Colcheco

26/05/2026

Just me holding the fort this week while Jo is on leave and Lucy works behind the scenes getting ready for the next refill chapter. ✨

Opening hours are a little reduced as stock is now condensed down, but there are still plenty of bargains and favourites to stock up on before the refurb/rebrand begins…

🫧 25% off all UpCircle skincare.
🧺 Reduced household items.
♻️ Most Fill products still in stock.
🫙 Pre-loved jars available.
🥣 Pre-filled paper bags & jars ready to grab.

Saturday may potentially be the last proper opening day before things start changing, so if you’ve been meaning to pop in, now’s the time. 💚

I’ll still hold the lease for June, so depending on what stock is left I may open on the odd extra day — but for now these are the main hours for the week.

If you’re local this half term, pop down to Layer Road and help us clear the remaining stock before the next chapter begins 💚

Rachel xx

24/05/2026

🥖 Black Cat Sourdough Pop Up Bakery is here this morning! 🐈⬛

Freshly baked this morning at their Wivenhoe micro bakery:
✨ Sourdough breads
✨ Focaccia
✨ Doughnuts

Available today from 9:30am – 12pm.

The refill shop is open too, with reduced food stock as we begin winding down ahead of the upcoming rebrand & revamp — but there are still plenty of lovely bits available, including Fill wash up, laundry liquid and fabric conditioner.

📍 37 Layer Road, Colchester, Essex, CO2 7JW

21/05/2026

As we begin preparing the shop for Lucy’s upcoming refit, now is a great time to pop in and stock up on your favourite Fill products while current stock is still available ✨

Our food range is now more condensed down as we gradually clear space ready for the next chapter of the shop — although there are still some cupboard favourites available!

Current Fill stock includes:

🫧 Cleaning — Everything Clean, Toilet Clean, Bathroom Clean, Steel & Glass, Laundry Liquid, Fabric Conditioner, Cleaning Vinegar, Wash Up & Rinse Aid.

🧺 Powders — Laundry Powder, Dishwash Powder, Scrub Powder, Destainer & Bicarbonate of Soda.

🛁 Body & Hair — Body Wash, Hand Soap, Shampoo, Conditioner, Micellar Water, Hand Cream & Hand Gel.

Please note we are currently operating on reduced opening hours — but we’re open this bank holiday weekend; Saturday 10am - 2pm and also Sunday morning 930am - 12pm alongside the Black Cat Sourdough pop-up bakery. 🍞

Thank you for supporting us all during this exciting transition. 💚

20/05/2026

Slightly different hours this week…

Plus we’re opening on Sunday morning for a delicious pop-up from Black Cat Sourdough with fresh sourdough, focaccia & doughnuts ready for your bank holiday bakes. 🍩🥖



📍37 Layer Road, Colchester, Essex, CO2 7JW

16/05/2026

After 5 wonderful years, I wanted to share a little update about the next chapter for the shop…

As many of you know, I have been looking at what’s next for me professionally, and I’m really pleased to say that the shop will be continuing under new ownership with Lucy, who has worked with me for the past 2 years. Many of you already know Lucy well, and I’m also really happy to say that Jo will be staying on too.

Over the coming weeks Lucy will be starting work behind the scenes on reorganising the layout and preparing for a future rebrand and refurbishment of the space. I’ll still be keeping the lease until the end of June to help support the transition.

The shop will remain open over the next couple of weeks, although with slightly reduced hours as stock levels begin to change.

I have another Fill order due in next week, so there will still be opportunities for customers to stock up on favourites before the refurbishment period begins, and I’ll post once the delivery arrives — likely towards the end of the week.

You may also notice things looking a little different in-store already as I condense stock, make reductions and lower some prices while preparing for the handover. I’d still love to see people popping in over the coming weeks. 💚

Any pop-up events already booked will still be going ahead as planned — I will post about these separately.

This page will remain with me, but once Lucy’s new business pages are ready I’ll make sure to share them here so everyone can continue supporting the shop in its next chapter.

