Editor's note: This story is featured in OU Daily's Best of Norman Guide, which will be available in print beginning Sept. 10. Racks can be found around Norman and campus. Check out the other featured stories at the bottom of this article.
Re:Supply is a low-waste restock store aiming to make sustainability affordable and available to everyone.
Re:Supply opened its doors in 2021 in Wichita Falls, Texas. Owner Kacie Scherler has advocated for sustainability for most of her life. Now, her passions continue at OU, where she is pursuing a doctorate in environmental sustainability and geography.
“In high school, I was so worried about the environment, it felt like I was carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders,” Scherler said. “That’s part of the reason I started Re:Supply.”
Scherler developed a rare autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack the fatty substance that protects nerve fibers in the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. Her diagnosis led her to pay close attention to her health.
“I developed this autoimmune disease and really started focusing on what I was putting into my body,” Scherler said. “As consumers, it’s really on us to do our homework on what is going into these products and finding nontoxic solutions.”
Scherler said due to her eco-friendly lifestyle, her symptoms have partially gone away in recent years.
Scherler’s goal for Re:Supply is to introduce people to nontoxic, low-waste products that are good for the environment. She said making the change can often be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be.
“People don’t have to replace everything in their house at once,” Scherler said. “Start small with just one product and as you need to, slowly start incorporating it into your life.”
Spice wall at RE:SUPPLY on Aug. 21.
Re:Supply offers a wide variety of products including shampoo, laundry detergent, skin care, car fresheners, organic food, teas, candles and more. Scherler said many of the products only require a small amount to be used, which makes them not only environmentally friendly but also economical.
“You don’t have to use a lot of product for it to work,” Scherler said. “Our laundry detergent for example, you need a tablespoon per load, which comes out to roughly 25 cents per load of laundry.”
Less than a year after opening in Wichita Falls, Scherler took Re:Supply to Main Street in Norman. In April 2022, Re:Supply opened the doors of its second location, where the current manager, Bridget Tanner, started her journey with the company.
“I remember its first night open,” Tanner said. “It was one of the 2nd Friday Art Walks, and I had been counting down this door opening. I couldn’t believe Norman was getting a refill store. When I came in, I was like, ‘Yep, it's the dream. I love it.’”
Tanner began working at Re:Supply a few months after the Norman location opened, but had already been making changes in her lifestyle. By mending her clothes and cooking more, Tanner combatted her sense of overconsumption guilt. She said she hopes Re:Supply can help others overcome that guilt and start living more sustainable lifestyles.
“I have been interested in sustainability more and more over the years,” Tanner said. “We hear all about climate change and other issues, and it can feel really overwhelming. … What in the world can I do to make a difference and not have this heavy feeling of guilt (of) overconsumption, which is really hard to overcome, especially in the (U.S.).”
Products at RE:SUPPLY on Aug. 21.
Unlike in a typical retail store, Re:Supply customers can refill almost any product. Customers can bring in their own clean containers to fill or take one from the store’s community shelf of free, clean containers that have been donated. Tanner encourages people who aren’t sure about different products to take an ounce and try it before committing to a full bottle.
In addition to making sustainability accessible, Tanner said Re:Supply cultivates an inclusive environment for anyone wanting to learn about what they do.
“Don't come here worried about being judged,” Tanner said. “We want to help you and make it fun, enjoyable and approachable. If you've never been, come in, wander around, have a ball and enjoy yourself.”
Re:Supply is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday at 408 E. Main St.
This story was edited by Shelby Emery and Peggy Dodd. Riley McDaniel, Sophie Hemker, Grace Rhodes and Mary Ann Livingood copy edited this story.
