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 香蕉视频直播� FILL Vernon香蕉视频直播檚 Refill Store and FILL Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 Refill Store 香蕉视频直播� every one of those zeroes says so much.
香蕉视频直播淚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,香蕉视频直播� said Dubland. She was among the first team of 香蕉视频直播榝illers香蕉视频直播� when the Vernon FILL store opened in December 2019. 香蕉视频直播淚 was so passionate about what we were doing and so excited, people would always ask, 香蕉视频直播業s this your store?香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈
But it wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 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香蕉视频直播檚 Refill Store opened on Lakeshore Road香蕉视频直播檚 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.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e had a really positive response from the community. People have really embraced it and it香蕉视频直播檚 encouraging to see the plastic we香蕉视频直播檙e keeping out of landfills,香蕉视频直播� says Dubland.
She and Sanders identify as 香蕉视频直播榮ustainability stewards香蕉视频直播� and they remember every photo at the chalkboard.
香蕉视频直播淲e were saving so much plastic, the thought of being able to bring that to another Okanagan community was a no-brainer,香蕉视频直播� says Sanders. When she opened the doors to the Vernon store 香蕉视频直播� several months after winning first place in Enterprize Challenge, a startup boot camp that culminates in a Dragon香蕉视频直播檚 Den style pitch to judges 香蕉视频直播� she says it was like 香蕉视频直播渁 rocket ship took off.香蕉视频直播�
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香蕉视频直播檚 being used throughout Predator Ridge.
香蕉视频直播淲e never considered postponing our plans to open in Kelowna,香蕉视频直播� says Sanders. They wanted to ensure if people wanted to refill, they could.
香蕉视频直播淩ight from the beginning I felt, I have to make refilling more affordable,香蕉视频直播� says Sanders, who opted to have FILL carry plant-based and regular grade safe blends as well as organic. 香蕉视频直播淲e just want to support people in refilling, so our approach is to find out what someone香蕉视频直播檚 needs and price point are, and then help them find the product that香蕉视频直播檚 a fit for them.香蕉视频直播�
In the spirit of inclusivity while doing something good for the earth 香蕉视频直播� and collectively contributing to all those zeroes 香蕉视频直播� 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.
香蕉视频直播淐oming in to FILL is an experience. There is a sense of community and fun and a joy in what we香蕉视频直播檙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, 香蕉视频直播楾hank you for making the world a greener place.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈
roger@vernonmorningstar.com
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