Exploring Life & Business with Sami Heller and Drue McLean of New Moon Refillery

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sami Heller and Drue McLean.

Hi Sami and Drue, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
We started learning about the importance of reducing our household waste around five years ago. The first step we took was utilizing our city’s free compost drop-offs, and slowly we began swapping out common household items with compostable or reusable alternatives. As soon as a refill store opened in our area (Minneapolis at the time), that’s where we started getting most of our products, including nonperishable foods.

When we moved to Denver, we were surprised at the relative lack of bulk food options. Sami started working at a local refill shop and while she loved it, she ultimately wanted to own her own business. We decided that a delivery model could help us keep costs lower and make plastic-free products more convenient and accessible for customers who need alternative options.

We opened on December 1st, 2022, and neither of us has started or operated a business before. Food licensing is an intimidating process, but we plan to expand our offerings to nonperishables in the first half of 2023. We eventually plan to convert a van into a mobile refillery for events and home visits as well!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Opening a business is difficult and a little scary, but we’ve had a lot of support and there are many great resources out there. We feel our biggest obstacle has been navigating the logistics of opening a business: where to store our inventory, how to get proper licensing and file taxes, and how to tell people we exist. It’s been a huge learning process for both of us.

We’ve been impressed with New Moon Refillery, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
You may have heard of a refill or zero waste store. If not, they offer bulk sizes of household cleaning and personal care products that customers can fill in their containers or ones they have purchased. New Moon Refillery is the delivery version of a refill store. You can order from our website and we’ll bring your products to your door! We sell laundry detergent, shampoo and conditioner, hand soap, toothpaste tablets, and much more. We currently offer over 20 refillable products!

Since the pandemic, many people have become accustomed to getting their household essentials delivered. Many people cannot make it easily or at all to a brick-and-mortar refill store because of different accessibility needs or time constraints. We love that we’re able to make eco-friendlier living more accessible and convenient by providing delivery! We are also proud to carry brands that take back their plastic packaging for reuse and create products with sustainably-sourced ingredients.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
We think it’s important to mention that although we offer ways for individuals to reduce their impact on the planet, there are so many large systems at work in the world that harm the environment on a massive scale. It’s a tricky balance – holding large corporations accountable while also encouraging individuals to do what they can.

It’s okay to just do what you can. Even something as small as refilling your hand soap keeps plastic out of the landfill. Big impacts begin with small actions, and many people doing the best they can is more effective than a few people doing things “perfectly.”

Pricing:

• Refills range from $0.17 to $8.00 per weighted ounce

Contact Info:

• Website: www.newmoonrefillery.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newmoonrefillery/?igshid=MDM4ZDc5MmU%3D
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newmoonrefillery