• About
  • Rent College Pads
  • Advertise
  • Privacy
Search
News
Opinions
Sports
Classifieds
Comics
BMA
Events
Subscribe

Donate

Eastern Echo

Saturday, April 17, 2021 Print Archive

Subscribe

  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Comics
  • Profiles
  • Podcast
  • BMA
  • Events
  • Classifieds
  • Search
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Comics
  • Profiles
  • Podcast
  • BMA
  • Events
  • Classifieds
Search

Subscribe to the Echo

Donate to The Echo

You can support the Echo by donating through the EMU Foundation and selecting to apply your gift to a specific fund. Any of the funds listed below will provide support to the Echo.

01049 -- EMU Echo Editor Endowed Scholarship:  Provides financial support for the current EMU Echo Editor.

02414 -- Scott Stephenson Eastern Echo Scholarship:  This expendable scholarship is for the benefit of student(s) in the School of Communication, Media & Theater Arts in the College of Arts & Sciences.  It will be awarded to a full or part-time junior or senior EMU student majoring in journalism and working for the Eastern Echo.  The student should be working to self-finance their education and not be eligible for need-based grants.

00825 -- Student Media Development:  Provides support for the Student Media program.

Thank you for supporting the Echo and EMU Student Media.

Give Now


4/6/2021, 3:35pm

New environmentally friendly and zero-waste shop opens in Dexter, Michigan

Jessica Thompson recently opened Bee Joyful, a zero-waste store, to encourage and spread the idea of environmentally friendly shopping.

By Anastasia Moutzalias
New environmentally friendly and zero-waste shop opens in Dexter, Michigan

Jessica Thompson, the owner of Bee Joyful Zero Waste & Refill Shop, stands in front of the newly opened shop (Photo Courtesy of Jessica Thompson).

Share

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Mail
  • Print

Bee Joyful Zero Waste & Refill shop, Michigan’s first zero-waste, and refill station opened its second shop in Dexter, Michigan on Friday, April 2. 

Jessica Thompson, the owner of Bee Joyful and a single mother of 12 years, says that the inspiration for the shop did not start with the shop but with an idea. Thompson first started making reusable bags for her five children in 2017 to cut down plastic waste in their own homes. She then got the inspiration to begin selling the reusable bags on an Etsy shop on April 7, 2017. 

Thompson admits that the process of opening shops during the Covid-19 pandemic was a hurdle, but their passion to enlighten and encourage others to use plastic-free alternatives and environmentally friendly products is very important for her. One of Thompson’s hopes is that customers will see that making the switch to environmentally conscious products is not ‘weird’ as some have called it and should not be difficult.

“I just hope that people are able to see that these opportunities are out there. That they don’t have to shop what they’ve always shopped that hopefully they’re able to come in and see a new way of thinking and we’re able to kind of encourage them to make these changes and even if they come in and don’t purchase anything maybe they’re just inspired to do something different at their house,” Thompson said.

Thompson admits that the opening of the first shop was delayed because of the state shutdown in the early months of the coronavirus pandemic. Despite this, the first shop experienced great success, garnering people hours away and even catching the eye of citizens from different states in the country as they sought the environmentally friendly options provided by the store. 

Six months after the opening of the new store, Thompson began the journey to open a new location on the eastern side of Michigan. She hopes that with the expansion of shop locations, that customers will be comfortable enough to visit during the pandemic without going too far away from their homes to visit the shop during the pandemic and without having to drive so far.

Ellie Haase, one of Jessica’s daughters and an employee of the shop, says that working at the shop has given them the opportunity to meet people, “...who are also on the same journey of trying to figure out how to be more sustainable.”

The new Bee Joyful Zero Waste & Refill Shop is located on 3203 Broad Street, Dexter, Michigan, and offers reusable bags, laundry detergent, bath products like shampoo and condition, and a refill station with 50-60 items. The new location opened on Friday, April 2, with both in-person and curbside pick-up available for customers. 

You can visit Bee Joyful Zero Waste & Refill Shop’s online store here.

Share



Related Stories

Picture taken by Hush Naidoo

Opinion: Covid-19 has uncovered ugly truths on ableism in America

By Julia LaRoe

05DCAFBB-CC6E-4DBE-99E1-D6B20943F126.jpeg

Opinion: Rushing Amy Coney Barrett's Supreme Court confirmation was reckless

By Julia LaRoe

The Eastern Echo Podcast Logo Fall 2019

Student Gov elections; Crosswind Aviation partnership; esports partner pledges $1 million

By Ronia-Isabel Cabansag and Jasmine Boyd


The Eastern Echo welcomes thoughtful discussion on all of our stories, but please keep comments civil and on-topic. Read our full guidelines here.


Most Popular


4/11/2021, 8:45pm

Review: The Blossom just released their debut EP "97 Blossom," shining with talent and potential.

By Layla McMurtrie

This mixed-genre musician expresses themselves in a relatable way, successfully filling you with emotion through every word.


4/11/2021, 8:42pm

Review: Lil Nas X is back with new single 'MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)'


4/13/2021, 7:47pm

Gov. Whitmer and Rep. Dingell visit EMU to discuss vaccine access


4/15/2021, 2:04pm

EMU to postpone vaccine distribution on campus due to concerns of Johnson & Johnson vaccine symptoms


Podcast


4/15/2021, 4:24pm

Podcast: April 14, 2021


4/11/2021, 8:43pm

Symposium: Bernie Sanders and socialism in the 21st century


4/11/2021, 8:39pm

The Factory Report: Overrated and underrated NFL contracts feat. Nate Schmidt


4/11/2021, 6:44pm

Podcast: April 7, 2021


Tweets by TheEasternEcho
Eastern Michigan Echo To Homepage
  • About
  • Jobs
  • Freelance
  • Submissions
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Distribution

All Rights Reserved

© Copyright 2021 The Eastern Echo

Powered by Solutions by The State News.