Meet Eco-Able
We make it easy for you to live a more planet-friendly life simply and affordably, while still enjoying lovely things.
Welcome to Eco-Able! Eco-Able is a sustainable and slow living store based in Cirencester, we have both an online shop and a physical retail store and we specialise in homewares and gifts for the eco conscious. I’m Dani and I set Eco-Able up in 2019, with our website going live just before the first lockdown during Covid! It has definitely been a challenge running a business during a global pandemic, but if we can survive that then we can achieve anything!
The idea for the business was inspired by a conversation with my sister about plastic free July. She was finding it difficult to find really good sustainable products in one place and I had a lightbulb moment when I realised, ’I could do that’. I remember my childhood being thrifty, there was lots of reusing and making and baking in our household, so it came naturally to me to think more about the things we use everyday and to want to make a difference.
My main goal was trying to make sustainability more accessible to all, and to create the feeling that we’re all in it together. There’s no judgement here, at Eco-Able, just lots of encouragement and support. I started off researching sustainability, building a social media presence and sharing tips and ideas about a less wasteful life. I added in a small range of products, initially selling them at small, local events, whilst gradually working on our website and adding products to it. Something that was important to me, was trying and testing out the products as I went along, which I still love doing. In May 2021 I was able to open our physical store in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, and this has completely changed the business. I love being in the shop and getting to meet and chat directly to customers. We have also begun running workshops and events in store and have extended our range to include preloved clothing, working with a range of other small, local businesses in this.
As an early years teacher for many years, I wanted to combine the things I care about the most, education and caring for the planet, through my own eco children’s book. During lockdown I was able to focus some time to work with my illustrator and we were thrilled to be able to complete the project and self publish our first book, ‘Away’. Choosing to self publish has allowed me to print it in a sustainable way, opting for 100% recycled carbon balanced paper (as certified by the World Land Trust), I also opted to print the books without plastic lamination and with sewn bindings. As well as being eco printed, you may not be surprised to know that the book has an eco message, all told through the eyes of some of the glorious wildlife that we are lucky to have here in the UK. The book has been shortlisted and made the finals of a number of awards and has also been well received by Sir David Attenborough! We’re busy working on my second book and hope to have this published by the summer 2023.
I am never complacent about our sustainable ethos, I’m a great believer in lifelong learning, which is why I have completed a number of courses and continue to strive to learn about how we as a business can do better, and make our processes even more sustainable. It’s good to challenge yourself and keep learning!
I understand that sustainable living can be challenging, especially in a fast paced world, which is why Eco-Able offers practical tips and solutions, combined with a range of products, to help make those changes, a little bit easier.
To find out more about Eco-Able visit www.eco-able.co.uk
*This blog post is provided by the business owner featured – the views and opinions expressed on this blog are not our own.
Would you like to see your business featured on our website?
Find out more about our advertising packages.
