Two-ounce bottles of natural lavender body oil moved along the line at the Watkins Inc. manufacturing plant in Winona, Minn. Watkins has been manufacturing on the same block in Winona since 1885, back when founder J.R. Watkins rode around in his horse-drawn buggy.

Small comforts: A retail concoction that mixes natural products and door-to-door sales along with mass merchandising is keeping Watkins Inc. vigorous and growing.

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