The Alternative
1377 Hamilton Street Regina, SK, Canada

We have been hiding a new @coalandcanary candle in our backroom but we can't wait any longer to share it with you! Introducing Champagne Flutes & Birthday Suits - The Date Night Candle with scents of champagne, vanilla bean and blood orange. What’s your ideal date night?

Which @routinecream formula do you use? My all time favourite formula is Like A Boss in the glass jars. Lately, I have also been testing out the Superstar formula in the stick form. I don’t mind having to use my fingers to apply it but also understand that the sticks are nice if you’re on the go. Pro tip - the glass jars are refillable and will save you roughly $7 if you choose to refill it instead of purchasing new. Current refill for...mulas - Like A Boss, Superstar, The Curator, Sexy Sadie, Johnny’s Cash and Cat Lady. If you’re a Routine lover, what’s your favourite formula?! See more

They're finally here! The chic design of these bins make them perfect to leave out on your counter. Plus, the activated charcoal filter helps to absorb any odours. If you're a composter, what's one item that may surprise people that can be composted?

Fill Friday! Carina Organics Sweet Pea Bubble Bath A soothing, all-natural, bubble bath formulated with certified organic plant, vegetable, flower, and tree extracts to keep your skin moist, soft, and naturally beautiful. ... I was amazed by how many bubbles there were from a natural product. - The Alt customer Fill it up for $2.75/100G or roughly $13.75 for one of our 500G bottles. Have you tried out the bubble bath yet? See more

Did you know that your skincare routine doesn’t have to be complicated, expensive or wasteful? Here is a review from one of our customers: I LOVE THEM! They everything I ever hoped them to be. I haven’t reached for any other skin care products since I got them and my face feels so smooth and hydrated. I worked out the cost and I’m actually saving money by switching to them and my face is so happy, my skin hasn’t felt or looked this good in years.

It's her birthday! If you pop by the store today be sure to wish Karlee a happy birthday! Here are 3 things that you may not know about her:... - Today, she turns THIRTY! She is, indeed a year older than me and I never let her live it down. - If you ever want to know where to find the best poutine, nachos or chicken fingers, she’s your gal! - She has been keeping a secret for too long, we’re expecting baby #2 this June! What's your best advice for turning 30? - Braeden (Husband of The Alt) See more

5 Days?! Our hours this week: Dec 21st-23rd 10:00-6:00 Dec 24th 10:00-3:00... Dec 25th-27th Closed Want to shop from home? We’re offering daily Regina delivery up until Dec 24th. We’re still donating $5 from each of these orders in product to Regina Transition House. We have marked down our entire Holiday Collection as a kick off to the week of Christmas. See more

2020, that's a wrap! We started the year off as a new business with no expectations other than to inspire others to make impactful changes. We're so happy that you believed in us and joined in with us. 3,309 bottles were saved which is amazing! Not to mention, all of the other plastic waste saved from the purchase of every other zero waste product we carry. ... We're ready to make an impactful 2021 and we hope you stick around for the ride. Let's hit 10,000 bottles! If you have a goal for 2021 to be less wasteful in any shape or form let us know See more

Feeling blue? These shower steamers will do the trick! The cleansing vapours of eucalyptus are well known for deep support of respiratory health. Combined with concentrated cooling peppermint for an awakening and refreshing shower. How to use in the shower: Place a 1-2 cubes in the shower corner (where it won't get washed away). As the cube gets wet, it starts to dissolve and releases potent essential oils into the hot shower steam. Use ...as a facial steam (for very strong effect): Place part of a cube into a bowl of warm water, place a towel over your head like a tent, close your eyes and breathe in the vapours. Have you tried the small but mighty steamers yet? They were a hot item for Christmas. See more

Thanks to you choosing Regina delivery from December 1-24 we are able to donate roughly 10 litres in bath, body and cleaning products to @reginatransitionhouse. One thing we often take for granted is basic necessities. We hope that with this donation many women are able to have a fresh start with the items they need.

Give the gift of self care! Things are weird. We can all agree on that. This is your daily reminder to check in with yourself and see how you are truly doing. It’s important that we don’t let ourselves get forgotten in the time of giving. Buy a self care item for a loved one or someone in need and remember to pick one up for yourself if that's what you need to feel a little more positive heading into the new year. ... We’re open Saturday 9-4 and would love to help you out.

