The Story of our Small Family Business

Posted on November 26, 2022 by Kryz Kociolek | 0 comments

Stone Creek Trading is the true small family business. Kryz and I (Emily) started this business in 2013 when we were both working full time for architecture firms.  We were exhausted and burnt out from long days at work and never enough time at home with our then 3 year old daughter.  We knew we needed to take a big risk if we wanted to break out of the rut we were in!

We decided to combine our interests in natural foods with Kryz's connection to his home country of Poland.  When we looked for a fermenting crock for ourselves, we discovered there were so many more options made in Poland that we couldn't find here in the United States.  So we asked Kryz's father in Poland to ship us a couple.  In February of 2013, we incorporated the company and started by importing 2 fermenting crocks - the 5L and 10L Boleslawiec Fermenting Crocks, which are still some of our biggest sellers!

Before we launched the website in April of 2013, we imported one pallet of products.  Within a year we switched from importing pallets to our first small container!  Over the years, we found more unique products and fermenting crock suppliers.  We love working with other small businesses in Poland that wouldn't normally be able to export their products on their own.

In 2016, we took the business to the next level by developing and patenting our own product - the Luna Glass Crock Weights.  These glass weights quickly became our signature product!  The Luna Glass Crock Weights now make up over 20% of our sales, the largest share of any product we sell.

Since we launched this company it has been run by our family, both here in the United States and Poland!  Our Polish operation is headed up by Jacek, Kryz's father.  He works with our Polish manufacturers and gets everything ready to ship to us here in the United States.  Over the years, we have moved to having all of our marketing materials and cardboard made in Poland as well! 

We've always been hands on owners - every customer service email or newsletter you've received has been written by Emily!  All the products have been tested in our own kitchen before we sell them.  We are right there doing the manual labor too - unpacking containers and packing and shipping orders!  We've traveled to Poland several times to meet with manufactures to learn more about the products and people who make them!

This spring we will be celebrating 10 years in business!  It's hard to believe it's been that long, but I can't imagine doing anything else.  We never would have been successful for this long without the support of our amazing customers - you!  Thank you so much for everything you do to support us and keep this story going!

- Emily & Kryz


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