At the Green Ossining fair last spring, I was drawn to a thoughtfully curated and beautifully presented booth. Jessica Paschkes, founder of Refillery (and Chappaqua native!) talked me through the items on display. And although it was the display that had initially called to me, it was the best example of it being what's on the inside that counts! The mission behind the shop is to "Live Less Wastefully" and the swaps that Jessica presents are high-quality and well-tested. It feels like a treat for yourself or a nice gift to give, but the items also support more sustainable living. So much good being done in these little packages! I'd dipped my toes in the water of refills and sustainable products, but the places I was purchasing the items from were large corporations themselves which doesn't exactly line up with reducing our imprint. After speaking with Jessica, and learning about the sourcing and seeing the value in the small business side I purchased dish covers to replace saran wrap, swedish dishclothes to reduce paper towels, two sponges that have seriously stood the test of time, and a deodorant that I continue to tell people about - seriously. If you know me in person I have told you about it.
When I started this venture with the opportunity to work with small business, Jessica was the first person I wanted to feature. It was a breath of fresh air to speak with her again and in more depth about the founding of her business, new features, and current goals. Below Jessica shares the story of her work.
What is the story behind your business? How did you get started?
I've always been somewhat eco-minded and a big label reader. There was always frustration when I couldn't find cleaning or personal care products with good ingredients that actually worked. Conventional shopping offers us to be more "eco" we should buy the "refill size" of a soap, but we bring it home a new plastic bottle, then we recycle the bottle thinking we are doing our part. News flash! The recycling rates are so low. The most recent study shows just 5 % of plastic actually gets recycled in the U.S. and that number is only getting worse. Zero waste and refill shops have been in existence globally, so taking that idea, I came up with the concept of making an eco pop-up. My mission is to bring a sustainable shopping solution concept to as many communities as we can. With the support of many shop owners around the county, I have a selection of REFILLERY sustainable products available without having a dedicated storefront.
What are some fun facts about you or your business?
My business is expanding the mission nationally with an affiliate program I started. I have affiliate owners in 3 states now. It's a smart/low risk way for a fellow entrepreneur to build an eco business in their community. Utilizing the knowledge, testing, curating, vendor relationships, discounts that I established. I do not have a buy-in fee or anything crazy-we are self-funded small business owners. I want to help others. I am one person, but together with many we can make change! Anyone reading this can find me on instagram @refillery.shop.ny or email the website - you can bring a pop-up to your area in Westchester County!
What does your business offer its customers?
Less is more! I don't believe in bringing more *new* products into our homes. It's also one of the fundamental reasons I didn't pursue my own storefront. This is a business, I need to make money, but I don't want to put "more" out into the world. When something needs to be replaced, I recommend a sustainable option. I call them eco-swaps. A reusable, or plastic-free product. You buy them once, usually with a larger investment upfront but that's it -they last! For instance, one of the first eco-swaps we made in my family was swapping out paper towels for our Unpaper towels. I hid the paper towels and rolled the reusable Unpaper towels onto the roll and I use them just the same; I blot grease, we wipe the counters down, but instead of trashing them we wash + reuse! Two years later we have not bought any paper towels and in no one is missing them!
What are you most proud of? Or what should we be sure to try or notice?
I was proud to be a Westchester Launch 1000 Entrepreneur program graduate last year. I reached my program goal by year's end in 2021. My original concept was to bring my eco pop-up into a partner store space, and then last November an incredible space opened in Ossining Hudson Valley Books for Humanity. The owners are dedicated to supporting the community. It is a glorious community shop with preloved and new books, local artisan gifts, and a REFILLERY permanent pop-up inside.
