Anna Crooks, Owner of Earthly Refillery

Anna decided to make a huge career change from being a photographer to starting a new business. She had dreamed of starting a zero waste bulk shop for food and personal goods but didn’t think she had the resources needed. Then one day she realized her finances were in a position to take the big leap and create what became the Earthly Refillery, the first full service refill shop in Grand Rapids. She started it to help stop the proliferation of single use containers and expand options for customers, it is a zero waste bulk shop with everything from shampoo, laundry detergent, multipurpose cleaner, to grains, seasonings, flours and much more. All the bulk products are priced by the ounce, so customers can get as little or as much as they need. Anna’s vision serves as a model of an environmentally-responsible commercial business all retail shops could follow.