Zero-Waste Made Simple

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Karine St-Onge, Co-Founder of Re:Plenish Refillery & Zero Waste Store, located in Edmonton, AB, Canada.

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

Re:Plenish Refillery & Zero Waste Store is a retail store where you can bring your containers from home to refill personal care and home care products, from toothpaste to conditioner to dish soap. We also have products for your home and yourself that are either compostable or infinitely reusable, such as wood soap dishes or reusable period pads. When you shop with us, you will not be creating any additional waste!

Tell us about yourself

My business partner Meghann is who got me started working on our business. She came up with the idea and shared it with me, and I couldn't wait to get it started with her! We both wanted to create a space that felt warm, comfortable, and kind for our customers but also for ourselves, so it's always a joy to come to work because it feels like a second home.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner would be when we started being able to wholesale our products. We were finally big enough and known enough that we knew making that jump would work, and it did!

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

I think the emotional labour that comes with it. Re:Plenish feels like my child and I care deeply about how it's received, how successful it is, and how it continues to grow. But that also means that every customer interaction and every business decision weighs on me more than it would at any other job.

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

If you have a good idea, don't wait, do it now!
Get a business partner to do it with you. It's not as much fun alone.
Try not to take yourself too seriously - it's better to just roll with it because it will be an unpredictable journey.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://replenishzerowaste.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/replenishedmonton
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/replenish.zerowaste/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/re-plenish/

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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