New Years Giveaway We want to thank each and every one of you for your support in 2020. Every purchase, follow, like or share means the world to us and we would not be here if it wasn’t for you. We’re treating one lucky follower to a beautiful charcuterie board from @windydaywoodworking and some board essentials from our friends over at @takeawayyqr.... To enter: 1. Like this post. 2. Follow us @thealternativesk 3. Tag the friends you wish you could be spending NYE with if things were different. Contest closes Dec 30th at 12pm. Item must be picked up at our storefront. This giveaway is not associated or endorsed by Instagram/Facebook. See more

One of the reasons I started The Alternative was because I struggled to find natural products for my baby in Saskatchewan. It didn’t take long to realize that the safest drug store products were still lacking in terms of natural. I’m happy to share that we now have Carina Organics baby shampoo and lotion available in our refillery.

It’s finally here! For the past several months we have enjoyed helping each and every one of you shop for your Christmas presents. We’re so blessed that you chose to put our shop on your lists or decided to purchase your gifts from us. We have been counting down the days for a much needed break with our little family. We will be back open on Monday but until then we will be sleeping, eating endless food and being silly together. ... Wishing you all a safe and relaxing Christmas! See more

We had an amazing week in the store helping so many of you get a head start on your Christmas shopping. Thank you for choosing to support our small shop this holiday season! We’re open 9-4 Saturday for all your shopping needs.

Falalala with these festive tea towels. Sold in a set with one of our best sellers, a sponge cloth for $24. Snag one while they are in-stock!

Practical gifts that won’t hit the trash

Advent candles?! A candle you can burn for 2 hours each day leading up to Christmas. A festive mix of cinnamon, clove and cake to get you in the festive mood. These plus @coalandcanary holiday collection candles are now available online and in-store. This is our last restock before Christmas so get them while they’re here!

Refill your @routinecream We’ve added 3 new formulas to our bulk Routine deodorant: Cat Lady Sexy Sadie... Johnny’s Cash Why refill? The cost of a new Routine jar is $30 but to refill it is roughly $23. Once your jar is empty, wash it out and bring it in for a fill! See more

Why use reusable cloth wipes? These wipes are the perfect alternative for diaper changes, bath time, runny noses, camping or lunch on the go. The best part is they are zero waste and have no nasty chemicals in them unlike traditional wipes. I 100% will say that we still use traditional wipes in our household. These are a new addition to the store in the hopes that I can change that, even if it's for SOME of the mess that comes along with having a toddler.

Every year @prairiedogregina creates a fun poll for Regina’s favourite people, places, businesses, creations and events. We've been nominated in TWO categories: Best New Locally Owned Business and Best Specialty Shop. We're still not really sure how that happened but we're so proud to see our name up against some of Regina's finest. Thank you to each and every one of you who nominated us! ... Polls are open at prairiedogmag.com until October 23. We appreciate your vote! See more

Get your shine on Turns out, it’s really hard to take pictures of appliances. It’s even harder to keep them clean when you have a toddler who can lick or smear 24/7. So thankful for this Stainless Steel and Granite Cleaner Who else can relate?

Spruce up your space with new @three.little.moons.textiles

What else is located at 1377 Hamilton Street? @meldeatery is a new addition to the Local Market that we are so excited for! If your looking for lunch today, go check out their Mexico Magico menu.

It's been a ball! We've officially hit the 6 month mark of our first customer purchase. It seems like almost daily customers will be shopping in our store and ask how long we have been in our location. I often joke that we're as old as the pandemic. ... I use the, "Wow, you opened a business during a pandemic" comments to keep positive, fuel my energy and know that if I can do this, I can do anything! Thank you for shopping with us. Thank you for asking how we have been doing during this crazy time. We appreciate each and every one of you being along for the ride! See more

The perfect gift for the cook of the house, a new homeowner or someone who simply wants to go zero waste in their kitchen.

We have a new maker! Introducing Rustic Green. This busy Mama of three manages to create these beautiful, wood pieces in her spare time. We love the Saskatchewan feel of the wheat sheaf.

Tomorrow is the 2nd last Saturday before Christmas! @prairieknotco snuck in one last restock before the holidays and we were so excited to use her beautiful baskets to put together some gift baskets. Come check out her new stock and all of our gift baskets in-store tomorrow from 9-4.

The beauty of minimalist Presents don’t need to be wrapped in fancy glitter wrapping paper. More often than not, the wrapping on most presents cannot even be recycled. We wrapped up some gifts in our store to show you that using what you have can be beautiful too! Do you struggle when opening gifts knowing what can be recycled and what is trash? Or do you just get out the garbage bag and chuck it all?

