Process General Store is a lifestyle store committed to providing low waste personal care and home goods to our community. We currently offer items as a bulk refill or sustainably packaged.
Our vast collection of inventory helps community members make easy and thoughtful purchases with minimal effort. We rent a storefront in downtown Stevens Point and also have an active online store. We also participate in pop-up markets around the region. Our customers are locals, university students, and tourists from across the region. Aside from my own personal interest and commitment to reducing my waste, many friends in the region would share their wishes for “refillers” in the area. This call out reassured me that bringing these items to our area would be well received. Over the last two years we have inspired (and converted) numerous customers to join the zero waste movement.
Rubina’s story
Hello! I am Rubina, one of three owners of Process General Store, a low waste shop located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. I moved to central Wisconsin from Portland, Oregon because I saw an opportunity to make an impact in a small community by growing connections with people through art, sustainability, and education. Over the years I have become so proud of my community’s interest and commitment to sustainability and investing in local businesses.
In 2017 (before Process opened), my partner and I started Tomorrow River Homestead, a short-term rental space. From the beginning, we knew that we needed to offset the waste is produced by investing in sustainably packaged and/or bulk cleaning supplies. It took years of research and product trials but we found affordable, eco-friendly swaps that work. Guests of the homestead and community members became interested in our mission. We started hosting low waste workshops and selling personal care and home goods out of the homestead in the summer of 2020.
As a collaborator at heart, I recognize my limitations as well as the importance of combined experience. Since opening Process General Store, two owners have joined to make our downtown storefront a reality.
Sheena grew up in the same village that I live in now (population 150). They are committed to investing in rural space and community. Over the last 12 years, Sheena worked as a buying manager for food cooperatives in Minneapolis and studied cooperative management. They also manage our business operations.
Lyn and I met at the Stevens Point Area Cooperative in 2018. Lyn is passionate about cooperative business models and community development. For the first year Process was open, they worked as a working member before becoming an owner. Lyn works as our store manager in Stevens Point.