Is the Bulk Buying Industry at Risk when it’s also at it’s most popular?
…or maybe it’s at risk because it’s gaining popularity? I’m sure corporations don’t like losing money to small businesses…
Bulk shopping is more than just an eco-friendly trend—it’s a movement that empowers communities to take control of their consumption habits. But as I continue on this journey, I can't ignore a growing concern: government crackdowns on small businesses. After an eye-opening call with one of my vendors, I realized that if we want to protect bulk shopping, we need to be proactive and prepared.
One of the biggest threats facing small refill shops is the increasing scrutiny from regulatory agencies, especially as bulk shopping becomes more popular and shifts consumer spending away from big corporations. We’ve already taken steps to stay compliant: Great.full Goods has a label maker, and we maintain a folder of pre-printed labels for our customers. But is that enough? The truth is, small businesses must be diligent in meeting all labeling and regulatory requirements to avoid fines and shutdowns.
For context, I’ve already been fined once! It was for a mislabeled product that I didn’t even manufacture. That experience was a wake-up call. The process was stressful, costly, and a clear indication that enforcement is real. The regulations around bulk sales, particularly with food-related items, are strict. While I don’t sell food products (everything on my website is for DIY purposes only or packaged), I am in communication with other refill shops to ensure we’re all following the rules to a T and we are even compiling a label list as I speak on a Google Drive so that we’re all on the same page.
So, what does it take for a small refill shop to stay compliant and thrive?
Proper Labeling – Every bulk item should have clear, accurate labels detailing the product name, ingredients (if applicable), weight/volume, and any required disclaimers. I keep a backup folder of labels in our drawer behind the counter. The truth is, we may need to enforce adding labels to your containers for a while as habit.
Regulatory Awareness – Stay informed about FDA, VDAC, and local health department requirements. Rules change, and ignorance isn’t an excuse when it comes to compliance. I’ve read the cosmetic labeling guidelines, I’ve removed products that have wording too small for the naked eye and we do not make claims that anything can cure, prevent or treat illness.
Collaboration – The refill shop community and it’s customers needs to work together. Sharing knowledge, experiences, and best practices ensures we’re all staying compliant and protecting bulk shopping for the future. I want you all to give me advice, I want to ask you for feedback.
Transparency with Customers – Clear signage and online communication about what products are for DIY use versus food use help prevent any confusion and potential regulatory issues. We recently had to remove a vendor for various reasons, but one of them was that this vendor was repackaging their product outside of an approved facility, even when I clearly explained it was wrong. In Virginia specifically- you can not empty a container of one product and refill it with another without proper insurances, permissions and contracts.
Emergency Readiness – I have documentation, permits, and compliance measures readily available behind the counter. From our scale certification to phone numbers for vendors: Being organized can make all the difference if you ever need to prove your adherence to regulations.
The reality is that bulk shopping threatens the profit margins of major corporations, and in response, we’re seeing increasing oversight of small businesses that operate refill stations, naturopathy businesses and more. But this isn’t a reason to panic—it’s a reason to double down on doing things correctly. With preparation, collaboration, and diligence, we can keep bulk shopping alive and thriving.
The future of sustainable shopping depends on our ability to navigate these challenges while continuing to provide our communities with healthy, eco-friendly options. At Great.full Goods; we’ll always be on alert when there are new trends and changes to regulations and I’m always an advocate for anyone in the bulk industry and making sure they too know that if they were to print extra labels and send them to us to have on hand- it would be best practice.
This all being said…I added a ton of items to the website today and will continue tonight. Some of our followers and customers that have dropped by from communities surrounding the shop have asked time and time again if I could add to the website and it is finally happening! Make sure you go take a look at the Buy Bulk option under Shopping and check out our Pickling Basics and T-shirt bag workshops coming up. I will also be teaching simple sign language for caregivers of nonverbal folks and an introduction to Trello for communication enhancement on Sunday. It’s the Hands & Hearts workshop I have posted and we do have 2 or 3 participants so definitely sign up if that’s something that sounds like it would help you or someone you care about.
As always and forever: Drink Water and Breathe!
Mel
