Step inside Vintage Weighs Refill Shop where you can shop ethically and save money

Whether you’re an individual, family, or business, there’s a hidden Wirral gem you need to check out!

An independently owned ‘zero waste emporium’, Vintage Weighs Refill Shop, can be found nestled amongst other independent businesses on Seabank Road in New Brighton.

Selling over 300 ethical everyday products, Vintage Weighs enables their customers to support independent, organic and plastic free — whilst helping protect our planet and saving some money in the process!

Founded by Miranda Merino in January 2020, Vintage Weighs sells everything from fresh organic foods, pantry staples, plant-based cleaning products, personal care items to freshly baked goods. All produce is ethically sourced, plastic free and there is a re-fillable option for a lot of the products — reducing the need for plastic and encouraging a more sustainable way of shopping.

Over the past three years, the shop has enabled its customers to save approximately 3,000 plastic bottles through their refill system — which equates to a huge CO2 saving of 71,000kg. Miranda is on a mission to encourage as many people as possible to shop more consciously, with the planet in mind.

Regular shoppers at Vintage Weighs come in for their everyday items such as rice, lentils, cereal, pasta, dates, seeds and nuts, herbs and spices, tinned goods, washing-up liquid, laundry liquids and shampoo.

There is an array of locally baked goods such as vegan brownies, sourdough bread, organic lemons, fresh ginger, garlic, turmeric, onions, organic free range eggs and fresh organic fruit, vegetable and salad boxes (delivered every Wednesday).

Each and every item in Miranda’s shop is lovingly curated and only introduced into the stocklist if it meets ethical standards. This means you can comfortably shop at Vintage Weighs knowing that you are being the change you want to see, whilst keeping the magic of independent trade alive and flourishing.

Miranda began consciously researching her environmental and ethical choices nearly 30 years ago when she began to question what was in her family’s everyday products. She then embarked on her lifelong journey endeavouring to become a fully conscious consumer.

Fast forward to January 2020 — having been made redundant, Miranda decided to piece all her knowledge together and offer her local community an alternative to the mass produced, plastic wrapped and often toxic everyday products we find on our supermarket shelves.

She gave New Brighton a chance to choose to shop consciously, ethically and plastic free. In a world of overwhelming information and confusion, “being a part of the solution instead of the problem is a very good place to start” she said.

Situated not far from the beach on a Victorian terrace on Seabank Road, the shop itself is beautifully decorated with displays, plants and fairy lights — with all the shelving and furniture constructed from reclaimed materials and pre-loved items.

The local customers are not only choosing local, ethical and independent – they’re offered an authentic and friendly shopping experience, avoiding the chaos of the supermarkets.

Miranda said: “When you look at all the many benefits of shopping at places like Vintage Weighs, it really is a no-brainer. As humans we’re creatures of habit and are conditioned to consume far more than is necessary, and much like the food we eat and the array of products we use, it’s about being conscious and actively making decisions before we blindly purchase.

She continued: “The more people who shop at Vintage Weighs, the bigger impact we have. Collectively we can make a huge difference, for our environment and this beautiful planet.”

Regular customers bring their own containers, jars or bottles to refill and some have material bags for the rice or pasta and transfer when home. The shop does have paper bags and bottles jars if needed and a receptacle can always be found.

Miranda is currently working with several other independent businesses in New Brighton — supplying them with refills for their cleaning products, all plant based and reducing massive amounts of plastic bottles and reducing chemicals going down the plug hole.

Vintage Weighs stocks over 300 products — from food to everyday consumables, all plant based. Shopping at Vintage Weighs mean no chemicals, no preservatives, no waste and no cruelty — just great products and organic, hugely tasty, delicious and nutritious food — “less is more with organics and plant based liquids.”