Circular Economy in Action - Saving Stories, Not Just Stock
- Monika Kulshrestha
- Jul 19
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 25
A Circular Economy Story – One Masterpiece at a Time
Over the past few blogs, we’ve shared how our journey into circular economy practices has transformed waste into wonder—from reviving forgotten horse lamps to testing new product lines that preserve stories and skills.
If you haven’t read our earlier blogs yet, we invite you to follow along — each post uncovers a new layer of our mission to build purposeful, community-driven, regenerative retail.
Saving Stories from the Warehouse: The Leftover Luxe Line
This project came to life as part of our Leftover Luxe Line — a circular retail initiative where we reimagine unsold, high-quality pieces from a closed-down business.
Their warehouse was full of potential — statement pieces that once stood proudly in boutique retail stores, now stacked away without a future. We saw beauty in these forgotten pieces and knew we had to act.
Rather than let them go to waste or landfill, we brought them into our Deals Colony collection, giving them a second chance through collaboration, colour, and creativity.
From Trial to Transformation
After the success of our earlier horse lamp revival, we knew it was time to explore more. That’s when we teamed up again with one of our NDIS partner organisations and took the next bold step — to test a small-scale, collaborative manufacturing model.
We selected plywood deer heads from our warehouse collection — charming, giftable, and full of potential. With the same water marble paint technique used previously, we held a Happy Hobby Hour Workshop, inviting participants of all abilities to bring each piece to life.
Each deer head became a one-of-a-kind creation — same base, different story. Bright colours, joyful brushstrokes, and beautiful intention behind every piece.
Skill, Story & Circular Delivery in Action
This was more than a craft session. It was a demonstration of what circular delivery can look like when we value people over profit:
Sourced: High-quality leftover inventory from a closed local business
Transformed: Painted by NDIS participants with guidance and heart
Packaged: Using recycled materials
Stored: As a prototype line, ready for the right moment to shine
We haven’t sold these deer heads yet — they remain in our collection as one of our proudest prototypes, waiting for the perfect launch event or partner activation.
But what we’ve gained is even more valuable:
✨ Confidence from our NDIS collaborators
✨ Proof that high-quality leftovers can still create joy
✨ A blueprint for future regenerative workshops
Circular Collaboration at its Best
This project reflects everything we stand for at Deals Colony:
Reducing waste of resources, stories, and skills
Reviving potential that others overlook
Creating joy through circular creativity
Building community through shared purpose
Through circular collaboration and regenerative delivery, we’re proving that purposeful work can be accessible, joyful, and scalable — when timing and teamwork align.
What’s Next?
We’re currently developing another exciting prototype — one that involves job creation for people of all abilities and a fresh new take on functional, upcycled goods.
✨ So stay with us.
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We believe that the more people understand the power of the circular economy, the more we can do — together.
Want to Work With Us?
If you’re from a school, NDIS organisation, council, or community group looking to co-create or trial your own circular workshop, we’d love to explore possibilities with you.
📩 Let’s host your Circular by Design Workshop as a team-building or skill-building activity.💡 Book an Initial Assessment for Your Idea
Let’s save skills, stories, and stock — together.
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