Crowdfunder campaign launched to bring plastic-free shopping to Chippenham

Local Chippenham businesswoman and eco-warrior Claire Nicholas is on a mission to share, educate and deliver a plastic-free, zero-waste revolution in Chippenham.

The response from a short-term pop-up under her brand Squeeky at Home, at Emery Gate Shopping Centre, saw shoppers pour through their doors armed with Eco Spirit and refillable containers which has inspired Claire and her team to take the leap into a permanent 1,500 sq ft shop.

A greener economy is close; to use a COVID term a ‘New-Norm’ is possible. A successful crowdfunding campaign, which has been passionately created and launched by Emery Gate's landlords, Eagle One, will help Claire secure premises and kit out the store with all the necessary machinery, zero waste fixtures and equipment.

Buy local and buy social is Claire’s mantra, who prioritises locally made products wherever she can to ensure they are sustainable in their production, transportation and packaging.

Commenting on the crowdfunding project, Claire said:

“By changing some very simple shopping habits, I firmly believe we can make a huge impact on reducing the plastic waste then ends up into local landfill sites and causes so much damage to our planet. Every penny we raise through crowdfunding gives us greater purchasing capability and puts our plan into action a whole lot faster. Please help us smash our target; our planet needs us to act now”.

Phil Maclean, Marketing Director at Emery Gate Shopping Centre, added:

I’m super proud of our work in creating this crowdfunder campaign for our awesome new retailer Claire and her team at Squeeky Shop.

We go to great lengths to support where we can, and when there is a real social purpose like this then it’s all the more sweeter.