She Owns Memphis’s First Zero-Waste Bath & Body Shop
The first zero-waste refill store in Memphis is now open! Get to know Becky Beloin, the inspiring woman behind Boshi Botanicals.
The first zero-waste refill store in Memphis is now open! Located in the cozy, village-style atmosphere of Chickasaw Oaks, Boshi Botanicals is both a brick-and-mortar establishment and a brand for the natural bath and body products created by owner Becky Beloin. A native of Ohio, Becky and her husband traveled the world for his job, moving from France to Germany to Mexico to China to the Philippines — growing their family along the way.
The couple and their two children were forced to repatriate to the U.S. in 2020 and moved to their new hometown of Memphis in 2022. Becky’s journey to becoming a creative soap artisan and store owner is nothing short of inspirational. Please meet our newest FACE of Memphis, Becky Beloin!
What was your childhood like?
I grew up mainly in northeast Ohio with parents who loved to garden, spend time outdoors, and taught me early on to recycle. We separated all of our recycling into bins in the garage and then took them to the recycling center several times each month. So, even if zero waste wasn’t part of our vocabulary at the time, learning to love and respect the planet was something I grew up knowing was the right thing to do.
What is the concept of Boshi Botanicals?
The store is designed to offer alternatives to single-use plastics and containers. We offer many products in bulk, so customers can bring in a container, purchase one in-store, or pick one from our bin of donated glass jars and fill it up with as much cleaning or beauty product or tea as they want.
Our bulk product offerings include laundry and dish soap, hand soap, cleaning vinegar, bubble bath, face wash, deodorant, toothpaste tabs, locally blended teas, and more. We also offer plastic-free alternatives like reusable produce bags, wool dryer balls, beeswax wraps, and bamboo toothbrushes.
Will you share the story behind the creation of Boshi Botanicals?
Boshi Botanicals began with a plot twist. The reason we were forced to repatriate during COVID-19 was my diagnosis of breast cancer.
After a year of treatment and surgeries during the pandemic, I needed to find a creative outlet into which I could channel my trauma. I turned to soap making because it allowed me to control the ingredients my family and I were putting on our bodies and gave me the ability to create something beautiful that captured the essence and scent memories of many of the places in which we’ve lived or to which we’ve traveled.
Soap making is an expensive hobby, and you quickly have more bars than you know what to do with, so I began handing them out to family and friends.
After moving to Memphis, I got up the courage to sell them at the Memphis Herb Society Small Business Showcase in June 2022, which propelled me into launching my business. I spent the next year and a half selling at art shows before I had the idea to open my own retail space. I knew I needed to pair something with my own products, and since sustainability is very close to my heart, I decided to take the leap and build out a zero-waste bulk refill store.
I often get asked about the meaning behind, “Boshi.” It’s actually a bit of a joke between my husband and me. He likes to say my style is Bohemian Chic, and from that, we coined the term “Boshi.” We tossed around the idea of using that as the company name, and it stuck.
What was your career path before opening Boshi Botanicals?
I started working as a producer at an NBC affiliate in Northeast Ohio before moving to Atlanta and spending the next ten years in public relations. When we started moving around for my husband’s job, I took the opportunity to focus on my writing.
I blogged about our experiences and published my first book, a middle-grade fantasy called Emerald and the Elf King. I also did some ghostwriting for a few clients. Eventually, I plan to do more writing again, but for now, I’m enjoying the ride of being a retailer and soap artist.
With the store’s grand opening behind you, what are you most excited about for the future?
I’m most excited about educating Memphis on the sustainable alternatives that are out there and helping people understand that zero waste doesn’t have to mean perfection — it’s about making small, mindful changes that can reduce your waste and save you money. I’m also excited about offering workshops to allow Memphians to create their own natural body and cleaning products.
What are some of your favorite Boshi Botanicals products?
I’m obviously biased, but I love the soaps and other body products I make. Beyond my products, though, I love our Wit & West perfumes, which are completely natural and crafted from botanicals in small batches in Colorado. I also love our Root & Splendor liquid laundry detergents, which just received verification from the Environmental Working Group (which means they met a high standard for clean ingredients).
Our Leaf Shave razors are beautiful and offer a zero-waste alternative to disposable head razors. Little Seed Farm is based just outside Nashville and offers amazing natural deodorants we sell in bulk.
How has the Memphis community supported you?
We’ve only lived in Memphis for two years, but the people are amazing! We’ve had so many cheerleaders and people willing to lend us a hand — moving furniture into the store, watching our kids for a few hours to let us focus, and shouting about what we are doing from the rooftops.
When you are a trailblazer, there’s often a lot of education that goes along with what you are doing. We’ve found people excited to learn about our sustainable offerings and willing to help us get the word out that we are here.
Where can we find you when you aren’t working?
When I’m not working, you can find me in the garden or at a plant sale. I’m in the 2024 Master Gardener Intern class and head up the Snowden Elementary Garden Club.
My family and I try to grow as much of our own fruits, herbs, and vegetables as possible, and I grow some of the herbs and flowers I use in the products I make in my garden.
What is your best piece of advice?
Change the little things you can, but don’t obsess with perfection. This goes for all areas of your life that you want to improve. If you obsess over perfection, you can easily get frustrated and give up. If you celebrate your small changes, you will be proud of what you’ve accomplished, which will likely propel you to even greater success.
Aside from faith, family, and friends, what are three things you can’t live without?
My passport, furbabies (two cats and a dog), and a good book.
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Meet more inspiring FACES by visiting our archives HERE!
Gaye Swan
As a professional writer of over 20 years, Gaye is an avid traveler and enjoys highlighting food, culture, and attractions around the South. While Gaye is passionate about life in Memphis, she grew up in Meridian and is still a Mississippi girl at heart.