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 91裸聊视频� FILL Vernon91裸聊视频檚 Refill Store and FILL Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 Refill Store 91裸聊视频� every one of those zeroes says so much.
91裸聊视频淚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,91裸聊视频� said Dubland. She was among the first team of 91裸聊视频榝illers91裸聊视频� when the Vernon FILL store opened in December 2019. 91裸聊视频淚 was so passionate about what we were doing and so excited, people would always ask, 91裸聊视频業s this your store?91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�
But it wouldn91裸聊视频檛 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 Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 Refill Store opened on Lakeshore Road91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e had a really positive response from the community. People have really embraced it and it91裸聊视频檚 encouraging to see the plastic we91裸聊视频檙e keeping out of landfills,91裸聊视频� says Dubland.
She and Sanders identify as 91裸聊视频榮ustainability stewards91裸聊视频� and they remember every photo at the chalkboard.
91裸聊视频淲e were saving so much plastic, the thought of being able to bring that to another Okanagan community was a no-brainer,91裸聊视频� says Sanders. When she opened the doors to the Vernon store 91裸聊视频� several months after winning first place in Enterprize Challenge, a startup boot camp that culminates in a Dragon91裸聊视频檚 Den style pitch to judges 91裸聊视频� she says it was like 91裸聊视频渁 rocket ship took off.91裸聊视频�
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 that91裸聊视频檚 being used throughout Predator Ridge.
91裸聊视频淲e never considered postponing our plans to open in Kelowna,91裸聊视频� says Sanders. They wanted to ensure if people wanted to refill, they could.
91裸聊视频淩ight from the beginning I felt, I have to make refilling more affordable,91裸聊视频� says Sanders, who opted to have FILL carry plant-based and regular grade safe blends as well as organic. 91裸聊视频淲e just want to support people in refilling, so our approach is to find out what someone91裸聊视频檚 needs and price point are, and then help them find the product that91裸聊视频檚 a fit for them.91裸聊视频�
In the spirit of inclusivity while doing something good for the earth 91裸聊视频� and collectively contributing to all those zeroes 91裸聊视频� 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.
91裸聊视频淐oming in to FILL is an experience. There is a sense of community and fun and a joy in what we91裸聊视频檙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, 91裸聊视频楾hank you for making the world a greener place.91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�
roger@vernonmorningstar.com
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