Biz Beat 8-27-2015

Mosaic Fair Trade Collection is a new store at 28 E. Broadway, selling handmade homewares, accessories and jewelry from around the world “made by fair trade workers who get living wages and safe working conditions,” says owner Susan Costa. One line she carries is by Portland company Tropical Salvage offering furniture from Indonesia handmade from salvaged deforestation wood. Costa says her passion for international development started when she did a college study abroad program to Nepal for nine months. Phone number is (206) 427-4780.

Custom Cranium, a relatively new business in Eugene (2014), has moved from 1331 Willamette Street (the former Deluxe location) to 154 Lawrence Street in the Whiteaker neighborhood. The store, owned by Darien Baysinger and Adam Prawlocki, carries a variety of esoteric items from cane frog purses to a bear skull museum. Many of the items are related to bones. Baysinger is from Texas, where she made antler chandeliers, polished horn chairs and other items with a Southwestern flair. “When I moved to Oklahoma, I got really involved with the bone hunting, articulation and cleaning and that’s when Custom Cranium in its current form really started,” she says in an email. “I was a collector for a while, and started making dolls and jewelry; that’s what kept me alive through four years with no other work, and convinced me that it’s totally possible to do what I love for a living.” The showroom is open from 11 am to 7 pm Tuesday through Friday and noon to 6 pm Saturdays. See customcranium.com or call 525-9037.

The second annual Blues, Brews & Classic Cars festival is a benefit for FOOD for Lane County from noon to 3 pm Sunday, Aug. 30, at the Fifth Street Public Market. Suggested donation is $3 or three cans of food. A donation provides a chance to vote for Best Classic Car, Best Hot Rod and Best in Show. Music will be provided by Paul Biondi and his blues band.

Halo Aviation, an aerial photography business based in Eugene, has gained federal approval for commercial use of drone technology. Scot Joiner is one of only eight individuals or businesses in the state of Oregon to be approved by the FAA for the commercial operational use of drones. Businesses or individuals who pilot drones for commercial use without FAA approval are subject to fines. Joiner, a commercial helicopter and fixed wing pilot, started Halo Aviation to give home and land owners an accurate geographic perspective of their properties. UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) technology allows the drone operator and the customer to see everything the UAV camera is recording in real time. See haloaviation.net.

Arriving By Bike at 2705 Willamette Street in Eugene has been named one of America’s Best Bike Shops for 2015, according to owner Paul Moore. The store made a national list of about 240 shops and is the only Eugene store on the list. Several Portland bike shops made the list. The awards are sponsored by the National Bicycle Dealers Association and are only given to independent physical stores with service departments. Owners must fill out an extensive application and be willing to be “mystery shopped” by an outside company as a test of their customer service. The shop also has a series of bike-related events and sales going on this Thursday through the weekend. Call 484-5410.

Oregon benefit companies are the topic at the next meeting of GreenLane Sustainable Business Network luncheon at 11:30 am Wednesday, Sept. 2, at the Hilton downtown. Speakers include Ed Gerdes of Café Yumm! and Joshua Proudfoot of Good Company. Lunch is available for $14.50.

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