Park Market Refillery was inspired by the progressive commitment New Zealanders have when it comes to conservation and protection of the environment. Businesses, government and all people alike work together towards mindful eco-friendly living in areas of life. It was this experience that inspired founders Erika and Jeff to start Park Market Refillery in Burlington - to serve the community and make it easier for people to choose an environmentally friendly way of life.

This project was completed with the Store Design Essentials service. We assisted this client with their store design by selecting fixtures, adding wall graphics, space planning, styling and visual merchandising. One main design objective was t create a unique store experience with an ‘instagrammable’ wall and unique cash area. We fully executed the visual merchandising of all their displays to keep their customers shopping for more and to inspire them to live a zero-waste lifestyle. In addition, custom informational shelf talkers and price cards were designed to educate customers as they browse. Read on to discover more about Park Market Refillery with co-founder Erika Minkhorst.

ND - You were inspired by the commitment to clean living that you experienced while traveling to New Zealand. How did this experience influence your vision of the Park Market Refillery space in Burlington?

EM - We saw an intentional way of living that we hadn’t experienced yet in Ontario. Minimizing waste production from both businesses and consumers seemed to be a common focus amongst many in NZ. From refillable products in our Air BNB to happening upon a local refillery in Auckland, we were fascinated by it all.

ND - What is your curation process when selecting products to sell at Park Market Refillery?

EM - Our focus is to source as local as we can, all while ensuring we’re implementing a circular approach to the product's life-cycle. Simply put, we’re thinking about the product's life cycle from cradle to grave. What waste is created by producing the product? What kind of packaging does it come in? What happens at the end of the product’s life? We look for products built to last and with minimal impact on the environment.

ND - For you, why was it so important to include wood elements in your space?

EM - It’s a vibe and it speaks to us!

ND - How has the flow of your space influenced the experience that you and your customers have now while shopping / or refilling their containers with eco-friendly products?

EM - Flow is so important. Many folks are new to refilling when they enter our shop. A clear flow and ordering process is key to making customers feel welcome and empowered for their first order with us.

ND - Tell us your favourite part of the design / build process. What did you love most about the experience of creating your physical space?

EM - Bringing a vision to life. We had so many ideas and hopes for our space. And seeing it come to life was the most exciting part for us.

ND - Do you have a favourite spot in your store that you feel the most inspired by?

EM - I love sitting behind the refill counter and looking out to our entrance. It is a great view of the entire shop and all the intention that went into creating it.

ND - What have you learned in the past year during the pandemic that has made you a stronger business person? What lessons have you gained from it?

EM - The importance of pivoting and doing so quickly. We launched an entire new website and online ordering system a few months into opening our new retail space to support local delivery and curbside pick-up. This was a ton of work, but helped us to reach customers safely.

ND - What’s your biggest piece of advice for someone hoping to open their first retail store?

EM - Work with an expert. It is worth it. Nickeisha was able to bring our vision to life after a few conversations. What would have taken me countless hours, she pulled together for us. It let us focus our energy where we needed and yielded a far better result, much quicker than had we done it on our own.

ND - We can’t wait to see what is next for PARK MARKET REFILLERY! Any news you would like to share with us?

EM - We’ve expanded our shop!! What was once an office, is now a bulk food section. We’re happy to report that we’re now selling package-free, bulk food!

Visit www.parkmarketandrefillery.com