Sisters Jodie London and Gemma Collins co-own The Green Cupboard refill store in Harleston, Norfolk. Here, Jodie explains how they are committed to limiting their impact on the environment
What led you both to starting The Green Cupboard and what were you doing before? When did you open?
Gemma was keen on a change of career, and I wanted something that would work around children and school runs. We both wanted to reduce our impact on the environment, especially food and plastic waste, and help others to do the same. We thought opening a shop that offers a different way of shopping to like-minded customers was a good idea and opened our doors on December 19, 2019.
What is it like working with your sister?
We both have similar ideas for the shop. Gemma works in the shop and does a lot of the ordering and I come in one day a week and do all the admin from home. We have a good balance and work well together.
What is the ethos behind the business?
Our ethos is a commitment to limiting our impact on the environment, helping other people to achieve this, using local producers/suppliers…the green way!
Where can people find you?
We are based on the high street in Harleston – a lovely, quaint village in Norfolk. We also have an online shop where you can buy some of our products and a Facebook and Instagram page.
How would you describe The Green Cupboard?
An eco-friendly shop with a great range of refill items from store cupboard staples to cleaning and body products, all natural and much better for the environment. We are very supportive, helping our customers, new and regular, to reduce their plastic/food waste. We use as many local and UK businesses as we can, and we are always looking for new products for the shop.
Do you want to give a shout out to any local suppliers?
We have many excellent suppliers and a few of them are: Choose2eco, offering natural cleaning and body products; Anglian Organics and The Tacons, who provide local and organic fruit and veg; Vare Valley Oils, supplying locally made rapeseed oil; Hodmedod’s, who provide many seeds and grains grown in Suffolk; Wakelyn’s and The Front Room, supplying us with delicious freshly made bread; and Simon’s Marmalade, who make amazing shortbread biscuits and marmalade.
What are your hopes and dreams for your business?
We would like to grow our product range within our shop and our online presence too, by offering more items and hopefully refillable items, in the near future, online. We also, at some point would like to open another shop!
The Green Cupboard, 18 The Thoroughfare, Harleston, IP20 9AS. Follow on Instagram.
Featured image of Jodie London and Gemma Collins, by South Norfolk Council
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