"Where do I start?" The amount of zero waste products in our store can feel a tad overwhelming for someone who hasn't been exposed to the concept before. However, it's our mission to support you in your zero waste journey, in whatever shape that may be. We believe that small changes can make big impacts! You don't have to do it all, pick one thing that makes sense for your lifestyle and make the swap! ... Want to know some of our recommendations for beginners? - beeswax wraps - snack bags - unpaper towels - shampoo/conditioner bars Do not be afraid to ask questions or seek advice in our store, that's what we're here for and we loooove to help you! See more

Shopping local is something that our family values immensely. Now more than ever, it's so important for you to think about where you are purchasing your goods from and the impact it has on others, your community and the environment.

We’re launching something new! If you live in Lumsden and love refills, you’re in luck! Introducing our Lumsden Doorstep Refill Program. It’s as simple as filling out a form, leaving your jars out in the morning and receiving your full jars in the evening. Be sure to check out our website for more details. ... If you live in Regina and want us to offer this in your area, let us know in the comments what area you are in. See more

Looking for the perfect gift? Our collection of holiday bowl covers are popular gifts for your Mom, Grandma or anyone who likes to spend time in the kitchen. It’s the perfect accessory they didn’t even know existed!

Beeswax Bread Bags A new way to store your fresh bread whether it’s for a couple of days or for a longer period of time in the freezer.

From December 1-24, for every Regina order that chooses delivery, we will donate $5 in bath, body and cleaning products to Regina Transition House. Saskatchewan has the highest rate of reported domestic violence incidents in the country.Last year, Regina Transition House provided a safe haven for 326 women and children who were leaving situations of violence and abuse. Each year, the number of women and children needing help increases. Therefore, we at The Alternative hope that this partnership can help women in need with basic necessities. By choosing delivery, you can feel comfort in knowing you helped someone in our community this holiday season.

What can you find upstairs at 1377 Hamilton Street? @luxaderm is far from your average beauty studio. They offer a range of services in a fun, beautiful space. Be sure to check them out!

It’s Small Business Saturday As a small business, one thing we do for our customers is write personalized thank you notes for all of our online orders. It’s the least we can do to show you our gratitude for your support. Tag your favourite small business that goes above and beyond to show them some love.

We’re doing a giveaway! Head on over to our Instagram for more details on how to win these laundry essentials. @thealternativesk

20% off our entire store November 27th - 30th! This is our biggest sale of the year. It's a REALLY big deal for a small shop like ours to do this. We encourage you to shop online and take advantage of our free in-store pickup, $5 Regina delivery or $10 Canada-wide shipping. ... In-store we will be limiting the amount of customers, will be taking the time to sanitize and be as safe as possible. We appreciate you shopping local and small this Black Friday. Thanks for your support! See more

We’re finally stocked up on @frontpaperca prints. These prints look so adorable in baby/kids rooms and are handmade in Saskatoon.

Hello plastic free laundry! You asked, we listened. We now carry all 3 @truearthmovement laundry strip formulas. We offer packs of 32 strips in their fragrance free and baby formulas as well as the fresh linen formula in bulk.

Our refillery contains various bath, body and cleaning products as we try to make sure we have a little of everything that you may need. What’s one product we don’t have that you think we should?

Do you refill mints? No, we most definitely don’t but we do refill toothpaste tablets! If you’ve tried out any of our toothpaste this is a friendly reminder to save your container, clean it out and bring it in for a fill.

Tired of burning your hands?

What else is located at 1377 Hamilton St? If you’ve never been to a barre class then I highly suggest you give @localbarrefitness a try! These gals have the most inclusive and energetic classes. It will forever be my favourite workout, even if I haven’t made it there since the store opened. Come for a class, stay for the shopping! (And donuts )

We’re taking the guesswork out of gift giving. We currently have 3 of these @meandyouhandmades box bags available to make up a custom gift bag for you.

All the feels, despite the temperature today

Sponge cloths replace the use of up to 17 rolls of paper towel, reducing the plastic packaging and overall waste in landfills.

Oh Christmas Tree The tree in our store is not your average Christmas tree. When I told my husband that I wanted him to make me a tree out of wood that was waste in our garage he probably wasn’t too thrilled. However, we wanted to be able to demonstrate that Christmas doesn’t have to be picture perfect and can even be made from waste. Special shout out to our behind the scenes guy who can whip up a tree, slant and all. ... Have you set up your tree yet? See more

The perfect gift for someone who wants to shave sustainably. The beautiful wood box includes a rose safety razor, agave cloth, shave oil and 5 replacement blades. These shaving kits were sent to us in error but once we opened them we realized we may need to stock them all the time. We just added 3 of them to our website and our guess is they won't last long!

Meet Michele If you’ve been in-store lately you may have had a chance to meet her already as she is one of our evening and weekend staff. What’s her favourite product? TruEarth Laundry Strips. They are easy to use, pre-portioned and all around less waste.

