Capitalism for Green

This week: Customer demographicsApproaches to involving college students & overcoming hurdles to make people feel welcome in a new shopping environment Sustainability movements in communities, especially in sports (shout out KC Current for bringing reusable cups & composting to major league sports)*The overlap between the service industry and refill shop industry as well as balancing small business ownership with being an employee in a different industry for a personal balance (and extra cash)Decision making, especially around new products and big business decisions Incorporating education, especially higher priced items, and personal testimonials for “riskier” or more expensive swapsSustainable brands like Dip who both stay true to the consistency of their products while also providing connection, insight, and support to sustainable retailers like refill storesBeing transparent about what we know, don’t know, and what we think of certain brands & productsWe’re all just trying to do our best 🙂Where to find L.E.S.S.WebsiteFacebookInstagramTikTokLinksDipEPAHuppyJuniperseed MercantileThe Lean RefilleryKC CurrentZero Waste Shop Owners of the U.S. and Canada Facebook GroupQuestion from Caitlin Elyse, Owner of Refill Emporium: How are you making the refill experience easier for customers?Question to the next refill store owner(s): People who are opening or considering moving, how are you navigating the finances, data on the industry, and translating what you do to other stakeholders? What are other business owners doing to mitigate your refill store not really fitting into a box that compares to another type of industry?Email CapitalismForGreen@gmail.com with your questions, topic requests, and feedback! Find more with Jessica & Andrea on Episode 24 of the Capitalism for Good podcast project (Apple | Spotify)Apple | BYOC Co. | BYOC Co. Facebook | BYOC Co. Instagram | Capitalism for Green | Capitalism for Green Facebook | Capitalism for Green Instagram | Spotify | The Store, by CFG

This week: How Caitlin became Owner of Refill EmporiumPartnerships Social MediaMaking decisions on packaging, especially when it comes to making sure that the store is accountable for the end of life of all packaging that they sellBalancing maintaining and existing business after purchasing with incorporating new ideas & partnerships Where to find Refill EmporiumWebsiteFacebookInstagramTikTokLinksBulk Food MarketplaceDees Green CleaningEnvironmental Working Group (EWG)My Green MichiganTechTown DetroitThe Clean Refill (Columbia, MO)Question from Deanna Taylor-Heacock, Owner of Good Bottle Refill Shop in Maplewood, NJ: we have our core customers and the biggest challenge is getting new customers... We have loyal ones that have been refilling the same bottle for 7 years… How are you getting new customers? What is the process like? What are the real strategies? How can we get more people to make the switch? Question to the next refill store owner(s): How are you making the refill experience easier for customers?Email CapitalismForGreen@gmail.com with your questions, topic requests, and feedback! Find more with Jessica & Andrea on Episode 24 of the Capitalism for Good podcast project (Apple | Spotify)Apple | BYOC Co. | BYOC Co. Facebook | BYOC Co. Instagram | Capitalism for Green | Capitalism for Green Facebook | Capitalism for Green Instagram | Spotify

This week:ShippingPackaging - why is it even necessary, but also why does it feel like it’s necessary? And alternatives for how to work around it.Construction, food, and medical wasteJessica is going back to basicsThe accessibility of having multiple options to meet people where they areSustainable period productsThe longevity of products & how it both reduces waste, but also reduces the frequency of the customer visits so how does a store sustain itself through that business modelThe benefits of sloooooooow intentional changes even when it’s difficult to see sometimesUpdates on BYOC’s future refill machine, delivery services, and Andrea’s plans for The Store, by CFGLinks:The Clean RefillRefill EmporiumMama SudsDr. Bronner’sEcourageEmail CapitalismForGreen@gmail.com with your questions, topic requests, and feedback! Find more with Jessica & Andrea on Episode 24 of the Capitalism for Good podcast project (Apple | Spotify)Apple | BYOC Co. | BYOC Co. Facebook | BYOC Co. Instagram | Capitalism for Green | Capitalism for Green Facebook | Capitalism for Green Instagram | Spotify

This week: The idea of “Buying your trash” and how low-waste living can start as a cost-savings journey to cut down on the shopping tripsGetting startedParallels with corporate retailOperating in a co-op space (including compared to solo space)Time managementDelivery logisticsPartnering with a branding companyWhere to find Good Bottle Refill Shop: WebsiteFacebookInstagramTikTokLinks: Zero Waste Home by Bea JohnsonThe General StoreQuestion from Ashby Cummings, Owner of MI-Fillosophy in Plymouth, MI (and from Episode 15): if you could go back to the beginning and change one thing about how you opened your store, what would you change?Question to the next refill store owner(s): we have our core customers and the biggest challenge is getting new customers... We have loyal ones that have been refilling the same bottle for 7 years… How are you getting new customers? What is the process like? What are the real strategies? How can we get more people to make the switch? Email CapitalismForGreen@gmail.com with your questions, topic requests, and feedback! Find more with Jessica & Andrea on Episode 24 of the Capitalism for Good podcast project (Apple | Spotify)Apple | BYOC Co. | BYOC Co. Facebook | BYOC Co. Instagram | Capitalism for Green | Capitalism for Green Facebook | Capitalism for Green Instagram | Spotify

