Behind the Business: Four Corners Supply Co.

For me, it was the lack of local options. At the time, there were no refill stores (or 'refilleries' as we call them) While I could find some options online, I still wasn't able to get items without packaging and I also was wasting a lot of money on trying things that didn't work. Friends would look to me for advice in this area, and I have always loved given advice in this area- after visiting some other refill stores and seeing how awesome they were, I got sick of waiting for someone else to do it.

We are a low waste general store that has a little bit of everything in terms of personal care products and home products. We focus on being plastic free and non toxic. I think that sometimes people come in for the first time and can feel overwhelmed because some things are 'different,' but we are very welcoming of wherever you are in your journey to be more sustainable. Little changes add up!

My biggest challenge I think is 'turning off' the business- I love that being a small business owner gives me amazing flexibility to spend time with my family that I did not have before. 

Watching the incredibly impactful changes that customers have made. While it may seem small and inconsequential as an individual, the collective efforts have made a huge impact. Last year we avoided using over 6000 single use plastic containers by refilling containers we already have, or by purchasing plastic free alternatives. That's pretty amazing!

We are incredibly fortunate to have an abundance of folks making sustainable change here on the South Shore be it for our plants and gardens, second hand stores for clothing and art supplies, cool upcyclers, and local organizations like the NSWRA and Wildlands Trust preserving our beautiful spaces. While I've lived on the South Shore for almost 10 years as a 'non local' I am always learning and love making connections.

Well the one thing Amazon can't do...is provide and support the community, and provide refills. 

Locally, while there are many great businesses on the South Shore, there are none that focus on sustainable or eco friendly homegoods. We can supply our community with high quality essentials like shampoo and dish soap made from other small businesses without the waste. 

I have found great colleagues in my fellow refill store owners. There are about 200 of us across the US and Canada. Their help has been invaluable. Additionally I have found great support from the Hanover and Marshfield Chambers, as well as other small business owners. It is not easy and so I always appreciate the mentorship or even just the commiseration! 

A typical day...well there is none! I'm a small business owner and a parent of three kiddos. Half the week I am in the shop. I love being able chat and problem solve with customers. The other half of the week is all the back end of work... I do (mostly) everything for the business...social media, marketing, finances, ordering, customer service, the laundry, the shipping....Still hoping to outsource more and more of the tasks I dislike! 

Sadly the 'sustainable' trend has fallen by the wayside a bit. However, what I will always focus on, is just superior products that are effective and work, but they also happen to be better for our bodies and environment. I am never going to sell something that doesn't work. But retail right now is also just a hard business to be in with rising costs across the board. 

Find your supports, build your network, and if you have the ability to 'go slow' and try it out before you go all in- do it!