"IT TAKES A certain level of craziness to stock a store almost exclusively with merchandise that no one has ever heard of," said Misha Anderson, co-owner of Woodley & Bunny, the 8-year-old Brooklyn establishment that is part global apothecary, part hair salon. (The latter is headed up by Ms. Anderson's hairstylist sister, Erin.)

Ms. Anderson, inspired by friends' constant requests that she bring back products from her trips abroad, did exactly that, starting a business named after her and Erin's childhood...