Today we’d like to introduce you to Kendra Dean.
Hi Kendra, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started Ren Market in late 2020 after years working in environmental science and becoming increasingly frustrated by the disconnect between sustainability research and everyday life. The previous year or so I started paying attention to the long-term environmental and health impacts of many common household products. I started switching to more low waste and clean products, but truly accessible alternatives were hard to find locally. Sustainable living often felt expensive, overwhelming, or framed as an all-or-nothing lifestyle, and I wanted to create something more practical and approachable for our community.
My partner and I renovated a tiny 600-square-foot storefront in West Duluth ourselves and I opened Ren Market as Duluth’s first zero-waste refill store. The response from the community wasvery encouraging, and within about a year we outgrew the space and moved into Lincoln Park. Around the same time, I found out I was pregnant, hired my first employees, and began learning how to balance motherhood with entrepreneurship, which has probably been one of the biggest learning curves of all.
Since then, Ren Market has continued to grow into more than just a retail store. We’ve expanded into a larger location with a classroom and production space, launched workshops and community events, and built a business centered around accessibility, sustainability, and supporting other small and women-owned brands. We’ve now helped divert more than 30,000 single-use containers and items from our local landfill, and we’re continuing to grow in ways that feel intentional, community-focused, and sustainable long-term.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s definitely not been a smooth road, although I’m not sure entrepreneurship ever really is. Ren Market opened in late 2020, which meant navigating drastically changing consumer spending habits due to the pandemic almost from the very beginning. On top of that, refill stores operate within systems that weren’t really designed for them. Most inventory, POS, and e-commerce platforms are built around packaged goods, so there’s been a constant learning curve in figuring out how to adapt traditional retail tools to a bulk refill model.
Financially, it’s also been challenging to balance accessibility with sustainability. We’re competing against large corporations that benefit from economies of scale while trying to offer products that are ethically sourced, non-toxic, and lower waste. There’s a constant tension between keeping prices affordable for customers and building a business that is financially sustainable for both myself and my employees long-term.
On a personal level, one of the biggest challenges has been learning how to grow the business without burning myself out. Over the last five years since opening the shop I’ve unexpectedly become a mom, while also having a partner who underwent two separate brain surgeries. I’ve hired and managed a team, moved shop locations twice, and learned a lot of hard lessons about delegation, systems, and cash flow. I’m still learning on a daily basis.
That said, every challenge has also pushed the business to become stronger, more intentional, and more community-focused. Running a small business has definitely humbled me, but it has also made me far more resilient than I ever expected.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Ren Market?
Ren Market is Duluth’s only dedicated zero-waste refill store, specializing in non-toxic household and personal care products sold in bulk to reduce single-use packaging waste. Customers can bring in their own containers or use sanitized reused containers supplied by local customers to refill everyday essentials like dish soap, laundry detergent, cleaning products, shampoo, and body care.
What sets Ren Market apart is that we’ve always approached sustainability from a place of practicality rather than perfection. I never wanted the store to feel judgmental, inaccessible, or overpriced. We focus on helping people make realistic changes that fit into their lives and budgets, whether that’s refilling one bottle of dish soap or completely rethinking their household consumption habits.
We also put a huge emphasis on ingredient transparency and environmental impact. With my background in environmental science and chemistry, products are carefully vetted not only for packaging, but also for ingredient safety, biodegradability, and long-term practicality. Many of the brands we carry are small, women-owned businesses that align with our values around ethical sourcing and sustainability.
Brand-wise, I’m really proud of the selection we’ve curated. We offer multiple options across products so customers can find scents and variations that work best for them. My staff is trained to provide personalized guidance so customers feel confident in their decisions and get the most out of the products they purchase. I’m also incredibly proud of the sense of community that has developed around the shop. Over time, Ren Market has evolved into more than just a retail space. We host clothing swaps, repair clinics, workshops, and community events that encourage people to think differently about consumption, waste, and sustainability in a way that feels approachable and supportive.
At the end of the day, I want people to know that sustainability doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. Small changes matter, community matters, and businesses can absolutely be both values-driven and practical.
What are your plans for the future?
Right now, a lot of our focus is on building systems that allow Ren Market to grow sustainably and intentionally. We’re currently working on getting our full product catalog online, including our bulk refill products, so that we can eventually offer subscription refills and local drop-off options. Accessibility has always been important to me, and expanding our online presence is a huge step toward making our products available to people who can’t always make it into the store.
We’re also developing a bulk-for-business program to help local businesses reduce packaging waste through refill systems. Long-term, I’d love for Ren Market to become a model for how refill infrastructure can exist in every community, reaching beyond individual households and integrate into workplaces and community spaces as well.
Another area I’m really excited about is expanding our educational and community offerings. Since moving into our new space, we’ve started hosting workshops, swaps, and repair clinics; I’d love to continue growing that side of the business. My hope is that Ren Market continues evolving into not just a store, but a community resource where people can learn practical skills, connect with one another, and feel empowered to make sustainable choices without pressure or perfectionism.
On a personal level, I’m also looking forward to continuing to grow as a leader and building a business that supports both my family and my community long-term.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.renmarketmn.com
- Instagram: @ren.market.mn
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ren.market.mn
