Our Story

"Why does living lighter on the planet have to be so hard?"

Y'know, we wondered the same thing, which is how YES! was born. Originally a pop-up in a local Arlington art shop, YES! was started when our co-founder set out to lighten her own footprint and ran into a wall: Finding the basics — toothpaste, dish soap, sponges, laundry detergent — without creating a mountain of waste was next to impossible. She thought, "Getting these things without single-use plastic (not to mention harsh chemicals) shouldn't be this difficult!"

So she built a place where it wasn't.

What started as a corner of borrowed retail space kept growing, eventually merging with a local refill service, Joyful Market, and taking over the whole storefront. In spring 2025, we unexpectedly lost our lease and were forced to pivot. Just when we thought we'd have to close our doors for good, one of our employees joined as a co-owner/partner and helped us secure a new space. So we packed it all up (a bittersweet transition — we loved being in Arlington!) and landed in our lovely new home in Belmont Center.

At its core, YES!'s goal is simple: Make sustainable living more accessible and convenient. We do that through hope, education, and honest conversation — no doom, no guilt trips. Change takes time, and we know it. We're here to help you problem-solve, one swap at a time.

We carry the everyday essentials you're already looking for — without the stuff you're not. Think general store, but without all the plastic. YES! is Your Eco Source for bulk refills, self-care, home goods, and gifts.

This is a judgment-free zone. So wherever you are on your low-waste journey — plastic-free-curious or plastic-free-pro — there's something here for you. Thanks for stopping by. We're really glad you're here. 🩵

Our Products…

We are a values-driven business, but we don't expect perfection— from our vendors or from ourselves. When curating our products, we look at:

  • Who makes it

  • What it’s made of

  • Where it’s made

  • Where it ships from

  • What it’s packaged in

  • How it will be disposed

As much as possible, we source from small, US-based businesses — ideally local to Massachusetts and New England — and prioritize those that are women-, Black-, or LGBTQ-owned and that treat (and pay!) their employees fairly. Because this is a big, connected world, and good work happens everywhere, we also carry sustainably made goods from Canada, and fair trade products from international makers who share our values.

Across the board, we seek out products that are responsibly made, minimally packaged, and contain safe, earth-friendly components that are good for you AND for the planet!

Visit us at our Belmont Center location or shop online now!

In the news

Check out articles and videos about YES! over the years here!