Personal interests and knowledge from their studies made Anna Sauermilch and Anne Thuesen Holst take the step to start their own sustainable business.
By Nanna Cecilie Madsen
In a little red house in one of Aarhus cobblestoned streets, Anna Sauermilch and Anne Thuesen Holst opened the doors, for their little packaging free shops new location, 6 months ago. Before that, the two entrepreneurs had their shop in a shipping container at Godsbanens Institute for X. A creative environment and culture center in the heart of Aarhus.
It all started more than 3 years ago. Anna and Anne were studying biology, when they met at a field trip. Anna had a big interest for surfing and spending time near the ocean, she experienced a lot of plastic waste in the oceans and in the nature in general, which led to big frustrations. So, Anna got the idea to make a little packaging free grocery store, something she saw the need for in Aarhus. Anne always had a great passion for food and quality groceries, so she joined the project.
“We really needed a place where you could go buy a bamboo toothbrush.”
Anna Sauermilch and Anne Thuesen Holst
Ecology from another perspective
It made a difference to the girls, that they already had knowledge from their studies, and had heard many bad stories and examples on how bad the environment and climate is doing. So even though classic biology is not a climate focused study; but more focused on environment and ecosystems, they had a good understanding about how the nature works and what is needed to improve it.
“We have a solid basic knowledge, which can make it easier for us, to overcome some of the things, that can be hard for the average citizen, who doesn’t have this backpack.”
Anne Thuesen Holst
The evolution of the business
In 2017 they opened their first shop while studying, with opening hours two days a week. As things took off and they expanded their opening hours, they got a group of volunteers in 2018. Most of them students themselves. The two entrepreneurs still can’t afford to hire people, but they hope it will be possible in the future, especially now were they are soon about to start their candidate studies. The past year they have worked in the shop full time after finishing their bachelor’s degrees.
“It has been so great but also a radical change, I think we are just started to get used to it”
Anne Thuesen Holst
The two entrepreneurs can celebrate the shops 3-years birthday on Tuesday, October 20th, 2020. The celebrations will last the whole week with different discounts in the shop.
RAA Aarhus
Badstuegade 17, st. th.
8000 Aarhus C
