We had the good fortune of connecting with Kelly Murphy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kelly, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
The overwhelming amount of single use plastic we consume has always bothered me. It became shockingly apparent when I was traveling abroad and saw beautiful ocean habitats in remote and uninhabited areas littered with plastic waste. It was heartbreaking. I decided it was time for a change and tried to go “plastic-free” but quickly realized it wasn’t easy. Personal care and household goods such as shampoo, dish soap, and detergent all come in plastic containers. I looked for a way to refill instead of buying these products in new containers but this didn’t exist in my neighborhood. I was sure I wasn’t the only one with this problem so I looked into starting a business to provide this service. But with a limited budget and the cost of leasing a store in LA being so expensive, I couldn’t afford it. This is when I had to get creative and decided to build the Refillery LA as a mobile refill station in a van. I built my business around solving a problem I encountered in my everyday life and for others that share my dream of a plastic-free community.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Refillery LA is a mobile refill station offering eco-friendly household goods in bulk for refilling. We encourage customers to bring their own containers and reuse them to reduce waste. Refillery LA is unique as it is a mobile retail business; we bring the refills to you! I’m most excited about the opportunity to make a difference in the community by bringing awareness to the plastic pollution crisis. Refilling is one small step to zero waste and opens the door for individuals to make bigger changes in their day to day life to reduce their impact on the environment. Starting any business is always a challenge, but being a mobile business adds its own set of unique problems. As a mobile business, we don’t have the constant physical presence of a permanent store, so I work hard to maintain an online presence and stay connected to our customers.

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
There is so much to explore in Los Angeles! I would definitely recommend exploring LA’s amazing hiking trails. A few of my favorites with great ocean views are Los Liones, Temescal Canyon and Zuma Canyon. Afterwards, I recommend enjoying a plant based meal at one of the many local vegan or vegetarian restaurants like Cafe Gratitude, Flower Child or Sage Bistro.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
This Shoutout is dedicated to my partner, Lawrence. Refillery LA would not be here without his love, support, encouragement and hard work!

Website: http://refilleryla.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/refilleryla/
Facebook: facebook.com/refilleryla
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixBbRJVFlcg

Image Credits
Lawrence Lee

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