Whitney Wagner, is the founder of Refill Emporium in St. Clair Shores, MI and she has such a great story to tell about how she and her best friend (shout out Shannon) started this local refill and zero waste store. Starting with 12 products that they toted from one farmers market or pop up to another while making products in house to growing tenfold within a few years, the brains behind Refill Emporium are truly filling a void in their community.
Fueled by the belief that knowledge isn’t something to gatekeep, Whitney gives so much advice to anyone else interested in opening (or who already has opened) a local refill store, all those small business owners out there, and honestly all of us.
- Invest in a chemistry degree
- Manufacture your own unscented projects yourself if you can (it’ll give you some protection from the volatility of the rest of the world, give you more control over the ingredients, and will naturally provide a unique product that won’t be purchased anywhere else…um who doesn’t love an exclusive item??)
- Procure from local vendors if you can
- “Find a need. Fill a need.”
- Get to know your customers. Like, really get to know them. Share your knowledge. Build relationships. And then allow that word of mouth to spread like the wildfire (but, you know, the good kind of wildfire)
- Use transparency and your unique skills to your benefit! Let the people see how the sausage is made…or in her case, how the reusable paper towels are made.
- Offer high quality products. Trust her. The ingredients make a difference. Don’t forget to take the time to explain why it makes such a difference. Knowledge is power, people.
- Get to know those that also have a similar business model and be respectful of the boundaries and the market.
- Are you an owner of a refill shop? If so, join the Zero Waste Refill Shop Facebook Groups with other owners and follow the Refill Collective on Instagram.
Of course, we get into the importance of giving back to your community, both personally and professionally. It’s about helping people out here in whatever way makes the most sense for you.
Shout outs to:
Hard Rock Stone Works in Sterling Heights, MI
Shelby Township Farmers Market
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