With more than eight million tons of plastic being dumped into our oceans each year, waste reduction is likely the most needed and simplest step that everyone can do to improve the well-being of our planet. The idea for a refill shop called ‘Good Bottle’ first came to Deanna Taylor-Heacock in January 2018 after looking at her year-end credit card statement — as she was appalled by the amount of money she was spending at big box stores. After expanding from the original Maplewood location to a storefront in Montclair last year, the shop announced on October 19th that it was officially closing — which locals noticed last week when ‘for lease’ signs went up in the windows. Exactly when Good Bottle will close is not yet known, though it will likely be in early December. The Maplewood location will remain open, and Good Bottle Loop delivery service will also still be available. Read on to learn more about Good Bottle and its upcoming closure of the storefront located at 179 Glenridge Avenue in Montclair.
Background on Good Bottle
Deanna decided she had to spend less and was very much interested in the minimalist lifestyle. She came up with a plan to spend less, buy less. After following this model for a year, she ended up saving $10,000. Inspired by the changes her family made, she decided to take it to the next level as she still had a pretty hefty amount of single-use household goods to buy each month. After trying to find ways to cut them out, she started researching sustainable versions of the single-use items her family was using each month. Through this process, she stumbled upon the zero-waste movement.
She became more educated about the impact all our trash has on the environment and reading about our recycling not actually getting recycled. Deanna realized there should be a way to refill rather than buy new, but there was nowhere like this in New Jersey or even New York City. This idea stayed with Deanna and she found herself researching and writing a business plan while her son was in school and her daughter had playdates. With over fifteen years experience as a buyer at retail giants Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s, as well as at the website, BareNecessities.com, she channeled her business acumen and found vendors, created a product list, and spent time securing a retail location. In September 2019, the Good Bottle Refill Shop officially opened its doors to consumers in Maplewood, located at 1875 Springfield Avenue in Maplewood.
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After several years of growing the business, Good Bottle Refill Shop, New Jersey’s first refill shop and zero waste store, opened its second location in Montclair, New Jersey in 2021. The store is located at 179 Glenridge Avenue. Good Bottle is a refill shop where consumers can buy refills of hand and dish soap, cleaning products, bath + body products, laundry detergents, and more.
“Plastic waste is causing pollution and has become a breeding ground for multiple pathogens, as well as harming wildlife. As consumer’s awareness grows, so does the popularity of a zero-waste lifestyle. Little changes and awareness of one’s footprint can bring about a positive change in our fragile ecosystem,” Deanna shared in a press release. “All you have to do is bring your own container (or buy one at the shop) and you only pay for what you fill.”
This mission-based business aims to help clients reduce the amount of trash they are tossing each month, its motto is simple and accurate: “stop buying your trash.” Good Bottle’s Maplewood location was a pioneer in New Jersey’s Zero-Waste movement, as it was the first of its kind in New Jersey and the NYC metropolitan area.
In addition to the bulk product, Good Bottle also stores alternatives to common single-use products like plastic wrap, ziplock bags, paper towels, and more. Deanna has made it a mission to make certain all brands sold are eco-conscious.
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The Closure
Anyone passing by the Montclair location last week probably noticed a ‘for lease’ sign in the window of the Good Bottle shop. Today, October 19th, Deanna confirmed via an email blast that she made the decision to close the shop.
“I’ve worked hard to make this store thrive in this location and have hit many roadblocks (literally and figuratively). Unfortunately, closing this store was my only choice,” she wrote in the message. She said the shop will continue to offer delivery and will keep its Maplewood location running.
“I want to personally thank you for your business and dedication to this refill revolution we started in New Jersey,” Deanna wrote. “Many of you came to our store in Maplewood since the very beginning and you are the reason we ventured to Montclair. We are proud to have paved the way for others and proud that we did this authentically on our own without a roadmap in a new industry. Our chapter on Glenridge Ave. is coming to a close, but we are strong and know that we have a very bright future as a company.”
There is not an exact closing date just yet, though Deanna guessed it would likely be in early December. Until then, the shop is very much open for holiday shopping — and she asked for locals to support the shop before it closes by considering it for any holiday shopping needs.
For more information on Good Bottle Shop, click here.
