| | Published August 2nd, 2023
| Mighty Market refill apothecary opens in Lafayette
| | | By Vera Kochan |  | | Mighty Market?offers a wide variety of refill products. Photo Vera Kochan |
No, it's not a new grocery store. Mighty Market (3568 Mt Diablo Blvd, Lafayette) is best described by its co-owners/sisters as a refill apothecary and sustainable marketplace.
Bronwyn Kopacek and Claire Martinez have owned their other location in downtown Martinez for over three years. The name of the stores is taken from the saying, "small but mighty," due to the fact that the shop's limited square footage holds a surprisingly large amount of skin care products and more. "Our products are plant-based ingredients that are powerful and help people with skin issues, such as eczema," explained Kopacek. "Small steps lead to mighty changes."
Mighty Market officially opened June 8, but waited until July 14 for their Grand Opening. When asked what it's like to run a successful business with a sibling, Martinez replied, "If I had to do it again, I'd still do it with my sister."
"We are polar opposites, but it works," added Kopacek. "We don't get sick of each other."
The store carries home care products on one side and personal care products on the other with a mix of both on counters in between. The concept is to either bring your own refill containers or make a one-time purchase from the store's various sizes, and pay for your purchase by the weight of product minus the weight of the refill container. There's even a community jar section for customers to bring in clean and empty containers for others to use when coming in to get refills.
While Mighty Market does make some of their products, a large portion are purchased from manufacturers in the Bay Area and Greater Northern California. According to Kopacek, "It's easier to build relationships with our suppliers when they are local."
Kopacek and Martinez plan to add cosmetics to this location and will soon be offering refrigerated beverages like healthy juices or CBD drinks. "We're always bringing in new products," the sisters added. Some of the items have become so popular with customers that they've created a product wait list that guarantees the items to those on it before it hits the shelves. They're also launching a subscription program where refills can either be delivered locally or set aside for pick-up on an automatic, monthly basis.
Even though many of Mighty Market's products come in exotic and unique scents, there is always a non-scented option available. Tangerine scented garbage disposal pods, black fig or grapefruit scented soy candles, verbena mint liquid dish soap, and vetiver scented liquid hand soap are just some of the interesting aromas that your home can experience.
Handmade bar soaps available in a myriad of scents like ylang ylang, silk or Kashmir are located in the same vicinity as green tea facial cleanser; marshmallow créme, pomegranate peach or wild honey lip balm. Fresh rain/cucumber or lavender/jasmine deodorant; lemon ginger eucalyptus bath salts; plumeria bath bombs; grapefruit plus mint shampoo and conditioner; citrus plus sea salt liquid body wash; peppermint tea tree shower gel; and lemon verbena body lotion are just a very few of the interesting scents available for personal care.
Mighty Market even stocks mouthwash and tooth tabs with flavors such as watermelon/strawberry, men's beard shampoo and beard/moustache styling balm, and essential oils of patchouli or lemon.
Bulk tea in flavors like dragon fruit rooibos or watermelon plus mint green tea are located in the same area as coffee socks that act as a filter delivering a richer flavor of coffee, or charcoal bits for use in water bottles that work on the same concept as Brita water filters.
Wool laundry pods that look like colorful tennis balls are meant to take the place of dryer sheets for static cling removal and Swedish dish cloths are virtually paper thin but expand when wet to take the place of 17 rolls of paper towels and sponges.
Whether shopping for yourself, assembling items for a gift basket or purchasing stocking stuffers for the holidays, Mighty Market has something for everybody.
For more information visit: www.mighty.market or call (925) 385-7077. |
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA