The author Amy Rebecca Tan has been a loyal shopper at The Refill Market in Haddon Township since the day it opened. A longtime environmental advocate, she said she was looking for exactly that kind of store.
At the heart of the shop is Tina Solak, who opened the market nearly five years ago with the support of her husband of 25 years, Anton, and their sons, Jason and Will. Combining a background in retail and customer service with a passion for sustainability and a commitment to leave the smallest possible carbon footprint, Solak set out to create a space that reduces waste and encourages mindful consumption.
“I feel like I’ve always been an environmentalist, but what that means has changed over the years,” Solak explained. “When I was younger, I was upset about baby animals, and this evolved to being upset about litter, and now it’s moved to reducing plastic use and consuming less,” she said. “Whenever I can, I try to buy second-hand or use products from small businesses.”
Tan appreciates that ethos firsthand. Several years ago, she bought a pretty glass jar with a pump that she refills regularly with liquid soap. She relies on the store for refillable dental floss containers, bar soaps, shampoos, and enjoys giving a variety of locally made gifts including candles, lotions, and dish towels to friends and family.
“I love all the refill options because they allow me to pay for the product only, not the packaging,” she said, adding that the shop makes it easy to avoid single-use plastic and products with questionable ingredients. “Shopping at the market feels good and makes sense.”
“There is a store in North Jersey near my brother-in-law’s house, and I wanted a place like that where I could shop,” said Solak. “Since there wasn’t one nearby, I decided to open one, and help my customers enjoy high-quality products while caring for the environment.”
“I’m proud to say that my most popular items are the refillable liquid hand soap, dish soap, and laundry detergent,” Tina Solak en- thused at The Refill Market, which she opened nearly five years ago in Haddon Township. “It wasn’t always this way. I used to sell more retail products than refills, so that tells me that refilling is catching on!”
Solak said she is extremely pleased with the support she receives from her customers and other small businesses.
“My younger customers are passionate about leaving less of an environmental footprint. A lot of them are trying to teach their parents about refilling. A lot of my business has grown via word of mouth during the past five years.”
She said that her Gen-Z customers share their enthusiasm for the store with their parents, while her older shoppers are often able to afford the cleaner ingredients because they have more disposable income. She also has regulars who travel from Cape May and Princeton every two to three months to stock up on their favorite items.
The Refill Market offers a variety of everyday essentials, from dish brushes and hand soaps to shampoos, lotions, and hand towels, along with unique gifts for birthdays, Mother’s Day, and anniversaries. Popular refillable items include liquid hand soap, dish soap, and laundry detergent. In keeping with her sustainability goals, Solak made the conscious decision not to sell merchandise printed with the store logo and she encourages customers to bring their own containers — or to use donated glass and aluminum jars that have been cleaned and sanitized for reuse.
A former stay-at-home mom, Solak moved with her family from Bermuda to Haddonfield in 2007, and it was love at first sight. “We love the business community, the schools, and found a tight-knit community with friendly neighbors.”
Her sons played a key role from the start: her older son, Jason, 21, worked in the store before college, while her younger son, Will, 18, helps with inventory.
Solak also brings her products to the Collingswood Farmers’ Market, selling popular refillable soaps, household items like loofahs and dish brushes, and personal care items including shampoo and conditioner bars, nail brushes, and bamboo toothbrushes. She’s even happy to bring any store item if a customer requests it in advance.
“I’m proud to say that my most popular items are the refillable liquid hand soap, dish soap, and laundry detergent,” Solak explained. “It wasn’t always this way. I used to sell more retail products than refills, so that tells me that refilling is catching on!”
The Collingswood Farmers’ Market is open on Saturday from early May to Thanksgiving. Solak plans on selling her goods there on the second Saturday of each month.
When it comes to Solak, she said she uses nearly everything she sells, including the solid shampoo and conditioner bars and lavender laundry concentrate. She has been able to sample almost everything in the store, because if there is a small amount in the container, she will bring it home. Among her favorites is the Dip Tobacco & Driftwood shampoo bar because the “nice earthy scent” makes it great for both men and women.
Donna Moffett of Haddonfield has been shopping at The Refill Market since it opened. She noted how helpful and friendly Solak is.
“I appreciate the work and dedication she puts into her shop,” she said. “Not only can I feel great about reducing plastic, but I also know she has thoroughly researched the products she carries.”
Moffett said she is working hard to teach her 10- and 14-year-old children “to care for our beautiful planet.”
Among her favorite products are the Root and Splendor liquid laundry concentrate, the Dip conditioner bar, soap bars by Blueberry Fields Artisan Soap, and Oneka Lavender Lotion.
“The market has also helped me become more aware of the products I purchase at other stores,” Moffett said.
Solak is also proud that The Refill Market “provides a valuable service to the community, as evidenced by my large base of regular customers, the steady stream of new customers, and those who drive from far away to shop with me,” she said.
“In these uncertain economic times,” she said, “I hope that my shop will be around for many years to come!”
