Hidden Gems: Meet Maddie Brown of Grate Fill

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maddie Brown.

Hi Maddie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My passion for a sustainable living started several years ago when I started facing some health issues. Through that journey, my eyes were opened to how many toxic chemicals we are exposed to through products we use every day.

It’s alarming once you realize the toll these toxins take on our bodies and our planets, so I started doing everything I could to transition my home to a more natural, non-toxic lifestyle. I’m a bit of a nerd, so I dived deep into researching and learning all I could. With that research also came a passion for zero-waste living. It no longer was just for the health of my body and my family, but also for our planet. I started seeing refill shops in other countries and big cities like LA and wanted one in my community so badly.

One day while driving in the car, I finally got the courage to tell my husband about my crazy idea of opening one in Wichita, and much to my surprise he was fully on board. From there, I started putting my dreams onto paper and officially made the career jump. Grate Fill opened March 2021 and we offer all-natural bath, body, and cleaning products for a refill, lots of sustainable goods, and also a lot of fun items from local makers.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It hasn’t necessarily been a smooth road, but it has been a really fun one. I did not come from a business background and I wouldn’t say bookkeeping or taxes are my forte, so there have definitely been some learning curves. I’m a dreamer at my core, and my passion for this has kept me motivated and inspired through the challenges.

The sustainable community in Wichita seemed near non-existent to me before opening Grate Fill, but that hasn’t proven to be true. Our community has really rallied around this business and shown so much support. It has been so cool to meet so many other people that care about the things I care about and share this passion.

We’re still new, and I’m still learning – but I love seeing this dream of mine come to life. The challenges of the pandemic have also been prevalent in various ways, though I think one really good thing that came from this mess is the necessity of supporting local businesses, and I have really seen that in our community.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Grate Fill exists to provide all-natural, eco-friendly products for the health of our homes, our bodies, and our planet. Our business centers around the refill shop model where you can come in and refill your containers with our non-toxic cleaning, home, and body products.

We also have tons of sustainable goods from bamboo toothbrushes to zero-waste cleaning brushes, un-paper towels, all-natural, sustainable cosmetics. Additionally, we partner with a lot of local makers to have their goods in the shop. We are the first refill shop in Wichita and are so excited to continue fostering the sustainable community in our city.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Starting my own business has been such a unique journey and not one that I expected for myself. Throughout college and the few years to follow, owning my own business was never on my radar. I followed my passion, pursued my dream, and with it came a heavy dose of unexpected imposter syndrome, haha.

It all happened really quickly and a lot of just taking the next step without knowing what was after that. It’s all been so rewarding, but I of course have doubted myself so much throughout it. I’m a young woman running this business all by myself(though I have an incredible support system, especially my husband, and now have an incredible staff) but that came with a lot of skepticism from others and myself.

A lot of thoughts of “who am I to do this?” and “can I even do this?” But I pressed in harder and let my passion continue to drive me. It sounds corny, but it’s so important to truly chase your dreams and believe that you are capable.

Contact Info:

• Email: info@gratefill.com
• Website: www.gratefill.com
• Instagram: @grate.fill
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grate.fill.ict

Image Credits
Kara Smith Photography