By Jim Cavan

1 World Trading Co. had its official ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday morning at their new Congress Street storefront in downtown Portsmouth. Members of the city’s Chamber of Commerce and the Green Alliance were on hand to officially welcome co-owners Paul and Karen Keegan into the Seacoast community.
The couple opened its doors on November 1st, and almost immediately after joined the Green Alliance. They also own a second 1 World Trading in Nashua, where they reside.

For Karen Keegan, the move east was a natural one. “In Nashua we were perceived as a gift store that sold green merchandise,” says Paul. “Since we’ve been in the Portsmouth space, we’ve been very much accepted as a green store first and foremost, which just so happens to offer lots of interesting gifts.”

One World’s line of green gifts and products truly runs the gamut: shelves of locally-made soaps and maple syrups mingle with Kleen Kanteens, sustainable dog collars, and organic sweaters; board games like “Earth-opoloy” and recycling trucks made from a blend of re-constituted plastics and woodchips carve out a truly charming stock of children’s fodder.

But it’s what’s sitting in the back of the store that is perhaps the most unique and exciting. After researching numerous local cleaning product companies, Paul and Karen started using and offering Biokleen, a Washington-based purveyor of dishwasher and laundry detergents, as well as an all-purpose cleaner. The Keegans and their customers liked it so much they did something that very few people nationally had ever tried: selling the cleaning products in bulk, with the help of four 55-gallon tanks.

“Basically you just bring in any old reusable container you want, and we fill it up for you with whichever cleaner out back,” explains Paul. “A half gallon of the laundry detergent will be good for 128 loads of laundry, and it costs less than regular detergent. Save the earth, save some money – that’s what we’re here for.”

It’s been such a success, in fact, that Biokleen is now starting to market this approach to other businesses, convincing small business owners to do what the Keegans have done.

Back out front, the store also offers an impressive line of recycled, refurbished and re-imagined bikes, or Recycles Bicycles Unlimited, which they’ve built by scouring craigslist or taking on old riders from friends or around the community. Paul in particular knows a little something about the subject: in October he participated in a 5-day Climate Ride from New York City to Washington D.C. to help raise awareness for global climate change.

Taking over the space from Garber Travel, Paul ripped up the existing four layers of carpet and replaced it with native New Hampshire pine, providing the store a warm, inviting feel – not unlike that given off by its owners. To say that the couple felt a sense of continuity in opening their new store would be an understatement: their original Nashua store, ironically enough, also replaced a Garber Travel. Coincidence? Perhaps. But we like to think of it as just another reason why Paul and Karen have found the Seacoast to be the perfect fit for their unique – and undeniably green – approach to goods and gifts.