just their own self-interest. What better way to make a positive impact than with your purchase choices? Easy, right? Not really. Finding sustainably made, consciously-sourced products and fashion can be a time-consuming and tedious task. That’s when we thought “Wouldn’t it be cool if someone were to find a bunch of like-minded artisans and brands and bring them together in one shop. Sort of like a general store for quality, eco-conscious, and ethically sourced items.” That’s how the idea for Adacus Finch General Store was started. Shortly after the inception of the store, and before it had a name, we moved to West Michigan to be closer to family. We settled in the cute, little village of Ada, just outside of Grand Rapids. Ada, of course, ended up being a part of our store’s name. For us, and we suspect for many, the name Atticus Finch evokes feelings of social good, fairness, and decency. These are the principles on which we wanted to build our business. We decided on Adacus Finch and we got to work building our brand, sourcing high-quality products and apparel… much of which is handmade in Los Angeles, the city that inspired us. In November of 2021, we launched AdacusFinch.com and it’s been growing every day since. We’re planning to open a brick & mortar location soon, but in the meantime, our goal is to offer that familiar mom & pop, brick & mortar experience online. We are beyond grateful to our customers and supporters! Without you, we couldn’t do what we do. Thank you!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We are a young, upstart small business trying to find our place in a crowded, hyper-competitive online retail space. As I’m sure many small business owners can relate, to say the road has been smooth basically just means we’ve staved off a mental breakdown for one more day. Haha! Like most things worth pursuing, the road to success (or simply surviving) is paved with a whole spectrum of emotions. Adacus Finch is no exception. The store has been a huge source of pride and happiness for us. When someone discovers our shop and decides to make a purchase, there’s no better feeling in the world. It’s validating. On the flip side of that coin, however, is the fact that for every purchase, there are about a hundred visitors to our store who come and go. When people pop in for a minute and move on, brushing aside feelings of self-doubt is easier said than done.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Adacus Finch General Store?
Adacus Finch General Store is a family-owned and operated small business based in Ada, Michigan. Check us out at AdacusFinch.com. We carry a highly-curated selection of consciously-sourced home goods, women’s clothing, jewelry, accessories, self-care products, gourmet treats, and children’s gifts. It’s our new take on the old-fashioned general store. Our modern-boho style is inspired by our experiences living in Los Angeles. Where else can you find a high-end sweatshirt and joggers handmade from discarded, “dead-stock” fabric found on a street corner? When you give a gift from Adacus Finch, we want it to say something about you. We want it to say that you care about where your products come from, who makes them and the impact your choices have on our society and our environment. We aren’t the cheapest store you’ll come across, but that’s only because we handpick products from brands and artisans who are committed to fair wages and ethical business practices. As a show of our gratitude, we offer complimentary, eco-friendly gift wrapping all year long using our signature recycled kraft paper. We donate a portion of all sales to charities in our community.