s*on a very private note* So that was it.

The first year as managing director. A year for Original Unverpackt 2.0 after bankruptcy and during a global inflation; with the climate crisis getting ever closer and numerous crises, wars, etc.

There is so much going on in my head and in our OU head. So what could be better than to review everything?

Looking back: Milena Glimbovski opened Original Unverpackt in 2014 after almost two years of planning. It was the first unpackaged store ever in Berlin and is now the oldest unpackaged store in Germany. Together we have already overcome numerous hurdles - some better, some worse.

Bankruptcy will be filed in summer 2022

Various reasons led to Milena filing for bankruptcy with the local court in the summer of 2022 and a provisional insolvency administrator being appointed. Fortunately, the insolvency administrator decided that the store and the online shop basically have a positive continuation forecast and that the business will therefore continue for three months despite the insolvency in order to have time to find a buyer. The period of provisional insolvency was incredibly stressful for everyone involved due to numerous changes, new people and changed processes. Because it was completely unclear how and if things would continue. September 1, 2023 was set as the deadline and there was the opportunity to view operating documents and submit offers to purchase the store. Until the very end, it was unclear how many offers there actually were and whether the insolvency administrator would accept them.

It goes on

On September 1st, 2023, it was clear: there was only one bid - and it was accepted. We were able to continue running the store. Even if it did a lot of damage to our reach - because to this day, many people think that the store was closed due to insolvency. Everyone wanted to report on the failure - unfortunately, so far, not on the successful continuation.

I have been managing director for a year now. All wages were paid as early as August 30, 2023. This may sound completely normal to some people - but for a social, self-financed company that has already been insolvent, this is something extremely special. Yes, at the beginning I had to move money back and forth via my private account in order to meet my requirement of being able to pay all wages within the same month. My own wages fell as a result. We simply hadn't been able to build up a buffer and there was a lack of liquidity. I had decided against a loan - it just didn't feel right at the time. Now, despite the summer slump and falling sales, we were actually able to build up enough liquidity and finally be independent.

And that was a good thing - because my own account balance is a whopping 58.69 euros on one current account and -301.78 euros on the other current account. Because since OU's own brand, which also sold Fabel, filed for bankruptcy a few months ago, I have not only been unemployed - but also without a main income. So now I am looking for work - and managing director of Original Unverpackt as a side job. The simultaneity of things...

Causa Fabel

The factory of Fabel, our sister brand that produces zero-waste cosmetics, is history. After I developed Fabel, I spent two years building and expanding the factory - first alone and then with colleagues. Only to then empty it within a day. I was able to help rebuild the production site at another location and am incredibly happy that Fabel is continuing - even if it no longer belongs to me. I decided to keep the shop.

And to do this, I first have to receive the insurance benefit from ALG1 and take the time to sort everything out and plan how I might one day be able to live off of wanting to make the world a better place. So it remains exciting. :-) And don't worry - I still have enough plans in my head.

i+m Naturkosmetik has acquired Fabel and will continue to run it. You can find out more on Fabel's Instagram account. We are very grateful that we can help get sales and production up and running again.


And if you don't have a green electricity provider yet: until the end of the year you have the opportunity to not only receive the switching bonus of 40 euros from Naturstrom (as a voucher for the store or online shop) - with your switch we even receive a 30 euro electricity credit!! 🙂

And what’s next?
The shop will be 9 years old in mid-September and we are holding the “fair week” together with our neighbors and a few events. There will be opportunities to taste products and exchange ideas with us even more. Stay tuned!

This is what we achieved :

• We survived! That is neither obvious nor easy these days. More than 80% of all start-ups fail.
• We have grown much closer together as a team and also as Berlin unpackaged stores
• We have tried out many new products - all of them successfully. :-) We are always happy to receive requests, inspiration and feedback!
• We now also ship groceries in our online shop. For this we use the cardboard and packaging material that comes to us via our suppliers - your shipment is basically zero waste or in the cycle! :-)
• We are nominated for the German Sustainability Award!!
• We have written our first sustainability report.

This is what we plan to do :

• We want to demystify unpackaged goods and convince more people how important it is to minimize the exploitation of the planet.
• Demand and promote reusable packaging and show that retail packaging that immediately ends up in the trash is completely unnecessary.
• Establish the shops more in the neighborhood in order to have a loyal customer base in the immediate area.

This is how we feel:

GOOD! - I am incredibly proud of our team, which basically runs the shop on its own, so that I can take care of financial planning, budgets and higher levels such as research projects, cooperation with suppliers and other shops, but also contact with politicians.

You want to support us?

Feel free to respond to our posts, shop with us when you need supplies and simply tell other people how easy and satisfying it is to shop without packaging. You can also buy vouchers and give them away.

Do we have Steady (or something similar)?

Not yet, but we will consider whether we can start something like that. :-)