I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported the shop over the last 5 years — customers, local businesses, suppliers, community groups, and friends. What started as a small refill shop became something much bigger in terms of community, conversations, and impact, and I’m incredibly proud of that.

Personally, I’ll now be starting to look towards new job opportunities and future projects, so if anyone knows of roles connected to sustainability, community engagement, retail, behaviour change or social impact, please do keep me in mind!

Thank you all again for your continued support during this transition — and I know you’ll continue to support Lucy and Jo in this exciting next stage too. ✨

Rachel xx

17/04/2026

🚲 Bike collection happening TODAY 🚲

Re-Cycle are in the shop today collecting donated bikes — giving them a second life and supporting communities in Africa.

If you’ve got a bike you no longer use, bring it down and they’ll take care of the rest.

They’re here with us in the pop-up space — come and say hello to Kerry and John 👋

I’m currently focusing on bringing the core, most popular stock back into the shop — thank you for your patience while I work through this.

Open as usual 10am - 4pm — pop in and see us!

14/04/2026

Thank you to Colchester Gazette for featuring our pop-up space and Saturday’s embroidery workshop with Jen from The Creative Workshop Company 💛

While this piece focuses on one creative workshop, the space is open to so much more — from craft sessions to wellness events, retail pop-ups and new ideas.

That’s always been the aim: to create a flexible, welcoming space that supports small businesses, brings people together, and gives others the chance to try something new.

If you missed this one, Jen already has more workshops lined up:

✨ Saturday 9th May – Candle Making
✨ Saturday 13th June – Lino Printing
✨ Saturday 1st August – Beginners Crochet

…and more to come!

If you’re interested in hosting something of your own, I’d love to hear from you. 💚

13/04/2026

We are collecting unwanted bikes this week! 🚲

If you can’t make it over on Friday, just drop to us during shop opening hours:

Tuesday to Saturday 10am - 4pm.

If you’ve been meaning to clear out that unused bike, now’s the time! 🚲

We’ll be at Colcheco this Friday, 17th April, 10:00–16:00, collecting bikes that still have some life left.

Every bike you donate helps us to make a real difference.

12/04/2026

It’s the news you’ve all been waiting for…👀

Black Cat Bakes Sourdough is popping up again on Layer Road! 🍞 🍩

Join us on Sunday 26th April from 9:30am–12pm for a morning of incredible sourdough — from freshly baked loaves to indulgent doughnuts, rich babka, and flavour-packed focaccia… all made using traditional sourdough methods.

✨ This is now planned as a regular pop-up on the 4th Sunday of each month, so you can make it part of your routine.

Come early for the best choice, but there’ll be plenty to enjoy throughout the morning.

💡 Top tip: everything can be frozen, so feel free to stock up! Slice your sourdough before freezing and you can just take out what you need — perfect for reducing waste (and avoiding eating the whole loaf in one go 👀).

✨ I’ll also have the shop open, so you can stock up on your refill essentials while you’re here — from pantry staples to everyday household favourites.

📍 37 Layer Road, Colchester, Essex, CO2 7JW
⏰ 9:30am – 12pm

Bring your containers, take your time, and make a morning of it. 💚

Supporting small businesses, reducing waste, and building something special together.

10/04/2026

✨ APRIL POP-UPS ✨

Here’s what’s coming up this month in our pop-up space — from creative workshops to community giving. 💚

🧶 Saturday 11th April
Arm Knitting (10:30am - 1:30pm)
Beginners Embroidery (2–4pm) with Jen –
👉 Booking required.

🚲 Tuesday 14th– Saturday 18th April
Re-Cycle Bike Collection
Donate unwanted bikes that still have some life left in them and help support communities ♻️
🕙 Drop-off: 10–4 daily
🙌 Volunteers available Friday 17th

💍 Saturday 25th April
Jewellery Making Workshop Day with Tina -
✨ 3 workshops to choose from
✨ Attend all 3 and receive a FREE jewellery toolkit
👉 Booking required.

📍 37 Layer Road, Colchester

📰 The Gazette might be visiting this Saturday during the workshops — come and be part of it!