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Toilet bombs dropped less than two weeks ago; retailers can’t seem to keep them on the shelves

Toilet Bombs by Bear Soap Co., Soap Bar in Westport

Bear Soap Co.’s latest bestseller might have begun as an accident, but the bath bombs for toilet bowls are making a splash as shoppers discover a cheeky new stocking stuffer that fizzes beyond the holiday season, said Matt Bramlette. “The toilet bombs can be a fun novelty gift; or they can be something that people…

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Cotton candy calling: Why a South KC sweets shop’s signature treat is still hand-spun with an air of nostalgia

Kiffany Bosserman, Cottontale, Cookies and Creamery

Each ding of the oven generates more buzz for this whimsy-frosted bake shop and creamery in South Kansas City. But it’s the soft, sticky sweet treat that fills small tubs and lines the store’s shelves — (hand) spinning the entrepreneurial dreams of its owner into a sugar-rush of a reality.  “I really hit the jackpot,”…

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He wanted a dress shoe as comfortable as bare feet; How Joey Ahearn is reimagining wingtips to boots one step at a time

Joey Ahearn, Free Form

A newly unboxed, Kansas City-laced premium shoe company offers a single promise: to make often-uncomfortable men’s dress shoes healthy to wear — without stomping out fashion.  “I grew up wearing Converse and Vans and socks and lacing really tight every day,” recalled Joey Ahearn, a physical therapy assistant, as well as founder and CEO of Free…

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Moss-backed design studio nurtures nature indoors with sustainable pieces ‘neither living nor dead’

The Fat Plant Society installation at The Laya Center in Kansas City's Crossroads Arts District

Green statement pieces across Kansas City’s Midtown and Crossroads neighborhoods — from Westside Flats to the spas at The Laya Center and the herb dispensary at Fresh Karma — boast just a snapshot of the story behind the mossy growth of The Fat Plant Society. The eye-catching biophilic designs — which have the appearance of a…

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A test of Fit Truk’s core strength: People assume it’s a franchise, mobile gym owner says

Josh Guffey and Hailee Bland Walsh, Fit Truk KC

One of Hailee Bland Walsh’s biggest affirmations came in the form of a question: Is Fit Truk a franchise?  “As someone who has built businesses from the ground up, that is very validating and a huge compliment,” said Bland Walsh, co-founder of the fully-equipped outdoor gym truck, as well as the owner of City Gym…

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