By Ashley Ragone
Features Editor
What started as an aspiring art career now fuels a grassroots refill shop; Jaime Alford ‘99 is preserving the planet’s environmental health, one reusable container at a time.
Building a foundation at the College
Alford’s college journey began in 1995, attending Trenton State College before the name change a year later.
“My time and energy on campus was largely centered around the art building, Holman Hall. Studio classes were four hours, but a lot of fun because they were a great opportunity to meet people, connect and build lasting friendships,” Alford said of her experience as a student.
She obtained a BFA in Graphic Design, often working in the art gallery and constructing pieces she often carried around campus. “It was a very physical major,” she said.
The landscape of her major and the art field as a whole may have changed since her years studying, however the important principles have remained the same: “delving deep into understanding subject matter in order to best promote it, connecting dots, being a sponge; having an openness to ideas,” in Alford’s words.
It’s this diversity of experience that she took away as her most important lesson from the College, and further aided her to be multi-faceted in business.
She also looks back fondly on her professors and how their varied skills informed her future. “Some were loose and creative, others taught unyielding precision. This was foundational to my career and life.”
Shaping her career
After graduating, Alford hoped to find an entry-level job close to home, which she accomplished with Coyne Communications in Morristown, N.J. She worked with automotive collateral, which she noted was the origin of her love for MINI cars.
However, she quickly made a drastic career change; Alford was picked up by Firmenich, where she would work for the next 22 years in the creative marketing department. Firmenich, a Swiss fragrance company, has produced many notable scents and ingredient substitutes since 1895.
“My role was to research future trends, envision new products or ideas and design multi-sensorial spaces and experiences for clients,” Alford said.
Despite enjoying her position and the ability to travel, she changed her job once again due to the hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A jump to business ownership
While at Firmenich, Alford met the people with she would eventually own her business alongside: Dan and Karin McLaughlin, as well as her husband, Rob Knab. Having worked at a fragrance house, which supplies scent for a variety of household items, they gained invaluable knowledge of the consumer products market.
“Dan owned and sold three hardware stores and was looking to do something new in Yardley, so I pitched the refill shop idea to the group and we forged ahead,” Alford said.
The result was the Yardley Refillery, the first refill shop of its kind in Bucks County, Pa. “A ‘refillery’ is a term coined in the Zero and Low Waste industry to describe a store where you can bring your own containers or purchase reusable ones to fill with bulk essential goods, often with more sustainable & health-conscious profiles,” according to the store’s website. “Products are sold by weight or each, so you can buy what you need, a great benefit in an uncertain economy.”
Alford had the idea after following the trend at Firmenich, a refill shop acting as a provided solution model for zero-waste consumers. The store has been a hit in her hometown, providing a “unique vibe and product selection” due to its independent ownership, she believes.
The store’s website features its menu of filling options, which changes seasonally and features pricing dependent on the amount purchased. Their available products include anything from bird seed to body wash, and toilet cleaner to taco seasoning. They use mostly organic products according to their menu, and identify their local suppliers. They keep their menu and product offerings fresh with periodic selection updates, redesigning the refillery to reflect their evolving supply.
They also boast a selection of consumer services, aiming to repair or refresh existing products instead of contributing to waste by buying completely new. These include window screen repairs, knife sharpening, key cutting and more.
Alford wanted to emphasize the refillery’s eco-friendly mission, prioritizing human health over capital.
“Our mission is to help customers reduce single-use plastics and waste less, offer products with cleaner formulations for household health and create a community around these principles. Importantly, we have a boutique vibe at affordable prices.”
She also explains her drive as being inspired by her family, having two teenage boys that she wants to provide a bright future for.
“Microplastics are an especially huge problem that I’m doing my part to tackle by moving households to a refill model, away from plastic.”
Alford and her co-owners are excited for the future of their store, which just celebrated its two-year anniversary on Sept. 23. They keep their menu and product offerings fresh with periodic selection updates, redesigning the refillery to reflect their evolving supply.
Last year, they expanded to include a pet section, and this year, they have a growing essential oil selection; the “Breathe Bar,” like their other menus, offers bulk consumption at an affordable cost.
“We are always listening to our customer base to understand what they are looking for,” Alford said.
