For those that recall the much-loved British sitcom The Good Life, which first aired back in 1975, the very idea of quitting the rat race and becoming totally self-sufficient, probably seemed like a pipe dream. Though, for Shelley Brown and her sister Karen who watched the series growing up, the show brought “much joy and laughter”, and it also served as future inspiration.
When Shelley sadly lost her sister in October 2017, the grief was understandably hard to contain, so when their dad offered to help Shelley realise her dream of opening a shop that would promote a more sustainable way of living, there was a real poignancy to it. And so came The Good Life, a zero-waste mini mart, launched by Shelley in Heaton Mersey in January 2019, and offering simple solutions for a sustainable lifestyle.
Shelley’s mission here is to inspire the local community to make small changes, and to provide a fun place for people to easily shop in an environmentally friendly way. The shop's food products, such as rice, pasta and cereals, are bought in bulk and sold from bins and dispensers to reduce the amount of waste and packaging, and customers are encouraged to bring their own containers to fill, weigh and pay, and then reuse again and again.
As Shelley explains: “Like many I have become increasingly frustrated with packaging and how hard it is so avoid it. I do my best to recycle everything I can, but is it being recycled?
“I don’t know and I am not a person who believes ignorance is bliss. I have always been a lover of our planet, of animals and I have a belief that we all have a duty to do our bit.”
Stepping into the store in Heaton Mersey is like entering into a treasure trove of eco-friendly goodies and treats. On one wall you’ll find a pic n mix display, one another a holistic shelf of vitamins and minerals, and against another, fresh fruit and vegetables.
There’s few shops where you can come away with Mojito-inspired kombucha, freshly baked baked goods and utterly delicious homemade samosas, but The Good Life is one of them. There’s also a section dedicated to eco-friendly beauty products and gifts, which along with cards and self-care goods features a mosaic depiction of Pre-Raphaelite painting by Waterhouse created by Mark Kennedy Mosaics, who’s works you may recognise at Affleck's Palace and the Etihad amongst others.
The concept was so popular that Shelley decided to open a second branch in Stockport town centre, just down the hill from the marketplace, in what was once fishmongers. “I think a lot of zero-waste shops can be a little bit serious and lacking in fun and colour. We hope we are the opposite of that!
“It’s a space where people talk, share, and embrace. Only today I was talking to Bob about the amount of customers who have cried here. I feel very privileged to have created an environment where our customers know we care.”
Rather brilliantly, Shelley recently decided to diversify the shop - a move taken by many businesses in these increasingly uncertain times - and opened a ‘honesty cafe’ at the back of the store. Rather than a pay-as-you-feel concept, which Shelley feels “never quite works” as it leaves everyone feeling a little “uncomfortable”, the communal cafe space works on the basis that customers can help themselves to whatever they fancy and then tell Shelley and team what they’ve had by ticking it off the list provided.
“The ethos of the cafe was to create a welcoming, relaxed and well-priced environment for all serving local, home-cooked food. We just allow customers to help themselves and then they tell us what they've had - it makes it relaxed and there's no pressure there to order more stuff or vacate your table.
“The quiche has already gained quite a reputation and Ewa makes them using our fabulous eggs from The Good Egg Fellas. There has been a lot of love for the cafe in the last four weeks.”
Very much on brand with the rest of the store, to create the space Shelley and the team used old scaffolding from Manchester to create the cafe space, which is anchored by a large communal table and a rose pink dresser. Shelley tells me that despite only being open for a few weeks, the honesty cafe has already been a huge hit with locals, with one woman even telling her “you’ve thought of everything.”
And really has. A fridge stocked to the brim with healthy treats catering to a range of dietary requirements, a mixture of gluten-free bakes adorning the dresser, and plenty of refreshments for when you just can’t decide what you fancy. Just out the back a hidden gem courtyard is also being made into a little oasis for calm for visitors and Shelley to take five.
“Years in hospitality has taught me that attention to detail is everything and in a sea of Starbucks it’s good to bring some thought and love into our small space. Bob is in the process of planting a herb garden - I best get my hands on some kids watering cans!”
The communal aspect of the cafe has also organically brought people from different walks of life together. Shelley tells me that on the day she opened the cafe space, she was almost brought to tears watching two girls befriend an older gentleman who had sat down at the table on his own - she assures me the tears were tiredness induced. For parents as well, the space is seen as a safe space for their children to hang out after school, get something to eat and just chat with friends.
“It's been a hit with youngsters who feel safe in our shop. To see preteens chatting with senior citizens and groups strike up conversations has been very heart-warming in these pandemic times. It's very well priced and all fresh stuff is homemade. Honestly, the business is struggling so it's been a way of diversifying in these testing times."
Since its inception, The Good Life has been driven by two goals - to help people shop and live more sustainably, and bring back the community element to shopping local. “I love living in the Heatons, Strangers have shook me by the hand and left notes through my door - what a wonderful and supportive place to live."
Now, with the addition of a communal cafe space where everyone and anyone is welcome, Shelley has built on this strong foundation, bringing locals and visitors alike together, and giving many a taste of the good life.
The Good Life, 472, Heaton Mersey SK4 3BS
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