At the front of a Lower Mission refill shop, on a chalkboard that marks milestones of plastics saved, Gabi Dubland lifted her blue chalk and wrote: 10,000.
On a slightly bigger chalkboard at the sunny entrance of a refill store in Vernon, Teresa Sanders raised her blue chalk and scrawled: 100,000. To the owners of both stores 害羞草研究所� FILL Vernon害羞草研究所檚 Refill Store and FILL Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 Refill Store 害羞草研究所� every one of those zeroes says so much.
害羞草研究所淚t takes me back to how it felt in the beginning when I was helping people fill their bottles and seeing the high that they would get in refilling and the impact we were making together,害羞草研究所� said Dubland. She was among the first team of 害羞草研究所榝illers害羞草研究所� when the Vernon FILL store opened in December 2019. 害羞草研究所淚 was so passionate about what we were doing and so excited, people would always ask, 害羞草研究所業s this your store?害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟
But it wouldn害羞草研究所檛 be long before Dubland could give a different answer to that question: The Vernon store had only been open a few weeks when Dubland and Sanders began to dream of opening a Kelowna store as partners. In November, that dream became a reality.
After completing significant lease-hold improvements in the span of just a month, in November FILL Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 Refill Store opened on Lakeshore Road害羞草研究所檚 Mission Park Shopping Centre, offering 1,250 square feet of opportunity to refill everything from dish soap and deodorant to shampoo and hand sanitizer across price points. Three months later, the store has already celebrated a major milestone: 10,000 plastics saved.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e had a really positive response from the community. People have really embraced it and it害羞草研究所檚 encouraging to see the plastic we害羞草研究所檙e keeping out of landfills,害羞草研究所� says Dubland.
She and Sanders identify as 害羞草研究所榮ustainability stewards害羞草研究所� and they remember every photo at the chalkboard.
害羞草研究所淲e were saving so much plastic, the thought of being able to bring that to another Okanagan community was a no-brainer,害羞草研究所� says Sanders. When she opened the doors to the Vernon store 害羞草研究所� several months after winning first place in Enterprize Challenge, a startup boot camp that culminates in a Dragon害羞草研究所檚 Den style pitch to judges 害羞草研究所� she says it was like 害羞草研究所渁 rocket ship took off.害羞草研究所�
Even during COVID-19, FILL has been thriving. The store went online, offered curbside pickup or delivery and began selling surface and hand sanitizer, which arrives in one of three 210 litre drums that circles back and forth from the manufacturer so no new plastic is created. FILL even went through the Health Canada process of creating a new lavender-scented hand sanitizer that害羞草研究所檚 being used throughout Predator Ridge.
害羞草研究所淲e never considered postponing our plans to open in Kelowna,害羞草研究所� says Sanders. They wanted to ensure if people wanted to refill, they could.
害羞草研究所淩ight from the beginning I felt, I have to make refilling more affordable,害羞草研究所� says Sanders, who opted to have FILL carry plant-based and regular grade safe blends as well as organic. 害羞草研究所淲e just want to support people in refilling, so our approach is to find out what someone害羞草研究所檚 needs and price point are, and then help them find the product that害羞草研究所檚 a fit for them.害羞草研究所�
In the spirit of inclusivity while doing something good for the earth 害羞草研究所� and collectively contributing to all those zeroes 害羞草研究所� Sanders says FILL has really created a community of passionate supporters, and those relationships have grown even stronger during COVID, despite sometimes shorter, distanced visits and digital communication.
害羞草研究所淐oming in to FILL is an experience. There is a sense of community and fun and a joy in what we害羞草研究所檙e doing. I think people find it very rewarding. Everyone leaves with a smile and I love being able to say to customers at the till, 害羞草研究所楾hank you for making the world a greener place.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟
roger@vernonmorningstar.com
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