This week: 2026 trendsCompetition vs. complimenting with similar businesses nearbyEquipment access (ex: peanut butter grinder & grain mills)Food refills - containers, packaging, suppliers, & requirementsLicensing & food sales regulationsRisks & scary things! Swaps & eventsThe uniqueness of the Michigan refill communityWhat it feels like to a small business owner these daysWhere to find MI-Fillosophy:WebsiteFacebookInstagramLinks:86 Pastic AzureBees in the DCountry Life Natural FoodsLittle Seed FarmRefill Emporium Refillery CollectiveStarwest BotanicalsWalking LightlyWebsterantQuestion from Tiffany Sigler, Owner of Juniperseed Mercantile in Littleton, CO (from Episode 14):  if you think about the way that you spend your time during the day (think of a quadrant matrix with time & return on investment for each axis), are there things in your life that you should ditch?Question to the next refill store owner(s): if you could go back to the beginning and change one thing about how you opened your store, what would you change? Email CapitalismForGreen@gmail.com with your questions, topic requests, and feedback! Find more with Jessica & Andrea on Episode 24 of the Capitalism for Good podcast project (Apple | Spotify)Apple | BYOC Co. | BYOC Co. Facebook | BYOC Co. Instagram | Capitalism for Green | Capitalism for Green Facebook | Capitalism for Green Instagram | Spotify

This week we talk about about different ways in which Tiffany is immersed in the refill field: 1. Retail: Find Juniperseed Mercantile’s brick & mortar location at 5641A S. Nevada St., Littleton, COSelect local markets (and sometimes out of her van)Online where she sells her in-house made products2. Manufacturing/wholesale Juniperseed Mercantile products including 3. Coaching/consulting through The Lean RefillerySee where you’re leaking profit in under 5 minutes with the The Lean Refillery Profit Simulator to see how small changes can lead to meaningful profit gains. We also talk about how she got to where she is now, lessons learned along the way, and how she’s helping other refill store owners and sustainability leaders work smarter, not harder. She’s also supporting her community through local event planning and event management in downtown Littleton, and is the president of the local merchant's association. Question from Michelle & Troy of The Eastwood Refillery: “What do you do to bring customers in and keep them coming back?” Question to the next refill store owner(s): if you think about the way that you spend your time during the day (think of a quadrant matrix with time & return on investment for each axis), are there things in your life that you should ditch? (51:40)Find Juniperseed Mercantile: WebsiteInstagramFacebookEmail CapitalismForGreen@gmail.com with your questions, topic requests, and feedback! Find more with Jessica & Andrea on Episode 24 of the Capitalism for Good podcast project (Apple | Spotify)Apple | BYOC Co. | BYOC Co. Facebook | BYOC Co. Instagram | Capitalism for Green | Capitalism for Green Facebook | Capitalism for Green Instagram | Spotify

This week: Market vs. in store setupEarly daysSink setup within the shopRemoving labels from Jars Free container donationsLocal food pantry supportPrioritizing localRunning a business while working another full time jobWord of mouth marketing & social mediaWhere to find The Eastwood RefilleryWebsiteInstagramFacebookName DropsFaireRustic StrengthGoGo Refill in Portland, MEDip Little Seed FarmYaya Maria’s Beth’s Bounty - SUNY ESF student food pantryMama SudsFull Circle RefilleryDr. BronnersSuds Refillery in Shawnee, KSReuse Refuge in Auburn, NYMarilla’s Mindful Supplies in Rochester, NYRefillery CollectiveQuestion from Tiffany, Owner of Full Circle Refillery: “If you had to do it all over again from day one, is there one thing or what is one thing that you would do differently? Question to the next refill shop owner: “What do you do to bring customers in and keep them coming back?”Email CapitalismForGreen@gmail.com with your questions, topic requests, and feedback! Find more with Jessica & Andrea on Episode 24 of the Capitalism for Good podcast project (Apple | Spotify)Apple | BYOC Co. | BYOC Co. Facebook | BYOC Co. Instagram | Capitalism for Green | Capitalism for Green Facebook | Capitalism for Green Instagram | Spotify

This week: Community givebacks of all shapes and sizesLauren Singer’s Package Free Shop in New YorkThe early days of BYOC and how it all startedInitial inventoryPricing with refill vs. solid productsTransitioning from a pop up model to brick & mortarShipping costsMarketing and social mediaThe role of the business ownerBecoming a hub of knowledge for your communityExtended Producer Reliability Program (via Packaging Dive)Email CapitalismForGreen@gmail.com with your questions, topic requests, and feedback! Find more with Jessica & Andrea on Episode 24 of the Capitalism for Good podcast project (Apple | Spotify)Apple | BYOC Co. | BYOC Co. Facebook | BYOC Co. Instagram | Capitalism for Green | Capitalism for Green Facebook | Capitalism for Green Instagram | Spotify