EO Products Garners Small Biz Honor, Delays Opening of Downtown Shop

, the Corte Madera-based personal care products company owned by longtime Mill Valley residents Susan Griffin-Black and Brad Black, was honored by state Assemblyman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) this week as the “Small Business of the Year” in his 6th Assembly District.

Huffman bestowed the honor on Griffin-Black and Black at a ceremony at the Sacramento Convention Center earlier this week.

“One of California’s competitive advantages is the growth of green companies like EO Products that are dedicated to environmentally responsible business practices,” Huffman said in a statement. “These small businesses are vital to California’s economic growth, providing quality jobs for skilled workers, and stimulating growth in other sectors of the economy.”

EO, founded by Griffin-Black and Black in San Francisco in 1995, has a number of changes on the way this year. First, the company in the heart of downtown. Griffin-Black originally targeted a mid-March opening but now says it will be in early September.

Currently based in Corte Madera, EO Products is a family-owned and operated manufacturer of personal care products, using the highest-grade natural and certified-organic ingredients. EO creates products that are natural, gentle, effective and free from animal testing.

“We know that providing a product with integrity and sustainability is a choice and we make this choice consciously to ensure that only the finest products are created,” said Griffin-Black, who is building a home on Lovell Ave. on the property once occupied by the old Smith & Hawken shop, along with her husband and EO co-founder Brad and her sister, owner Karen Goldberg.

In May, EO Products announced its decision to remain in Marin after a prolonged search for a larger, certified-organic manufacturing facility. After considering sites both inside and outside the region, the company chose to relocate to the former Industrial Light & Magic building in San Rafael.

“We’re pumped to be a part of the unique character and history of this location, and we’re looking forward to becoming involved in our new neighborhood in San Rafael,” Black said.