Lossiemouth: Re:Store, Moray’s first zero-waste shop, has become a community staple since 2019. Founded by Alison Ruickbie, it offers a variety of sustainable products while promoting eco-friendly practices and fostering local connections, even amid a challenging retail landscape for similar businesses.
Re:Store, the first zero-waste shop in Moray, has been a fixture in Lossiemouth since its opening in October 2019. Founded by Alison Ruickbie, the shop emerged from her frustration with excessive plastic and packaging, filling a notable gap in the local market by providing a sustainable alternative. Located at 4 Queen Street, Re:Store stands as a “one-stop shop” for an array of local produce, and its popularity continues to thrive even amidst a trend of closures among similar businesses across the country.
Speaking about her establishment, Alison remarked, “I think Lossie is a destination for people anyway. There’s always lots of things people do while they’re shopping with me.” Re:Store caters to all demographics, with customers travelling from areas as distant as Aberlour, Dufftown, and Buckie. She noted, “It’s people from all walks of life… it always surprises me that it spans ages and demographics.”
Alison’s selection is diverse, featuring more than 50 local suppliers. From pasta and oats to fresh milk and locally sourced eggs, Re:Store prides itself on its sustainable offerings. The shop has also introduced milk on tap, which has saved over 7,000 plastic milk bottles from entering landfills. Alison highlighted some of the best-selling items, such as locally sourced porridge, muesli, and honey, contributing to a robust community embrace of sustainable practices.
The journey to establishing Re:Store involved challenges, particularly in selecting a location. Initially aiming for Elgin, the search eventually led her to Lossiemouth, aided by her husband’s discovery of a well-maintained shop in Queen Street. Despite the risk associated with this decision, she believes it has “paid off, for a lot of reasons.” As she explained, “We don’t have any empty units at the moment… We have a lot of unique shops here, and independent ones, so that makes it more attractive for people to come.”
Alison has navigated the complex landscape of running a small business, which has seen many similar shops in the UK close their doors over the past year. She attributed her survival to the absence of staff-related costs, stating, “I think I’m partly surviving because it is just me, and I don’t have staff to pay. But that makes it really hard work for me.” The challenges have also included sourcing local vegetables, particularly following last year’s poor crop yield attributed to adverse weather conditions. Furthermore, an ongoing perception that refill shops are inherently more expensive presents another hurdle. Alison asserted that many items, such as herbs and spices, are less expensive than in supermarkets due to the absence of packaging costs.
Despite the pressures, Alison expresses deep satisfaction with her role within the Lossiemouth community. She reflected, “I think that was one thing I didn’t expect when I started at the shop. I mean it’s just phenomenal and I know my customers so well. We’ve shared laughs, but we’ve also shared tears.” This connection has turned many customers into friends and has fostered a strong sense of community around the store.
Offering advice for those considering a shift towards sustainable shopping, Alison suggests newcomers start small rather than overhaul their habits entirely. Simple steps, like refilling one plastic bottle or repurposing existing containers, can contribute significantly to reducing waste. Her approach reflects a pragmatic attitude towards sustainable living, encouraging gradual changes that fit within personal circumstances and budgets.
Overall, Re:Store continues to play a crucial role in promoting zero-waste practices while engaging with the local community, establishing itself as a model of sustainability amidst a rapidly changing retail environment.
Source: Noah Wire Services
