A BRING YOUR OWN CONTAINER STORE
OUR STORY COMES TO AN END
Today I’m writing to share that Hello!Bulk Markets is officially closing its doors. While the plan was to re‑open inside the Wasatch Food Co‑op and rise above the challenges of the past few years, I’m afraid it simply wasn’t in the cards.
After closing our 300 West store, I spent months pursuing funding for the next phase of the business, only to face repeated setbacks. At the same time, working a 40‑hour week instead of 60+ gave me something I hadn’t had in years—time with my family, space to care for my health, and energy I thought I’d lost. Balancing those positive shifts with ongoing disappointments was complex, which is why it took until December to make this decision.
Looking at the big picture, I’m incredibly proud of what this community accomplished. Hello!Bulk was one of the first refill grocery stores in the country, and together we reached refill numbers few stores ever achieve. Our impact was real.
But nothing could have prepared us for the effects of the 300 West road construction. Sales dropped to a level that couldn’t sustain our overhead, and they didn’t rebound once construction ended. Recovery proved far more difficult than I imagined.
I know how deeply you care. You fought for our concept, and I know you’ll continue fighting for so much more. One of the most important tasks before us now is learning to care for ourselves so we can keep showing up. I hope you find that balance and continue walking your remarkable path. I hope to do the same.
P.S. Through these difficult times there have been some bright lights. One was the opportunity to do a TedX Salt Lake City talk about plastic pollution and stores like Hello!Bulk. I will forever be grateful that I could use this platform to bring awareness.
Another is growing closer to the crew at the Wasatch Food Co-op. Their hard work is really paying off! Please follow along with their progress and support where you can.
