2015-2017: The Seeds of Sustainability

It was a period of discovery and personal transformation as we immersed ourselves in zero-waste principles. We explored how our daily choices impact the environment and began implementing changes in our own lives that would later inspire HANDAM.

 

January-September 2018: From Vision to Plan

Our dream of a zero-waste shop with a café and children's play area began to take shape. These months were filled with intensive research and learning as we prepared to bring sustainable shopping options to our community.

 

October 8, 2018: Taking the First Step

HANDAM was born as "Plastic Free Delivery," offering eco-friendly home deliveries and becoming a familiar face at local farmers markets in Pitlochry, Aberfeldy, and Logierait.

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April 9, 2019: Growing Our Presence

We expanded beyond markets to establish a regular three-day-a-week pop-up in Aberfeldy at Ruwards, bringing refillable products closer to our community.

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April 25, 2019: The Pitlochry Connection

Our community continued to grow as we added a twice-weekly pop-up at Coffee Break in Pitlochry, spreading the zero-waste message throughout the region.

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October 1, 2019: A Wonderful Opportunity

We couldn't resist the chance to move our Aberfeldy pop-up to Cones at the Square for six months! With help from dedicated volunteers, we maintained our Pitlochry presence while extending Aberfeldy's hours to six days a week.

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March 26, 2020: Becoming HANDAM CIC

After 17 months of growing community support, we took a significant step forward. We officially registered as a Community Interest Company and changed our name to HANDAM, reflecting our deeper commitment to the community.

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April 1, 2020: Setting Down Roots

Following an incredible six months at the Square in Aberfeldy, we received an offer to make it our permanent home—a milestone in our journey!

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March 26, 2020: Adapting Through Lockdown

When the lockdown was announced, we temporarily closed our Pitlochry pop-up but kept our Aberfeldy shop open to continue serving essential refill needs during challenging times.

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September 2020: The Pitlochry Calling

The community spoke, and we listened! After numerous requests to return to Pitlochry, we decided to find a permanent space there to serve both communities.

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November-December 2020: Community-Powered Growth

Our crowdfunding campaign to open a Pitlochry shop was met with overwhelming support. Together, we raised £6,406 for rent, shelving, and initial stock—a testament to our community's shared values.

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November 23, 2020: Keys to New Possibilities

An exciting day as we received the keys to our Pitlochry shop, marking the beginning of a new chapter.

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December 10, 2020: National Recognition

We received wonderful news that the National Lottery Fund would support our Pitlochry location, helping us establish this new zero waste hub.

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February 26, 2021: Pitlochry's Grand Opening

After some preparation, we proudly opened our doors at 2 Burnside Road in Pitlochry—a cozy space tucked away in a charming location.

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March 1, 2021: Sustainable Growth

Our Community Interest Company continued to flourish with support from First Port funding to help with staffing costs. We began exploring opportunities for a larger Aberfeldy space to accommodate our expanding vision for community waste reduction.

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September 10, 2022: Pitlochry Main Street Beckons

After nearly two years, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to move to Pitlochry's main street! We received keys to a more visible location to bring zero-waste shopping to a wider audience.

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October 10, 2022: A New Pitlochry Home

We successfully relocated to 69 Atholl Road in Pitlochry, providing better visibility and more space to serve our growing community of eco-conscious shoppers.

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December 1, 2022: Aberfeldy Expansion

We found our dream space in Aberfeldy! The much larger location at 6 Bank Street opened doors for new projects and expanded services.

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March 11, 2023: Aberfeldy Renewal

Following a quick renovation, we opened our new Aberfeldy space with a complete refill station, while continuing to develop other areas of the shop.

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June 11, 2023: Supporting Local Entrepreneurs

Our Pop-up Space launched, offering local creators and small businesses a window-front location available to rent by the day or week—furthering our community support mission.

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January 1, 2024: The Reuse Project Begins

We softly launched our Reuse Project—a new initiative dedicated to rescuing items from landfills and finding them loving new homes, expanding our waste reduction impact.

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September 2024: Focusing Our Efforts

After a challenging period at our Pitlochry location, we made the difficult decision to close the shop due to high operating costs. Despite wonderful community support, we needed to consolidate our resources.

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December 1, 2024: Renewed Focus

With the closure of our Pitlochry shop, we concentrated our energy on the Aberfeldy refill station and Reuse Project, recommitting to our core mission: helping our community reduce waste and create a more sustainable future together.