Today we’d like to introduce you to Adrienne Grolbert
Hi Adrienne, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’m a nurse by trade and the last few years nursing has become more challenging that it has ever been. I started to wondering if there was something else I could do that still helped people and the community but that… was not nursing. I had seen refill shops before but there was nothing like that nearby in Parker and who wants to drive to downtown Denver to refill their hand soap? Despite knowing nothing about owning or operating a business (I come from a family of public servants) I decided to go for it! After months of research I opened up Refillary in June of 2022 with a focus on reducing single-use plastics, supporting USA-manufacturing and small businesses, and keeping ingredients clean. There is such a focus on hormone disrupters like PFAS and BPAs and phthalates in our food, clothing and water and I wanted to make sure the products we carry limit exposure to those things as much as possible. Life is very busy for everyone and it’s hard to know what is ‘clean’ and to make sustainable choices so we are here to help simplify household sustainability but having everything you need to clean yourself or your home. This is a way I can still focus on the health of the people around me, my community and my environment.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Our patrons are overwhelmingly supportive! Without them this shop would have gone extinct a long time ago. It’s certainly not a money-making venture, and I still work as a nurse full time to pay the bills. But I have found this shop to be such a happy and positive place. Our biggest struggle is getting the word out about the shop! I know nothing about marketing or advertising so I rely heavily on word of mouth. Additionally, our products are long-lasting so people don’t have to come in as often! Which is awesome for the patrons and the planet but not so awesome for profit! We are always looking for ways to get people through the door whether it be through our Fresh Sourdough Bread Fridays, yoga/reiki/craft events, being a hard-to-recycle-item drop off and a compost drop site. We also always have a foster cat from Rocky Mountain Feline Rescue here at the shop who is looking for their forever home. We are in our third year of business now and while the shop is paying for itself (i.e. I’m not longer having to put my personal money into it) I haven’t paid myself from the shop yet.
Another challenge is sourcing only USA-made products! Sadly we don’t make all that much in the USA anymore and so sometimes it makes it difficult to stock items people may want when I can only find them manufactured in Asia or South America.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Refillary specializes in simplifying household sustainability by stocking eco-friendly, USA-made household products. We stock: laundry detergent, dish soap, dishwasher soap, household cleaners, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, body wash, citric acid, epsom salts, a plethora of facial care products, sunscreen, muscle rub, and many more refillable products. You can bring in your own containers to refill or we have lots of free ones as well as a limited number to purchase. You weigh your container first, fill it up however much you like, then weigh it again. Everything is sold by the ounce!
We also sell some eco-friendly household swaps like reusable silicone food storage baggies, glass straws, biodegradable trash bags, recycled tooth brushes, paper towel replacements and lots more!
Stocking only USA-made really sets us apart from other refill shops; we believe that shipping overseas isn’t as environmentally sustainable as manufacturing here and supporting the local economy is better.
We want to let people know that we are focused on making their sustainability journey easier by having done the research for them! Yes, it’s an extra trip in addition to the grocery store to come see us, but you are preventing so much plastic from going into the waste stream, preventing so many hormone disruptors from going into your bodies, and supporting small businesses all in one stop.
As of August of 2024 Refillary patrons have prevented over 31,000 containers from going into our local landfill and sent almost 600 pounds of hard to recycle items to Terracycle for recycling. It’s incredible!
What matters most to you?
The community that Refillary has created brings me so much joy. I get teary eyed thinking about all the wonderful supporters this shop has who have made it possible. Of course the low-waste aspect is important, the health of the people and of Parker, but I could never have imagined how much the community itself would come together and make this special. I will try to keep this place going as long as I can for them!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.refillary.co
- Instagram: @therefillary
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Refillary
Image Credits
Refillary
