Founded in 2020 as a small home-based business, Homespun Refillery was built by Prince George born and raised Kyla Wilhelmsen and has rapidly expanded into a storefront location due to strong community support. Homespun Refillery is a one-stop local option for sustainable and clean-living essentials for northerners who want a convenient, low waste alternative to big box shopping and online delivery, so they can live cleaner and healthier, while reducing plastic waste.
Kyla started Homespun Refillery out of a desire to help the environment by reducing the use of common plastic packing waste and single use containers. Recycling is an option in Prince George and other communities in central and northern BC, but she wanted to do more, so she started selling eco-friendly products packaged in mason jars online.
Customers were able to order household products to refill their existing containers at home, ultimately diverting single use plastic containers from the landfill or recycling depots by ensuring the repeated use of long-lasting containers.
Kyla had such a positive response during her first couple of years of operation that she decided to move her business into a retail front. She decided the downtown was the right place for her and her business as she has worked in the downtown for many years and while she has watched many businesses come and go, she has also witnessed many businesses succeed. She also chose the downtown because she wants to be part of bringing people to the downtown as she believes it’s important to keep the downtown thriving because it’s the core of the city. So she found the perfect location next to other small, locally owned and operated businesses and got to work transitioning her business from home-based to a brick-and-mortar location.
Homespun Refillery has received overwhelming support from the community since beginning operations online and following the opening of its doors at its new permanent location. Kyla had no idea she would meet so many like-minded people in Prince George who want to make changes to their consumption habits, reduce their waste and use more eco-friendly products at home. Kyla says, “I have been so fortunate to have so many reach out to me and offer support and so many be open to me asking for support”.
Now that she has a brick-and-mortar location in the downtown, Kyla is able to foster more partnerships and support local makers. She sells a variety of locally made products in her store that complement her offerings. Kyla says, “The concept of circular economy is no stranger in this line of work and support and supporting our local economy is always a consideration”. Prince George has always been Kyla’s hometown and she chooses to be here because of the wonderful community. She believes the support she receives from other businesses and people is a definite factor the success of Homespun Refillery.
Kyla says, “There are so many ways that we can reduce our waste and consume less-toxic household products. Pick one household item or product to switch to a more sustainable one as needed. Reuse single use plastics and reuse or repurpose and refill them if you can”.
Visit homespunrefillery.com to see how it works!