Market stall entrepreneurs open up a permanent storefront in Petersfield

Laura Hayward and Alice Hooley, who co-own plastic-free shop, Refill and Replenish, currently tour Havant, Emsworth and Southbourne markets.

They have announced that the start-up will establish its first storefront at the Folly Market indoor shopping market in Dragon Street, Petersfield on Saturday, February 29.

Sally Bekin from the UK’s Circular Plastics Network and Final Straw Solent will be there to cut the ribbon and officially open the shop.

Laura said: ‘It’s been a whirlwind year for us, we have established our business and brand across Hampshire through attending markets and pitches across the county, it’s exciting that we’ve reached the point when we can realise the next step in our journey and open our first shop.

‘What started as a passion to help people live a life with less plastic has grown beyond our wildest dreams and 2020 seems to be the year that we will take our business to the next level.’

Refill and Replenish started in late 2017 when the two budding entrepreneurs with similar ideas met through the Startup Disruptors Network in the Old Customs House, Portsmouth and realised that their dream of a world that thinks hard about the plastic that it uses could be better realised by pooling their resources and working together.

Alice said: ‘Our core message is simple, and it is at the heart of our brand: reduce the plastic through refilling your old containers to replenish your daily home stores.

‘We’ve helped thousands of people take the first step in reducing their plastic consumption across a range of products from household staples like nuts, pasta and washing liquid, to less obvious areas like switching to more sustainable kitchen scourers and alternatives to clingfilm.’

Since then they have established a thriving business, which helps people to source everyday goods with less plastic packaging and through a series of markets and pitches throughout Portsmouth, Southsea, Emsworth, Waterlooville, Southbourne and further across the county.