After months of hard work, Raglan Refill is set to open its pantry doors to package-free shopping on Monday, March 17.
Open Monday to Saturday from 10.30am-4.30pm, the non-profit venture is based in a new cabin at the Raglan Club carpark (next to the recently relocated Lions op-shop).
As well as being environmentally-focused by embracing the ‘Reusable Raglan’ movement, this community-run, social enterprise will also offer a wide selection of affordable pantry basics and cleaning products.
Shop manager Eloise Deller has put in countless hours comparing grocery prices and working out how Raglan Refill can be competitive and even beat the supermarkets.
“Our purpose is to be an affordable option in Raglan to help to address the cost-of-living crisis, as well as having no packaging,” she says.
“We’d love our customers to chat to us about how we can deliver the best prices in Raglan and about products they would like to see on the shelves.”
Raglan Refill will also have gift vouchers and Eloise is happy to do bulk orders for customers with their suppliers. “If people want to buy larger quantities, then I’m more than happy to order them.”
Where possible, Eloise has sourced local products such as the body products by Bit By Bit and cleaning products by Will&Able, as well as cocoa from Raglan supplier Karioi Cocoa and cacao from Mamamuti, also based in Raglan. She is also trying to source local honey at an affordable price.
For lovers of Trade Aid products, a range of items will be available including Better Day coffee beans, loose leaf tea and drinking chocolate.
To keep prices as low as possible, Raglan Refill will be largely volunteer-run, with 12 volunteers already on board.
“It’s thanks to our shop volunteers that we are able to deliver this initiative for the community. A lot of people miss SWOP (Raglan’s previous refillery shop) so it’s awesome to be able to offer this again in Raglan.”
Eloise has years of retail experience, including owning and operating the iconic Bugger café just outside of Thames and more recently as the Raglan Trade Aid manager.
She knows her stuff when it comes to retail, but it hasn’t stopped her thoroughly researching best practice for running Raglan Refill. From refilling bins and jars to best before dates, cleaning and sterilising, you can be sure that Eloise has got it covered.
It’s thanks to funding by Raglan Naturally and a successful Givealittle campaign, which raised $6500, that Raglan Refill is able to get off the ground, says team member Davian Lorson.
“The Givealittle campaign gave us confidence that people in the community want to support a project like Raglan Refill,” he says.
The Raglan Refill team have got the shop looking stylish, and while small, it is light and airy inside with stunning branding by volunteer Sienna Rose, smart wooden shelving by local carpenter Manu Moana and some upcycled elements from the old Trade Aid store.
A jar library will be available but customers will be encouraged to bring their own reusable containers.
The project was dreamt up by Chloe Waretini, who worked with Jasmine Hunter, Tania Ashman, Davian and Kristy Lorson, and Denise Overend-Clarke to breathe life into the initial idea of an affordable zero waste pantry store.
How can you help
Volunteer in the shop
Volunteer cleaning and sterilising
Donate clean jars and containers
Shop at Raglan Refill with your refillable containers
Contact raglanrefill@gmail.com
by Janine Jackson
