Resident spotlight: Katie Herring, Tribe Zero-Waste
Katie Herring, founder of Tribe Zero-Waste, opened the doors of her first brick-and-mortar shop in Faringdon two years ago. Since then she has gone from being the single operator of her business to having four part time staff. As she prepares to graduate from the Makespace community and move into a larger space nearby, we caught up with Katie to hear more about her journey.
“Having a physical space in Faringdon has helped me to bring sustainable shopping to so many more people… I’d already established a connection with people here – I live here, and that makes a big difference – but it’s been great to have a space that allows me to showcase and expand my products as well as support other local makers and producers”
Katie had been running her refill business since 2018, hosting pop-up events, market stalls and home deliveries across Oxfordshire. The unit that Tribe Zero-Waste took on at 19b Market Place was empty for almost two years before being refurbished by Makespace Oxford, and partners Transition by Design, through the ‘Meanwhile in Oxfordshire…’ programme.
Tribe Zero-Waste: 19b Market Place, Faringdon
The most striking takeaway from Katie’s story is the immense dedication, tenacity, and vision she brings to Tribe Zero-Waste. Without her hard work and skill, the business wouldn’t have been possible. However, Katie was also clear that the support Makespace provided was key in helping her secure her first shop— providing initial rent assistance and support setting up the space— was crucial in turning her idea into reality. This foundation made it possible for her to consider expanding into a larger, more prominent space.
“I absolutely wouldn’t have taken on a normal lease. Even with the support I was pessimistic – but Makespace made it much less scary… just having that support and space made all the difference”
It’s clear that for ethical startups aiming to operate differently, success often hinges on the individual’s willingness to take risks, the personal sacrifices they make, and the strength of their support networks. These ventures frequently depend on resources that go beyond what traditional market opportunities can offer. This raises an important systemic question: How can these projects thrive, and how can spaces like this be created, without relying so heavily on personal sacrifice, support structures and privilege?
This brings us back to the idea of a universal basic income (UBI), or at least a targeted UBI for creatives, regenerative organisers and entrepreneurs, to help level the playing field; providing equal opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds, regardless of their access to resources.
Nevertheless, Katie has achieved exactly what we hope for all our residents at Makespace: turning a vision into reality. She has tested, experimented, and developed her idea within a space of her own, and now she’s ready to take the next step—graduating from Makespace and moving into a larger, self-operated unit on the High Street in her hometown. We wish Katie and the Tribe Zero-Waste team the very best of luck on the next stage of their journey!
Tribe Zero-Waste will be closing at 19b Marketplace in Faringdon on 13th October and reopening at 7a Marketplace on 22nd October – stay tuned and follow the journey @tribezerowaste
If you’re looking for space in Faringdon and would like to become part of the Makespace community, drop us an email to info@makespaceoxford.org.
