KALONA

Mother Edie Kemp and daughter Heather Kemp, entrepreneurs each, own and operate two small businesses separately but equally under the same roof in Kalona.

On Tuesday, Nov. 21, both Edie and Heather were recognized as new members of the Kalona Area Chamber of Commerce and gifted a plaque to honor their commitment to the community.

But what are their businesses?

Edie Kemp

Edie has been part of the community for quite some time. She once owned a bed and breakfast business and was a member of the Kalona Area Chamber of Commerce then as well.

“I would like to help the community and I think my business is a good thing,” Edie said.  “I just feel like Kalona is a very good place to promote and I’d like to promote it. That’s not my business, but it’s really about Kalona.”

Edie now works with Norwex, a sustainable company that sells products to help keep the environment safe and clean. A prime example is the microfiber cloths they sell, which can reduce the need for constantly purchasing items such as paper towels. Instead, one could buy the cloths once and, if they care for them properly, save big money.

“[Norwex] is making the world a better place for us to live,” Edie said.

Edie says the Norwex experience is to “live cleaner, safer [and] better.” When vendors like Edie promote and sell these products, they come one step closer to fully realizing this experience.

Norwex has a product list ranging from skin care to detergents and more options to replace everyday items with microfiber.

“My goal is to help people as much as possible to look as good as they can,” Edie said. “They also save money at the same time because you’re buying paper towels and all kinds of toxic cleaners [and Norwex can replace them]. You really do save a lot of money.”

Heather Kemp

Heather works with PaperPie, formerly known as Usborne books. She does so for similar reasons as her mother, Edie.

“I really believe in our community, and I love bringing joy with books to the kids,” Heather said. “I want to see the next generation literate and learning about good things and kindness. Bringing the community reading is super important.”

PaperPie is a book company that “makes learning fun” for children, according to Heather. The books PaperPie designs are educational in nature and fun to boot. The ideas range from books with lights to ones that accurately depict the human body – organs, bones, nervous systems, things of that nature. 

“I’m helping kids [with PaperPie] enjoy learning and just sparking their interest in new things and helping them dream big,” Heather said. “If I can do it, then surely you can too.”

Heather has enjoyed reading books from a very young age and considers the art extremely important. Heather hopes that making it fun will create life-long readers.

“I’ve always loved to read. You could usually find me in a corner, reading a book. That was my happy place,” Heather said. “And if I bring that love to someone else, [it means the world].” 

Contact the Kemps

If you’ve entered the Kemp home, you’ve seen the dedication to each of the Kemps’ crafts. Edie has a closet with Norwex products at the ready and Heather has stacks of books ready for a good reading. Joining the Chamber was only one step of the process. The next step is appearing as vendors at Christmas in Kalona on Saturday, Dec. 2.

If one cannot wait to see them at the event, Edie and Heather can be contacted individually.

For Edie: call (319) 936-0909; send an email at kleenreal@gmail.com; Edie’s website address is www.ediekemp.norwex.biz

For Heather: call (319) 330-2353; check her Facebook page; Heather’s website address is http://e12012.paperpie.com

“We have lots of inventory on hand, so if people need a last-minute gift, please come see us,” Heather said.