A compost bin that's nice enough to leave on your counter. Whether you're a master at composting or if you're one of the Regina households selected for the green cart pilot program this month, this compost bin is perfect for your daily/weekly use. Haul it out when it gets full, it stays contained with a filter so your nose will never know! if you compost or are excited to be a part of the cities pilot program.

The cutlery sets you all love, now available for kids! Wishing all you parents good luck as a new school year begins tomorrow! Does anyone else feel like the school year is an exciting restart whether you’re in school or not? I love bringing out my stationary to do a little planning.

Add fall fragrance to any room without the worry of a flame. We have just a few of these reed diffusers left for the year, get them while you can!

The cleansing vapors of eucalyptus are well known for deep support of respiratory health. Combined with concentrated cooling peppermint for an awakening and refreshing shower. Whether you’re in need of a spa experience or have a sinus cold, these shower steamers will do the trick!

Do you prefer liquid or bar shampoo? This is one of our most asked questions and my answer is always, Bar. 110%. @unwrappedlife shampoo and conditioner bars are the one product that we carry that customers are skeptical to try. This is usually due to the fact that they have never been exposed to a bar or have had a previous bad experience. What we love the most is a couple days later when they message us to tell us how great they are.... So why do I love them? They are much smaller than having bottles in your shower, perfect to pack in your bag for a weekend getaway, the suds of the shampoo bar are unexplainable and they are specifically formulated for your hair type. What’s your review? See more

What else is located at 1377 Hamilton St? We love that @theeverydaykitchen is located in the same building as us. Not only because they have the best donuts around, they also have the kindest souls. @theeverydaykitchen is celebrating their 1st anniversary today! Come celebrate with them and check out everything our building has to offer.

Let's talk gift sets! As part of our Holiday Collection, these gift sets are a great gift idea! The set includes 1 tea towel and 1 sponge cloth. @ten_and_co tea towels are both beautiful and functional. Great for drying dishes or hands in the kitchen or lining a bread basket. The sponge cloths are hands down one of our best sellers in-store and if you own one you know why. Not ready to talk holidays? The lemons and tiny x sets are adorable for year round gift giving.

Your all natural, eco-friendly alternative to plastic wrap.

Our Holiday Collection is now live!! Some items will continue to arrive following today so feel free to check back in. In-store, our Holiday Collection will not be launching until November 12th in respect of Remembrance Day. However, many customers have emphasized wanting to shop early due to the safety concerns of Covid-19 and we want to accommodate that too. As well, Canada Post is emphasizing that shipping times will be delayed more than usual this Christmas due to Covid-19. We hope you understand that we want everyone to be as safe as possible this holiday season and therefore, recommend that you shop from the safety of your home and take advantage of our free Canada-wide shipping for orders over $100 and our $5 Tuesday-Saturday Regina delivery.

Happy Saturday! We’re open 9-3 today. We finally got an outdoor sign to help you find us, through the double doors and to the left. Hope everyone has a fun and safe Halloween!

Brushes galore! We finally brought @buerstenhaus.redecker into our store! They specialize in handcrafted brushes of all sorts. Lint Brush Nail Brush... Bath Brush Dry Brushing Brush Combs Vegetable Brush 2 Styles of Bottle Brushes Copper Pads and Scrubbers Have you ever tried any of their products? See more

In need of a new keyring? @larkandlilyhandmade keyrings are now available in-store and online in a variety of colours. I love chatting with Krista as both of our businesses stemmed from being at home with our babies.

Loving the new fall lineup of @stasherbag colours.

Sunday feels This Buncha Farmers All Natural Stain Remover works on grass, red wine, ketchup, grease, underarm stains and much more! We love hearing about the stains you were able to tackle with this small but mighty stick.

Meet Karissa She is one of our new evening & weekend gals. If you see her at the shop be sure to say hi! Her favourite product is the Detoxifier shampoo bar. It’s amazing on my long hair and keeps it toned and bright! Suds up like crazy leaving my hair feeling so clean.

It's bath season! We carry epsom salts, dead sea salts, himalayan salts, lavender, chamomile and rose petals on our refillery. Bring in your own jar and we can fill it with one product or mix a bunch together for you. If you're into baths, what's your favourite thing to put in the tub?

