Self-Care Section

Giving Shoppers (From page 145) and curbside pickup options — “anything to keep the doors open.” With the pandemic receding, inflation is now cutting into many customers’ discretionary budgets for things like fancy soaps — and depressing revenue at Wimsatt’s boutique.

Still, modern shoppers increasingly believe that ecofriendly and all natural products are worth the extra cost. Soap Refill Station opened its Kansas City, Mo., location in February 2020, a month before COVID-19 hit, and has thrived due to a business model that allows customers to bring in virtually any clean container and fill it with all natural soaps and lotions.

Manager Shelby Nelson said Soap Refill Station has topped up more than 50,000 containers, doing more than its part to reduce single-use plastic waste in landfills and waterways. “What people are looking for now is consumption that is zero waste,” she reflected, alluding to rising concerns over the environment and climate change.

Soap Refill Station, which also has a location in Springfield, Mo., features locally made, vegan, budget-friendly dish and laundry detergents, soaps and lotions and bath items. Customers appreciate the kinds of products they can’t find elsewhere, such as toiletries for pets and babies, specialty face creams and clay masks. The 1,000-square-foot shop also customizes blends and sells ingredients for DIY enthusiasts.

With a steady stream of eco-conscious shoppers bringing in Mason jars and ketchup bottles, Soap Refill Station has become a bit of a social hub. “People really love to come in and fill up their own containers,” Nelson reported. “It’s a very hands-on activity, and there’s a sense of community.” ❖