Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Hannah Foster, Founder of Foster's Refillery, located in Salt Lake City, UT, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Foster’s Refillery is an online refill delivery service rooted in the Liberty Wells neighborhood of Salt Lake City, Utah. We are a local, purpose-driven small business with a passion for making environmentally friendly lifestyle choices accessible and affordable for everyone. We carry over 55 eco-friendly cleaning supplies and personal hygiene products, and most of our suppliers are other local businesses. Customers order online, leave their jars outside for us, and we refill for them– like the milkman, but for soap! Also, weather permitting, we do bike deliveries for orders in the Salt Lake area. Not only does this reduce plastic waste and the number of harmful chemicals draining out to the Great Salt Lake, but our locally sourced products and bike delivery also create fewer greenhouse gas emissions while supporting a whole network of Utah small businesses and creators! Through our delivery-based refill service, Fosters Refillery makes environmental responsibility fast, easy and convenient for our diverse customer base. Just like many of our suppliers, our customers reside across Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, Wasatch, Summit, and Utah County, and we’re working on expanding our refill delivery services to local businesses as well!

Tell us about yourself

Growing up in Liberty Wells with parents like mine, I’ve always been passionate about the environment and inclusion within the environmental movement. I went to college to study Environmental Studies and Political Science. I was sure I would go to law school to become an environmental lawyer. However, after taking the L-SAT, it became clear to me that law school was not my path. So, I graduated with virtually no direction and decided to blow through some savings traveling around New Zealand. There, I stumbled into a job at the Herbal Dispensary– a local eco and naturopath store in Raglan, NZ. Suffice it to say I fell in love with small business ownership. The power that local businesses have for both community and environmental advocacy captured my imagination and spoke to my passions.

I started Fosters Refillery because I wanted to give back to the community that has grown me by making eco-friendly living locally focused and accessible. I have seen firsthand how small business ownership strengthens communities, and that has been my guiding light for the past two years. Since our inception, we have prioritized working with local suppliers and supporting local non-profits through a variety of partnerships. In particular, we have developed a multi-year relationship with the Environmental Coalition of Multicultural Experts Socializing Around Solutions (MESAS), which focuses on developing leaders of color advocating for environmental justice. Together we’ve started various initiatives and events, and 15% of our hoodie sales are donated to them. The ability to be this intentional about my work is the part of small business ownership that truly motivates me every day - supporting Foster’s Refillery is really about supporting a whole network of people, organizations, and small businesses working to achieve a healthier Utah, and the planet, for everyone.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

One of my biggest accomplishments is connecting with and bringing together other local Utah companies and non-profits. I love how Foster’s Refillery provides a vehicle for me to connect with our vibrant community. I am always inspired by local creators and innovators. Most of Foster’s suppliers are other Utah businesses, and I revel in the opportunity to work together.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

It takes time to grow something out of nothing. And although zero to one does not sound like much of a step, it is arguably the hardest and most important milestone of any business. I wish I had been kinder with myself and fostered a healthier work-life balance when I started. Our concept and mission have been well received in our community, but we have found it challenging to educate consumers about this new way to shop. As far as I know, we are the only refill delivery service, and making a cohesive and user-friendly website has been a continuous hurtle.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

I would encourage new business owners to dream big but start small. The organization is so central to business growth and day-to-day operations, and it is easy to take on more than you are ready for. I have found that it is better to know your business and niche so completely than to get your hands on too many projects.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://fostersrefillery.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100039183382372
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fostersrefillery/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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