May 1, 2017

Meet Mirela & Megi Mecollari of Riche Organics in Highland Park

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mirela & Megi Mecollari.

Mirela & Megi, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My daughter always suffered from eczema. Being in the beauty industry for 20 years, I was aware of the chemicals most products on the market contain. Seeing the need to keep her safe especially during her developing years, I started to experiment with natural ingredients in my kitchen. These years of research became the hobby that we did together. Through this process we came up with various formulas that kept her eczema-free for years. We started to give our handmade products to friends and family who experienced the same skin ailments. In a short period of time we received such positive results and high demand. People started ordering products, and we realized, we had something that was needed to be shared with the public.

Our goal is to help improve the overall health and vitality of the skin. We use only ethical providers for our unrefined or organic emollients and essential oils which are extracted from pesticide free harvests and crops.

We use only environmental and research oriented chemists in the development of our products who are committed to excellence and progress. We offer skin safe products that are free of pesticide harvested ingredients, petroleum, sulfate, paraben, PEGs and formaldehyde. We use no artificial colors, dyes, cheap waxes or fillers and support Fair Trade ingredients. Our products are made fresh to order and are formulated with a generous amount of paraben-free and natural preservatives to ensure a long shelf life.

Initially we started selling it to salons, who loved it so much they incorporated into spa services. Then we created an online store, and followed it with a boutique in downtown Highland Park.

Currently we are expanding our product line, and having more stores around the Chicagoland area.

Has it been a smooth road?
The beauty industry is a very competitive field, and for us the biggest struggle was getting our products into stores.

Also, production especially when made locally require large capital.

Another struggle for us was keeping up with demand around the holiday season, but those are good problems to have.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Riche Organics – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
We are a locally based organic beauty products company.

We specialize in organic, handcrafted face, bath, body, and products.

We are known for our Goat milk & Manuka Honey soaps, which we have shipped all over the world.

We proud to be a cruelty free, eco-friendly, locally based, operated by women entrepreneurs.

What sets us apart is our use of high quality organic ingredients.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
What we like best about Chicago is:

1. People-Midwestern kindness.
2. Sports- the city’s electricity during game days.
3. Architecture- some of the best skyscrapers ever created.
4. The Lake-Nothing better than a day at the beach in the summer.
5. Central location- Fly anywhere quickly from ORD.
6. History- meatpacking factories, Great Chicago fire, and the Obama’s.

What we don’t like:

1. Cold Winters.

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