Today we’d like to introduce you to Wenting Xie.
Wenting, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Refinement House started in an extra room of my cozy, eclectic bungalow. Back in 2017, when I moved back to Houston from solo-backpacking around Asia, I knew something in me changed. After having traveled to over eight different countries in the span of six months, and carrying everything I owned in a 32 liter backpack, my perspective changed. My list of things that were deemed as essentials had drastically shrunk, all the while the desire to continue my simple, nomadic lifestyle lingered. My intentions were to inspire my friends and family with the concept of slow living. A lifestyle, complete with movement and colors, that fuels the soul without harming the planet.
My version of a refined home started when I began to decorate my bungalow with only second hand, refurbished pieces. First came this grand peacock chair that I scored from an estate sale, then followed by Moroccan hand-carved wood panels which I used as a headboard – the possibilities were endless with these timeless pieces. I soon furnished my entire place without purchasing a single new item. This idea stuck with me until I vowed to buy no new clothing for the entire year in 2019. Not only did I save a ton of money and time, the clothes that I actually kept around finally had their fair share of seeing daylight.
From there, I reevaluated the way I consumed items for many parts of my life. It was near impossible to not bring back one single piece of plastic every time I came home from shopping. However, after doing my research I found a plethora of options when it came to choosing zerowaste, eco-friendly swaps. That’s the good news, at least we have options. So much so that it almost paralyzed my decisions. I want to do it better. I want to bring sustainable products into every household in a curated, accessible and affordable way.
I began with designing two eco products to share with my family and close friends, a straw set + bamboo toothbrushes. Seeing how they were influenced by a small habit change, I wondered what more can I do. I then partnered up with other female-owned brands that also pride themselves in sustainable business practices, all-natural ingredients, smart packaging designs, and promoted their business. Together, we built out an Eco Bar to share with our Houston community.
My close-knit team of four are the heart and soul of the business. The Hosts that join the Refinement team are the representation of poise, mindfulness, and grace. We are now open at weekly open-air markets, one design studio in Montrose, and a few more exciting places for eco refills to come.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Every day is different, and the only constant we have as a startup is continuous improvements week after week. When the pandemic hit, we suddenly had to stop everything. All of our markets and eco shops were immediately closed. While this was out of our control, we quickly adjusted our strategy to be more digital-friendly and offered local pickup and delivery. The pause really allowed me as a founder to sit back and rethink about the future of how Refinement House will grow. The world we live in has shifted drastically and we need to quickly adapt to the new environment. I hired and trained a solid team to be prepared for the new normal.
Once the open-air markets opened again, we were ready and set-up for success. We run into challenges all the time, from operational hiccups to system errors and even rained out events, however, none of this is an issue when we are all working together and have each other’s back.
We are a staff of four diverse women with various backgrounds. Through open communication, continuous loop for feedback, a growth mindset, and the love for our planet – we will continue to thrive.
Refinement House – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
At Refinement House, our mission is to make sustainability available for all. Everything we carry produces little to no waste, we also provide sustainable merchandise designs and wholesale. You can see our website and social media: refinementhouse.com, @refinementhouse
We are Houston’s first eco-conscious shop + bulk refills. We offer everyday items with an eco twist. Every product is mindfully curated and evaluated on its natural ingredients, functionality, packaging design, and overall quality. In our Eco Home, we pride ourselves in offering accessible and affordable eco swaps for the kitchen, bathroom, body care, on the go, and general reusable goods.
What makes us different: we truly believe in leading by example. Aside from our eco shop, we also engage with the local community through meet-ups, eco panels, workshops, volunteering, and even a monthly newsletter. We offer ways for our guests to actively participate in the journey to a less wasteful, slow living lifestyle.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
My success is measure by the growth of my team and a measure that I like to call Return on Impact.
People development is my top priority when it comes to sharing our mission. The Refinement team is encouraged to come to meetings with new ideas, get involved in various aspects of the business, and lastly encouraged to seek mentorship. I believe that the success of Refinement House lays in the individuals that show up everyday to live and share the purpose of intentional living in harmony with our surroundings.
Return on Impact is a measurement that gets shared internally with our staff. This is to show our results as a business. It is measured by:
# of guests served
# of eco swaps made
I believe in showing results for our efforts. This not only serves as a benchmark for team but also as a way to look back and be proud of the work we’ve done.
Year to date, we have served over 500 guests in Houston at 3,000+ eco swaps!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.refinementhouse.com
- Phone: 2817996134
- Email: hello@refinementhouse.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/refinementhouse
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/refinementhouse
Image Credit:
Mia Ihsan for the portrait shots
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