Developing sustainable habits is something many Seattleites think about regularly. But putting them into practice is a different story. Beyond the intentional effort required to live sustainably, some companies use greenwashing to hide their harmful practices behind eco-friendly marketing buzzwords.
So when I came across Ravenna Refills, a one-stop shop for eco-friendly products and safe, clean, refills across everyday products, I was immediately intrigued by their simple solution: build something that makes it easier to make intentional, environmentally-friendly choices, and the right people will come.
To better understand what it takes to run a specialized business around everyday products, I spoke with owner Robin Dreisbach. Throughout the conversation, it’s clear that the two friends have built something meaningful out of everyday needs.
Beyond that, they’ve created a space for the community to thrive around shared values, as evidenced by this comment Dreisbach shared: “Our shop is reminiscent of a time past… when you could bring your mason jar to your local corner shop and fill it with laundry powder or just grab a roll of toilet paper without having to get a 50-pack. We value COMMUNITY, real human interactions, real conversations, real artists- and NEVER AI.”
Here’s our conversation:
SSB: Can you tell me the abridged version of your origin story? How did your Ravenna Refills come to be?
RD: Jenny, my business partner, had the Refillery vision… I met Josh and Jenny when I was shopping for crystals in their other shop, Ravenna Rocks, and we became friends. I have been making small-batch body care for the last 12-ish years (lip balms, whipped body butters, lotion bars), so when Jenny had the idea to open a refillery in the space in back of their shop, she asked me to join the team, and I joyfully said HECK YES! I now make my concoctions right here in the shop!
SSB: How big is your business (employee-wise) and how would you describe the space you operate out of?
RD: We are a team of two- Robin and Jenny. We are in a 114-year old house tucked in the back of a storefront on a main street in the Ravenna neighborhood (65th St). When you walk into our shop, through our adorable front porch, the main area is the “living room”, then we have the “kitchen” towards the back, filled with kitchen and cleaning goods.
SSB: I see you’re on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky. What platform have you found to be the most valuable marketing tool for the business? Outside of social media, what are your main marketing channels?
RD: We have had a lot of success on Instagram and Facebook, but in the future, we hope to focus on spaces that align with our values better, like Bluesky. We have a newsletter that we try to send out monthly that includes information like newly stocked goods, brand new items and our upcoming events (we host 3 swaps a month for the community, on our porch).
SSB: I know you’re a fairly new store, but how has business evolved since the early days?
RD: We have grown quite a bit in the last 18-ish months. We have thoughtfully curated a shop filled with goods that most people have had to find online, or need subscriptions for. We are constantly discovering really cool brands/people so our shelves continue to get fuller. We are literally building our dream shop that just didn’t exist! We also rely on feedback from our customers, so we can continue to offer what they need/are looking for.
Our swaps have also evolved! We started out with two swaps per month when we first opened- a clothing swap on the second Sunday of every month then on the last Sunday, we rotated between puzzles, books and tarot decks. We learned real fast that puzzles are very popular, so we have a puzzle swap EVERY month now, totaling three each month.
SSB: What has adding an online store done for the business, and how do you balance operations of a brick and mortar with e-commerce?
RD: Our online store is a great option for those who aren’t local to Seattle. We offer unique goods like biodegradable body glitter, sustainable matches and plastic-free hair clips and claws, that we are happy to send off to customers around the country. While we do not offer refillables online, we do have them listed so customers can peruse our options before coming in. Our team works so well together, so balancing the shop with online sales has been a breeze.
SSB: How has operating in Seattle shaped your business? Are there any unique aspects to operating here (and specifically Ravenna) that you might not get in other cities?
RD: I feel VERY lucky to be in Seattle. This city is filled with “our kind of people” who are looking for better options for a better planet, and we are totally here for it! I attended a refillery summit recently and chatting with refillery owners from other states (like Tennessee, Georgia, Montana) made me realize just how lucky we are to be in such a progressive city!
Being located in Ravenna, we are in a great central location where a lot of neighborhoods meet- Ravenna/Roosevelt, Wedgwood, University District, Greenwood, Northgate. We are really only like 10 minutes from most areas in NE Seattle, so it’s very convenient to walk (or bike!) over and grab a few necessities. The train station is also very close, so people can hop on the train from as far away as Lynwood and Redmond!
SSB: Conversely, how has your business impacted the local community? How have you seen your store help others be more conscious of their environmental impacts?
RD: We are here to help people find plastic-free options without the stress, overwhelm and green-washing that is so rampant out there! We love to see our neighbors making better choices for our planet- whether they are just starting out with 1-2 swaps, or they are seasoned refillers with their 16 jars. We make it easy.
It’s also exciting to see THEIR excitement! Our customers are always in the best mood, perhaps because they are supporting a woman-owned business just down the street, filled with woman-owned, POC-owned, queer owned brands that actually CARE. I especially love it when someone comes into the shop because their neighbor/friend told them about it- That’s just so awesome!!!
SSB: When did you implement a mutual aid project, and how has the community work you do impacted the business itself?
RD: We started our mutual aid shelf when SNAP benefits lapsed. We decided to keep it going because there is ALWAYS a need. We accept non-perishable food items (grab and go foods are best like granola bars). We also have a pay-it-forward program where customers can purchase a gift card for the shop and we replenish the shelf with items like ECO toilet paper, 100% organic tampons and pads, hand soaps, laundry sheets, etc. We do have at least 2 regulars who pop by and grab food as needed. The shelf is on our porch, so no need to come INTO the shop if you don’t want to. Need it? Take it. Have some to give, bring it by!
I had someone come in one day, looking for a free tarot deck because he lost his (and everything else!) in an apartment fire… I took him to our back room where I keep all the excess from our swaps and told him to take all that he needed. He left with big boxes of clothes, books, puzzles and yes, he found a tarot deck! That truly filled my cup! Being able to surprise and help someone in need like that… that personal touch and extra mile that you're just not going to get from the big stores.
SSB: Have there been any notable risks you’ve taken that ended up paying off?
RD: If I’m honest, opening a brick and mortar business in Seattle is in itself a risk… but we are SO happy we did! What we hear almost daily is "we needed this shop so bad!"
SSB: What strengths do each of you bring to the table?
RD: Jenny is so smart and savvy! She is responsible for all of the researching/vetting/ordering, finding the BEST products with the best PRICES, from the BEST brands whose values align with ours, plus all of the accounting/payroll/legal/all things behind-the-scenes.
I am responsible for running the shop each day, helping our customers, answering questions, checking in orders, merchandising/decorating our vibey space, and social media. I love being artistic/creative and I have always enjoyed helping people… & I get to do both every single day!
SSB: What unexpected things have you learned about yourselves through operating a values-driven business?
RD: Being able to be authentically myself is so valuable and something I never got to experience in any other job. A value-driven business equals value-driven customers and THAT is the best part! We get to hang/collaborate/help THE best people, from our vendors to our customers- we are all in it together!
SSB: Running a small business in a niche category brings plenty of challenges. How do you stay operational during uncertain or challenging times?
RD: While a refillery IS a niche category, EVERYONE washes their dishes, EVERYONE washes their clothes… We have goods that everyone needs, they just happen to be sustainable and made with the best ingredients. It is important to us that refilling is accessible to all- we have 20%, 30% and 40% savings tiers (the more you buy, the more you save) and we have even LOWERED about 10+ prices, because of community support we can purchase larger quantities that saves everyone money.
What’s the best way for people to get in touch to work with you?
They can email us at [email protected], or through Instagram/Facebook messaging.