Welcome to RefillAbell

Our Story

Hi, we’re Jane and Sameer — co-founders of RefillAbell, and proud members of this wonderful Oxhey Village community.

Our story didn’t start in a boardroom or with a business plan. It began, quite simply, with a shared love for people and the planet — and a time when our community needed each other more than ever.

Back in early 2020, when lockdown hit, life changed overnight. Sameer was managing Abell Chemist, which suddenly found itself at the heart of the local COVID response. Prescriptions that were normally collected in person now needed to be delivered — and fast. The workload tripled almost overnight.

That’s when Sameer did what the community does best — he reached out. He called upon neighbours and local volunteers to help make sure no one was left without the medicines they needed. Among the first to answer that call were Jane and her husband, Rob, who were already well-known around Oxhey for their love of the outdoors and their allotment gardening. They hopped on their bikes and joined the delivery team, cycling around the village day after day to make sure everyone was cared for.

Those long rides and doorstep chats turned into friendship — and a shared realisation. We both saw how deeply people cared for each other, and how much good could come from working together. We started to talk — between deliveries, over cups of tea, and sometimes while muddy from the garden — about how we could keep that same spirit going once the world opened up again.

That’s when the idea for RefillAbell was born.
We wanted to create a place that not only served the community but protected it — a shop that made sustainable, refillable shopping easy and affordable. As there were none other around us, we thought, let’s create the first one in the town!

The name came naturally: we took “Abell” from the chemist, and added “Refill” — because reusing and repurposing is in our name and at the heart of everything we do. We even kept the original iconic green letters for Abell

Growing Together

What started with two people and a shared vision has grown into a whole team of wonderful, like-minded people. Andrew from Hatched London helped us shape our story and gave RefillAbell its distinctive logo, voice and identity. Vishal from VIMI Radlett brought invaluable advice, encouragement, and insight when we were still finding our feet. Wendy from the Green Stores guided us through the first steps towards the shared mission of a refill community. And around them, our small but mighty team of refill champions grew – from the volunteers who helped us set up our first refill stations, to our amazing staff who keep the shop running, to the community members who share their ideas and energy — RefillAbell has always been a team effort, supported each step of the way by Shabbir, Sameer’s Dad, and previous owner of Abell Chemist.

Along the journey, we’ve picked up some awards which we are super humbled by and proud of, and we know it would not have been possible without the community of refillers visiting us daily.

Every shelf, every jar, every event has been shaped by our community. We couldn’t have done any of it alone.

Rooted in Community

Our community has been our heartbeat from day one. We’re deeply grateful for the support of local groups like the Oxhey Village Environment Group (OVEG), who have championed our mission and celebrated our progress from the very start as well as the local councillors and current Mayor of Watford. The Watford Observer has written a few articles about us, which helped to boost our recognition as we have been described as a ‘hidden gem’. A chat on the BBC Radio 3CR and BBC Radio 4 encouraged people who had never heard of the concept, to seek out their local refill store.

We’ve loved partnering on clean-ups, sustainability fairs, and zero-waste events — and perhaps most importantly, connecting with local schools and communities. Our school talks and workshops are some of our favourite moments — watching children light up as they learn about how one small change, like bringing a jar instead of buying a plastic bottle, really does make a difference.

What We’ve Built Together

Together with our neighbours, friends, and dedicated ‘refiller’ customers, we’ve created something special:

A warm, welcoming, award winning space to refill and reuse without judgment or fuss.

A local network of people and families who believe that sustainable living should be joyful and accessible.

Workshops, swap-shops, and events that keep our community connected and inspired.

A growing team that shares one goal — to make living lighter on the planet feel natural and rewarding.

Looking Ahead

Our story is still being written — by everyone who walks through our door with a bottle to refill, by every child who tells their parents about recycling, and by every new team member who joins our mission.

We’re so proud of how far we’ve come — and even more excited for what’s next. RefillAbell will always be about community, creativity, and care. Together, we’ll keep proving that when we refill, reuse, and repurpose, we make the world a little better — one jar, one bottle, one act of kindness at a time.

“Refill. Reuse. Repurpose.” It’s in our name — and in everything we do – because together, we are ‘Abell’

With love and gratitude,
Jane, Sameer & the RefillAbell Team