Did you know the average person throws away 82 pounds of textiles each year, and 95 per cent of those clothes could be reused? #wastereductionweek I have such a hard time understanding why textiles in good condition would be thrown away. Donating items to local charities, posting your items for free, selling your items or getting someone else to sell your items are just some of the ways that you can find new life for your unwanted goods. ... One of my favourite things to do is to shop for used clothing for myself and my little one. We have lots of stores such as @hangerandrackconsignment that are allowing clothes to live a much longer life. Fun fact - I consider selling items on Varagesale or Marketplace a hobby of mine. Do you love or hate selling your stuff? See more

Why zero waste? In honour of #wastereductionweek I wanted to talk about why choosing zero waste products is impactful. Up until a couple of years ago I would have considered myself pretty wasteful but honestly, I didn't think too much about my actions. I'm not sure what changed along the way but after finding a couple of products that I loved, believed in and could see the impact of, I really started to understand. As products slowly run out, I invest in r...eplacements that reduce waste. Do we still have lots of waste in our household? Absolutely because habits are not something you can change overnight but we can flip our thinking. How much waste has been reduced in our household in comparison to 5 years ago? TONS. How wasteful do you think your household is on a scale of 1-10 and what is the one item that you love so much, although wasteful, could never give up? See more

Are you in need of some pampering? That was a silly question.. aren't we all?! We have a range of vegan nail polishes that are 10 -FREE, meaning they are exempt from the 10 toxic ingredients that are often found in the composition of these products. We also carry foot brushes and refillable nail polish remover to go along with.

We just received a restock from our friend @prairieknotco. The rope is hand-dyed with predominately natural organic dyes, resulting in rope baskets that come in a variety of unique colours. Her baskets are always a crowd favourite in our store!

A large size sponge cloth works perfect to clean up those big messes, or act as a small dish drying mat. Same great benefits of the small cloths but now in a larger format. - 100% biodegradable and can be thrown away with compostable waste. - Naturally anti-bacterial due to its quick drying ability which means no 'dish cloth' smell! -Can be used up to 6-12 months or 200 wash cycles.

Happy Thanksgiving friends! For the first year ever we spent Thanksgiving at home just the three of us. It was a nice, relaxing way to reflect on everything we are thankful for. On Friday I brought home one of our new @coalandcanary reed diffusers. The notes of pumpkin, pecans, vanilla cake, and hints of spice are making our house feel extremely warm and inviting. I am extremely thankful of each and every one of you that follows along an...d supports us and our family dream. See more

What else is at 1377 Hamilton St? The goal of @localandfresh is to grow the size and sustainability of the local food network by making it easier for consumers to choose local food options. With over 1000 Saskatchewan produced items they offer in-store shopping and delivery. I am so thankful for people like Tim and Carla who understand the importance of local and working with entrepreneurs like myself to create a unique place to bring p...eople together. If you have shopped with them before, what’s your favourite item to buy? See more

There is always something to be thankful for. Whether you want to decorate to feel festive or if you want to thank your host for having you over, these will do the trick! Are you hosting Thanksgiving this weekend, headed out for it or laying low at home?... Thanksgiving weekend hours: Friday 10-6 Saturday 9-3 Sunday & Monday Closed See more

Our new lineup of mason jar tops

How many single use cotton pads have you used in your lifetime thus far? Hundreds? Thousands? Dive deep with me in a quick calculation Let's just say an average person uses 3 cotton rounds per day. A pack of 125 cotton rounds runs for about $3.79 so that's $33.20 a year. A pack of 12 reusable facial rounds at our shop sell for $14.50. You could buy 2 packs and be set for YEARS. ... Save yourself some money and save the dump the 71,175 cotton rounds you potentially would dispose over your lifetime. Worried about losing these little beauties? A produce bag is a great way to keep them all together! See more

Use up what you have I love when customers say, I have to go home, take inventory and use up what I have first. You’re probably thinking, Said no business owner EVER. What good to the environment would it be if I told that customer to dispose of their 3 lotions and buy another one?! ... The reality is, I’ve been there but now I try to keep our house pretty minimal. For the past several years, once I ran out of a product I would search for a more natural and sustainable solution. I challenge you to open your bathroom vanity or your cleaning closet and take an inventory. Decide what items you plan to use up, sell or donate. Comment to let me know what those items are. When you’re finally in need of a replacement, we will be there to hook you up! See more

What else is located at 1377 Hamilton St? @warehouse_beer creates locally made beers with a Saskatchewan flair. They have such a beautiful space and a wide range of beverages. If the sun is shining be sure to hangout on their patio before it’s too late! We’re open today until 3. Come shop and stay for a beverage.

Hello October! We love when our customers show how excited they are about our products. For the month of October, post on your social media your purchase, your favourite product or you visiting our store. At the end of the month we will draw for a $50 gift card. ... *If your account is private we may not see your post so please screenshot it and DM us to make sure you're entered into the draw. See more