Local actress Tara Rosling relaunched her NOTL-based Little Green Shop this week, offering zero-waste home goods sourced ethically from Canada.
The relaunch comes as NOTL residents face pressures from escalating climate change and economic uncertainty, the latter forced on Canadians by the 25 per cent U.S. tariffs on Canadian exports, which came into effect on Tuesday.
Rosling is best known in Niagara for her regular performances at the Shaw Festival and three-season role as Vulcan President T’Rina on “Star Trek: Discovery.”
Her goal for the Little Green Shop is to be “the world’s smallest refillery.”
Customers can bring containers like mason jars to fill with Canadian-made soaps, cleaners and shampoos to eliminate packaging waste.
Products are sourced from local businesses like St. Catharines’ Sarah Soaps and Hamilton’s Earth Love Bath and Body.
“If I can get everything from within the province, that’s ideal, but always from within the country, which feels particularly important with what’s happening recently,” said Rosling.
Trump’s tariff threats against Canada have incentivized businesses to source from within Canada. The U.S. announced on Thursday it would pause tariffs solely for goods compliant with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement until April 2.
MPP-elect Wayne Gates has encouraged residents and businesses to “buy Canadian” and “buy local” whenever possible to reduce the inflationary cost-of-living effects of tariffs.
The high cost of retail space in NOTL forced Rosling to operate the Little Green Shop online from her house or at pop-ups.
“Who in their right mind can afford retail space here?” she said.
Rosling started her business in 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and has acknowledged some difficulty in getting a local client base as many NOTLers are “set in their ways.”
“My goal is to serve the community.”
Rosling is accepting feedback and requests from customers for more sustainable products to add to her store. Before her website was finished, Rosling emailed her catalogue of products to interested locals.
The Little Green Shop is offering free bike or foot delivery for her products in the summer. The business initially shipped nationally, but Rosling now focuses locally to reduce emissions.
Rosling has acted in 12 Shaw Festival seasons and several TV and movie roles, including “The Handmaid’s Tale.” She has also hosted fundraisers for the LGBTQ+ community in Niagara, support for Ukraine and the Residential School Survivors Society.
