The Refill Shoppe

Michelle Stevens was supposed to be a photographer. But the universe had different plans for this recent Brooks graduate. In July 2010, she opened the Refill Shoppe in downtown Ventura, born of her desire to help the environment by encouraging not recycling but its sister approach: REFILLING. The notion of refilling is brilliant, cutting down on all those plastic bottles entering our world and reusing the ones that already exist.  Customers can bring in their own clean bottles and fill them with hand soap, shampoos, lotions, laundry detergent and many other bulk household items priced by the ounce. Both glass and plastic, elegant and utilitarian bottles are available for purchase as well. Stevens also offers the option of having your purchases custom-scented with essential oils like lavender, peppermint, lemon and sage.

The cleaners are all bio-degradable and nontoxic, and many of her products are sulfate-free, organic (conditioner is 92% organic) and some are even vegan (shaving oil, bubble bath)—making them better for the body and the environment. Stevens talks about her products striking a good balance, saying they are “more natural and organic than most of the stuff out there, but they still foam like you want them to.”

The Refill Shoppe
1068 E. Main St., Ventura
805-765-9135
www.therefillshoppe.com