Nestled in the heart of Ashland, Press For Oil is more than just a store—it’s a vibrant community hub where passion, flavor, and sustainability meet. Founded by the enthusiastic and community-centered Kim Lodwich, the shop delights locals with its aromatic oils, curated flavors, and, most recently, a popular bottle-refill program that’s drawing applause from the city. In this month’s mini-interview, we celebrate Kim’s joy in what she does, the meaningful relationships she’s cultivated with her customers, and the sprightly innovations—like recipe cards, a pairing-of-the-month, and seasonal mixes—that keep the store feeling fresh and deeply loved by Ashland.
Hi Kim, thanks for taking the time to talk with us today. To begin with, why did you decide to introduce the bottle-refill option, and what has the response been like from the community?
This has become one of the biggest and most consistent requests over the years and of course it is! Ashland is a very planet-conscious community and recycling can be effective, but it was also difficult for me knowing these beautiful bottles had such a short life span. I finally made the decision early this year to incorporate a bottle refill time once a month each month for folks to come in and I will personally refill “our bottles.” It has been SO well received and a tremendous success! Our customers have been SO appreciative of this new offer and I am so glad we finally were able to accommodate this request. I will ask that if you are not familiar with our refill details, read those on the website at www.pressforoils.com.
Kim, what are some of your favorite signature products in the store right now, and why do they hold a special place for you?
That’s a tough question as there are so many amazing flavors. Some of the customer favorites are the Sicilian Lemon White Balsamic & the Black Mission Fig Dark Balsamic along with the Tuscan Herb Olive Oil. I would have to say that some of my new favorites are the Watermelon, Strawberry Kiwi & Montmorency Cherry-Rose Balsamic Vinegars as well as the Garlic & Tuscan Herb Olive Oils. A few of my forever favorites will always be the Lemongrass Mint & Cara Cara Balsamic Vinegars. All so good!
You’ve created such strong relationships with your customers. How do you nurture that sense of trust and connection?
I truly believe it starts when a customer walks in the door. I know I am partial but I do feel that customers walk into a charming and intimate environment. Conversations almost always ensue, likely because they are overwhelmed with the amount of choices or that they are given the opportunity to taste all the products. In addition, we take the time with all of our customers to answer questions, assist with product pairings, and hear their olive oil experiences… Customers comment all the time on how much they appreciate all of our assistance, their wonderful experience and it’s a place they want to come back to. I want everyone to have that level of customer service every time they come in and that’s what we strive to do. We appreciate all of our customers and want them to have that amazing experience every time they come in.
Tell me about your idea of crafting a ‘mix of the month’ and a ‘pairing of the month.’ How did that evolve, and what’s your goal behind it?
We actually do a weekly “mocktail” which is put outside of the store for patrons to try. It’s a blend of balsamic vinegar and soda water. Super simple. The truth is, I started this because our balsamic vinegars not only taste amazing but are fabulous for your digestion & gut health. I also thought it would be a great marketing tool to get people in the store because they could try it and most likely LOVE it and have to have it. So many people come in and say “I want that.” It’s so fun for me to see how much people love something they would have most likely never tried on their own.
We haven’t started the pairing of the month but it’s on the forecast!
With the holidays approaching, how are you gearing up at Press For Oil? Any special products or experiences you’re excited to offer?
As we are open 7 days a week through December, we will be available for all of the last minute shoppers, as well as those that like to plan ahead. We have a great team that offers suggestions of great olive oil & balsamic pairings as well as other gifty ideas as we have so many other fabulous products at the store.
We also ship so we can take that piece off your plate as well!
We also have 3 Holiday Faires coming up that we are super excited about:
Holiday Faire at the Expo — 11/07-11/09
Roxy Ann Winery Holiday Fair — Dates TBD
Merry Market at the Rogue X — 11/28-11/30 (This is our first event at the Rogue X)
Kim, you truly exude passion for your work. Was there a pivotal moment when you realized, ‘I love what I do, and this is going to be something special?’
I wanted to create a place that offered not just amazing products but a place that people just loved coming in to. The first time I got a compliment on the store it filled me with such a feeling of accomplishment that I did actually create the kind of store I wanted to have. I will tell you, I never get tired of hearing, “This is a beautiful store” or “This is the reason I come to Ashland.” There are always ups and downs in retail but knowing my customers are having a unique and joyful experience every time they come in, makes it all worthwhile for me.
