Meet Rachel Garcia | Owner & Founder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rachel Garcia and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rachel, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I grew up in an entrepreneurial family where my mother ran my father’s ophthalmology practice so I saw the pros and cons of owning your own business first hand from a young age. I was always dreaming up businesses, coming up with ideas, and trying to see what felt right, but ultimately decided our current business was the one to really test and get off the ground because it hit upon three major areas of my life at the same time. It’s the perfect intersection of what I’m interested in, what I’m good at and the problem I wanted to solve. I’ve always had a passion for food, where it comes from and quality ingredients in general. My strengths grew out of my first few jobs post college where I was a buyer for a major department store and new I had talent in curating assortments and vendor relations. And when I became a Mom I began to focus more on environmentalism and the planet we are leaving to my kids and their generation. I started to become very interested and concerned about the plastic problem and wanted to find a way to tackle it in a way I felt would benefit myself and my community. These three things together made me feel that owning a low waste, plastic free grocery was a solution and a business I was willing to put my weight behind.

What should our readers know about your business?
Dry Goods Refillery is a revolutionary plastic free grocery who focuses on serving eco-minded consumers who seek quality products and strive to have a greater environmental impact by the simple act of reuse and refilling. Aside from the environmental angle of our business (which clearly sets us apart from traditional grocery stores), we set ourselves apart from competitors by focusing on a heavily curated, pre-selected assortment that our customers can trust will be a sustainable swap and a good purchase, and as a bonus, can feel it’s better environmental choice. We also are committed to creating an approachable, friendly, inclusive environment that truly allows the customers to feel comfortable, helped and represented.

As a business that started 6 weeks before a global pandemic, nothing about our first few years in business has been easy. But the challenges are what have ultimately made us stronger and helped us push into new categories sooner than expected… hello online shopping! I think we’ve successfully navigated these challenges by constantly being open to the idea that we need to be flexible and let the business take us where it wants to go. Yes, we maintain a strong vision on where we want to see things in the future, but that open mindedness helps us grow at the same time. It’s a balance between serving the community and educating and pushing that same community to think differently.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Montclair is such an amazing town it’s hard to pick just a few spots. I’d likely start off our day at a visit to Paper Plane Coffee Co. for a cup and a pastry from Le French Dad, which they carry as well Not only are both local brands we partner with, but they are some of our favorite spots in town. The day time would be spent hiking at the South Mountain Reservation or visiting the Van Vleck House & Gardens before, obviously, showing them Dry Goods Refillery for a quick refill and some small batch treats to bring home with them. We’d definitely finish off the evening with before a delicious dinner at Faubourg and maybe some post dinner drinks on the rooftop of the MC Hotel.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Our family business wouldn’t exist without my husband, Daniel, and he absolutely is a key factor in the success of our business today. Although I’m the visionary of the brand and a full time employee, the amount of work behind the scenes would be unbearable without a solid partnership and foundation. He’s beyond efficient, organized and the best person at time management I’ve ever met. He makes 30 hours in a 24 hour day somehow! We have two young boys as well so the juggle is tough and the amount of weekends and evenings he’s dedicated to the store’s vision and mission is unbelievable — all while holding down a very serious full time job of his own. In addition to all the physical support, he’s pushed the mission forward and taken the lead on serious initiatives for the business that truly have impact such as our customer loyalty program and our acceptance of SNAP benefits and the NJ Good Food Bucks program. Truly a partner in life and business!

Website: www.drygoodsrefillery.co

Instagram: @drygoodsrefillery

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dry-goods-refillery

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DryGoodsRefillery/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtci73-hlscKBwie11Muxjw

Other: Tiktok @drygoodsrefillery

Image Credits
Jamie Grill Photography