Making a change with The Ecoshack

Excellence in Customer Service

Sisters Bláithín and Maeve McCormick are behind The EcoShack in Cavan Town. Bláithín greets you in the shop, while Maeve works behind the scenes and also juggles a full-time archaeology job.

The EcoShack was created because as eco-conscious people, the sisters found it extremely difficult to shop plastic free.

Their store makes it possible for local customers to shop for items such as pasta, rice, porridge oats and cereals; hygiene and cleaning products without generating plastic packaging. They also offer toxin free household and skin care products.

“We want to show people that eco choices do not mean sacrificing quality,” explained Bláithín.

“We offer online, in store, click and collect, and ‘drop in your shopping list and go have a coffee’ options for an easy shopping experience,” she outlined.

Education

“The best thing we do is educate,” added Maeve.

“When an individual shops with us, we help them to learn simple life changes that make a huge environmental impact. They, in turn, pass that on to their household and friends. This is done through chats in the shop, while we refill their jars and cleaning bottles and through workshops we run such as ‘make your own zero waste cleaning products’ and providing quality products like shampoo bars and eco detergents that work just as well as big brands. We also give talks to businesses on how to be more eco at home,” she continued.

Meanwhile, the girls say the best business advice they have gotten is: If not us, who? And, if not now, when?

“This has instilled in us a belief that we, two women from Cavan with no training but a lot of passion, could be the change that Cavan needs. We could put sustainability to the forefront of the regular consumers’ minds,” said Bláithín. Meanwhile, the McCormicks are aware of the difficulties associated with being an environmentally-friendly business in a world where convenience is king.

“The world is changing but is Cavan ready to embrace it like we need? Only the future will tell,” continued Maeve.

“What we do know is we will continue to educate through workshops and company presentations. Our shop is a non-judgemental space where the average person can put a vote towards the future they want.”

CONTACT US

The Ecoshack is based on Main Street in Cavan. Log on to www.theecoshack.ie or email: ecoshackcavan@gmail.com