About Shelf
Shelf equips online shoppers with the information they need to make thoughtful purchasing decisions. We believe that if we can help guide each website visitor to the right product for their needs, it will result in less waste and a better life. The team at Shelf is dedicated to building web pages with well-researched, thoughtful, and comprehensive content. The foundation of our website is an optimal user experience. With a focus on speed, we continually cut excess. The minimalist design only loads essential elements such as typography and images. This back to the basics approach helps keep things speedy on whichever device you choose to visit us from.
We advocate for slowing down and a more thoughtful approach to improving our homes, gardens, and communities. In this regard, our mission is to encourage mindful consumption. We give credence to the idea that consumers should consider questions such as, “Is this a want or a need?” “Can I make do with what I already have?” “How much am I going to use this?” “Should I buy used instead?” before making any purchase. The most eco-friendly item you can purchase is a used one.
We trust in preserving our independence. This independence enables us to recommend services and products to our readers objectively. In our product round-ups, we’ve done our research to surface the products that we believe offer the best value for our readers as well as brands committed to sustainability. Note that our writers and editors independently select the products discussed on our site. At no extra cost to you, things you buy through the links on our site may earn us a commission, but we never receive compensation from brands for inclusion or placement of their products.
The quality and freshness of our content are always top of mind at Shelf. If you notice something that’s not 100% accurate or could use some improvement, get in touch with us by emailing [email protected] or use our contact page.
Meet Your Guides
Editing Team
Sharayah is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of Shelf. She graduated from Oregon State University, and has a background in Retail management. Her love of commerce has blended with her passion for writing to help inspire the creation of this site.
When she’s not churning through articles and topics, you can find Sharayah exploring with her toddler & dogs, enjoying her garden, and crocheting while her cat “helps” with the yarn.
Ben is the co-founder and operations manager of Shelf. He graduated from the University of Oregon with a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration. An Oregon native, he is fond of hikes and going on evening strolls with his family and two dogs.
Aaron is our visual editor and designer. He formats our articles and makes them look pretty before we hit the publish button.
Writing & Research Team
Emily wears two hats, as she is also one of the editors at Shelf. She is also our neighborhood outdoor adventure expert, Emily brings a background of camping and exploring to help you on your own trips. You’re in good hands in our Outdoor Adventure’s category!
Emily Casuccio is a dog-loving bookworm with a passion for the written word. She believes more than anything that everyone has a story to tell, and is honored each and every time someone trusts her to help them tell it. Emily has over six years of experience copywriting and copyediting. She received a Bachelor’s of English from the University of Georgia. Emily lives in Georgia with her partner and their two adorable fur babies.
Audrey is becoming your personal go-to for anything in the kitchen. From the best cup of coffee, to determining what gadgets and gizmos should fill your drawers, her research for Shelf will fit perfectly in your cupboards.
Audrey Webster is a copywriter based in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. She joined Shelf in April 2020 as a contributing writer with expertise in travel, health/wellness, and education. When not writing articles for Shelf, you can find her reading, writing, exploring the PNW outdoors, traveling, and spending time with her two adorable cats, Theo and Poe. Audrey graduated from the University of Oregon with a Bachelor’s of Arts in English.
In perhaps the most important year to do so, William has stepped into the role of home gardening and home workout expert. You can feel confident that he uses his own experiences in his research- and let’s his research guide him in his personal choices.
William Kennedy is an arts and culture journalist and freelance copywriter living in Eugene, OR with his wife, daughter, and two cats — all of whom politely accommodate his obsession with the New Yorker magazine, Doctor Who, and the kind of pop music most people grow out of by the time they’re 14-years-old. William recently began weight-training for recreation and fitness, and enjoys working around the yard — when he’s not watching Oakland A’s baseball or Green Bay Packers football, that is. William studied media, writing, and visual design at Lane Community College.
At Shelf, she’s our sustainability and home expert— Kristin has dived deep into the worlds of home and garden, uncovering the very best in water filtration, composting toilets, natural mosquito repellent, and more — all with an eye towards practicality and affordability.
Kristin received a M.A. in Environment and Community from Antioch University in Seattle and a B.A. in English from the University of Minnesota. She now lives in a floating home on the Columbia River with her partner and their three cats, Lily, Henry Pickle, and Harriet. Her container gardening game is strong, and her knowledge of reverse osmosis is vast.