Small Businesses Band Together in Richmond Collective

Kind Hearted Goods offers shared retail space and community support for local entrepreneurs

Apr. 3, 2026 at 2:03am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life featuring a collection of premium, polished objects representing the products and materials of the small businesses in the Kind Hearted Goods collective, arranged elegantly on a clean, monochromatic background using dramatic lighting to symbolize their collaborative spirit and shared values.The Kind Hearted Goods collective in Richmond brings together local small businesses to share resources and showcase their commitment to quality, sustainability, and community.Richmond Today

A group of Richmond small business owners have overcome high commercial rents by teaming up to share a storefront at Kind Hearted Goods, a collective retail space in the Church Hill neighborhood. The six businesses, which include clothing, skincare, and soap makers, contribute to rent and staffing duties, allowing them to establish brick-and-mortar locations they otherwise couldn't afford individually. The collaborative model has provided stability and a sense of community during challenging economic times.

Why it matters

Small businesses have struggled with rising rents and economic uncertainty in recent years, leading many to forgo opening physical storefronts. The Kind Hearted Goods collective demonstrates how pooling resources and sharing responsibilities can help local entrepreneurs overcome these barriers and establish a presence in the community.

The details

The Kind Hearted Goods collective started about a year ago with three businesses and has since grown to six. Each member contributes one day per week to staffing the shared retail space, and they divide the rent accordingly. This model has allowed the businesses, which include 'Dottir' clothing, 'Toy Blossom' skincare, and 'Tippy Tippens' soaps, to open brick-and-mortar locations they otherwise couldn't afford individually. The collective also shares a commitment to environmental and social responsibility, and has donated over $91,000 to local causes.

  • Kind Hearted Goods was founded about a year ago.
  • The collective has grown from 3 to 6 businesses over that time.

The players

Lauren Williams

Owner of the 'Dottir' clothing business, which is part of the Kind Hearted Goods collective.

Skyler Carpenter

Owner of the 'Toy Blossom' skincare business, which is part of the Kind Hearted Goods collective.

Tippy Tippens

Owner of the 'Tippy Tippens' soap business, which founded the Kind Hearted Goods collective.

Kind Hearted Goods

A collective retail space in Richmond's Church Hill neighborhood, housing six small businesses that share the rent and staffing responsibilities.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“With 'Toy Blossom' I make eco-friendly skin and body care, so everything's packaged in metal, paper or glass, so it's refillable.”

— Skyler Carpenter, Owner, Toy Blossom

“Sharing the time with one another, as far as one shop day a week, and sharing the rent, just made it that much more possible.”

— Skyler Carpenter, Owner, Toy Blossom

“The collective model is just wonderful for Richmond, because we all kind of know each other already. So go find your small business friends and talk to them about this idea.”

— Lauren Williams, Owner, Dottir

What’s next

The Kind Hearted Goods collective plans to continue growing its membership and community impact, with the goal of providing more small businesses the opportunity to establish a physical presence in Richmond.

The takeaway

The Kind Hearted Goods model demonstrates how small businesses can overcome the challenges of high commercial rents and economic uncertainty by banding together in a collaborative retail space. This approach not only helps individual entrepreneurs, but also strengthens the local community by fostering a diverse and vibrant small business ecosystem.