The Importance of Refill Shops

emmaholly333
4 hours ago
3 min read

When you walk into Spill the Beans, you’re met with the fragrant smell of herbal tea.

Front and foremost sits a counter, host to plentiful refills of seeds and nuts. Behind it, the wall is lined with jars, filled with every kind of yoghurt/chocolate-covered treat imaginable, alongside spices, nuts and herbs. The rest of the shop is home to refillable versions of body and hair care products, cleaning supplies and other household necessities. Aside from the refill sections, there are all types of organic and nutritious food and beverages. Not forgetting, they have an entire wall dedicated to health supplements and vitamins.

It would be remiss not to mention the cake counter, where you can get gluten and dairy-free cakes.

There’s a steady flow to the shop. The customers come in and out, as the staff move deftly behind the counter. A camaraderie exists between the two groups, and it’s the kind borne of years of loyalty and customer service from a bygone era. The staff - affectionately dubbed as ‘Beanies’ - know many of them by name and pre-empt their orders.

Spill the Beans is a family-owned refill store entering its 50th year of trade in 2026. Refill shops are typically defined as stores that sell loose produce in bulk, where customers can bring their own containers in which to transport the goods home. Crucially, refill shops are nearly always locally owned and run. Spill the Beans was the first refill shop of its kind to open in Dorset. Back then, owners and founders Maggie and Eric Drennan sold their produce at market stalls. Demand soon led them to open their Wimborne store, with their Wareham shop following only a year later.

Reflecting on reaching their 50^th anniversary, Joe Drennan, Maggie and Eric’s son, says: “We are so grateful to all our lovely regular customers. Wimborne has a fantastic selection of well-established independent shops, which are so important for a strong local community.”

After decades of dedicated service, Maggie and Eric stepped back from shopwork but remain involved behind the scenes to this day. Joe is continuing their legacy, running the store, serving their customers and offering advice on the store’s products and supplements. The fourth generation has even entered the shop.

An award-winning family business, they continue to go from strength to strength.

Joe says: “Our little family business is more and more relevant all the time with health, environment and the wholefood diet vs. ultra-processed foods very much at the forefront of public interest right now.”

Joe touches on an important subject: the necessity of refill shops in the modern age. Refill shops are vital in reducing waste. When buying loose goods, many bring their own Tupperware or bags. Any bit of single-use plastic avoided helps our planet. By reusing our resources and materials, you are feeding into a circular economy. Moreover, hyper-consumerism is an issue everyone faces; the refill shop allows you to shop mindfully and buy only what you need.

Additionally, shopping locally is the linchpin to supporting your community. Joe expands on this: “It keeps our towns alive. Supporting local businesses creates jobs. A £10 spend in a local business could put as much as £50 into our community, given the ripple effect of our actions.”

It’s important to uplift other businesses that are providing waste-free products and prioritising eco-friendly or organic products.

Below is a list of some refill, eco, and organic shops in Dorset. Please note that it is likely not exhaustive, but offers a selection. If any that you know of are missing, please get in touch and they will be added to the Sustainable Dorset website.

I can’t encourage you enough to support your local refill shop – they often get lost in the noise of high street chains.

· Bare Necessities in Wareham

· The Refill Den in Lytchett Minster

· Just 1 Swap in Bournemouth

· Almond & Co in Bournemouth

· Myrtle & Marigold in Shaftesbury

· The Healthy Weigh in Dorchester

· Down to Earth in Dorchester

· Eco Natural Products in Poole

· SW Coast Refills in Weymouth

· The Green Gram Community Refill Shop in Fordingbridge

· Love 2 Refill in Ringwood