Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Hawaii.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road to say the least. Because there are not any other companies in the United States who offer that same types of products as Lüfka, it was really challenging at first when we were learning how to formulate our products. We burned a lot of batches and made a lot of mistakes. For example, it took Parosh at least thirty attempts to come up with the correct formulations for his deodorant sticks. Luckily, we have very forgiving and supportive customers, friends and family members that volunteered to be our guinea pigs when we first started out. We really built our business step-by-step, and in the beginning, a lot of our shelves had repeat products on them until we perfected new products. Now, our store has close to one hundred different products. The struggles make the success much sweeter.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
The Lüfka Refillables Zero Waste Store is the first zero waste store in Tampa where people can bring in their own containers and fill them up with bath, body, kitchen and cleaning products. Instead of paying for packaging and labeling our customers are investing in the ingredients and quality of our products. We offer all of those ubiquitous, everyday items like dish soap, laundry detergent, shampoo, body wash and toothpaste. Every product is refillable. Our main goal is to reduce as much single-use plastic as possible. If one person refills one product per year, at least 1 cubic foot of plastic waste can be saved from ending up in a landfill.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Anytime anyone is attempting to do something unique and special that has never been done before, there are always people who discourage the risk of starting a business or creating something unique. Do not let those negative thinkers discourage you from following your dreams. If you put in the hard work, and you believe, you will always find a way to accomplish your goals. The human mind is the most powerful computer in this world, and if the mind believes, reality will follow. The biggest message is never to give up on your dreams, and when someone gives you advice, always question the motivations behind that advice.
Pricing:
- Dish Soap $0.27/oz.
- Shampoo $0.65/oz.
- Lüfka Exfoliating Washcloth $19.95
- Handcrafted Bar Soap 1~$6 2~$10
- Laundry Powder $0.30/oz.
Contact Info:
- Address:Lüfka Seminole Heights 4222 N Florida Ave St. C Tampa, FL
Lüfka South Tampa, 4217 W Bay to Bay Blvd Tampa, FL 33629 - Phone number:33603- 727-612-9690 ; 33629- 727-262-9858
- Email:contact@organiclufka.com
- Website: www.organiclufka.com
- Instagram: lufka_seminoleheights & lufka_southtampa
- Facebook: @organiclufka
Image Credits
Parosh Hawaii
