Eco-friendly store is helping Somerset residents access clean products and reduce waste

Jar The Zero Waste Store is located in the Glades Court Mall in Somerset County. Photo: Provided.

The first steps inside Jar the Zero Waste Store make a good olfactory impression–soaps, fresh locally roasted coffee, herbs and beeswax candles combine into a warm and welcoming scent. “I love the smell of my shop when I open the door each morning,” owner Jen Barkman said. “People tell me how lovely it smells and that I should bottle it. I wish I could!”

Barkman’s passion for the environment, eco-friendly products and recycling led her and her family to replace mainstream brands of everyday products with cleaner options years ago. But, she said, “The only way I could get these products was through cleaning subscription boxes or driving to another city.”

The search for these products fueled her desire to bring more options to the Somerset community. She shared, “My friend Emily Mauri and I were going to start a zero-waste subscription box, offering items specifically from Somerset and Florida, where Emily resides.” The idea evolved into a storefront in both locations. Barkman’s store, Jar, is located in the Glades Court Mall.

“I got in touch with a business coach through Startup Alleghenies and I met him once a month. I worked diligently on my business plan, and he directed me in what I needed to do,” Barkman said. “I really don’t think I would have been able to do this so quickly and seamlessly on my own. Startup Alleghenies was able to put me in touch with the resources I needed to get my business going. They share our passion for making our community better and they want you to succeed.”

“I am really proud of what I have created… to be able to make a difference, even a small one, is so amazing to me.”

Jar offers a variety of clean, eco-friendly products like laundry detergent sheets, paper towel replacements and facial cleanser. Customers can purchase bulk items, from food to soaps and oils, and refill their supply in reusable containers.

“It was important to me to be able to provide options to reduce the number of disposable products people purchase. I wanted to educate my community on how they can refill and reuse what they already have rather than buying new plastic containers with nowhere to recycle them,” Barkman said.

Bulk soaps and cleaners are purchased to refill and reuse containers reducing disposable waste. Photo: Provided.

Barkman explained that after over a year of research, she signed a lease two weeks before the pandemic shut down the world. Not knowing what the future held, she said she had a lot of questions running through her mind. “I spent a lot of time researching companies and the products they offered to make sure they were in line with my values. Then I thought, ‘What was I thinking? Should we try and get out of the lease? What do we do? Will we even be allowed to operate?’” she said. Through it all, she persevered and is celebrating Jar’s two-year anniversary.

Barkman said the secret to her success is simple: “I love what I do! I truly enjoy coming to my shop every day, I love meeting new people and getting to know my customers.”.

With the love and support of her family and Startup Alleghenies, Barkman said she has been able to make her vision a reality and has plans to grow. “I would like to add some markets to help expand our footprint as well as offering refill subscriptions to locals. We are also considering franchising our store,” she said.

Barkman said she also loves supporting other small businesses and making an impact in Somerset. “We carry local artisan goods. We have so many talented people in our town, and I am honored to carry their products. I am really proud of what I have created, and I am so happy that my community loves it too. And to be able to make a difference, even a small one, is so amazing to me,” she said.

Startup Alleghenies helps startup and emerging small businesses succeed by providing free coaching to entrepreneurs in Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fulton, Huntingdon and Somerset counties. To access personal, one-on-one support from a coach in your county, including guidance, resources, tools and networking opportunities, sign up at startupalleghenies.com.