Meet Gayla Kirkland of Buckeye

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gayla Kirkland

Hi Gayla, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
No Trace is Buckeye, Arizona’s first plastic-free and zero-waste sustainability business. Sustainability is such a buzzword that it seems cliche even to use it. Nowadays, when businesses include words such as climate change, eco-friendly, environmental impact, sustainable, and global warming in their marketing campaigns and social media posts, it’s difficult to tell if there’s a steadfast commitment to making a genuine change or if these words are just another marketing ploy to get you to buy products that are doing more harm than good while tricking you into thinking you’re making a positive and lasting impact, helping people and the planet.
 
For years, I had stopped using chemicals to clean my home. I’m not a chemist or scientist, but I knew then and now that those products harm people and the planet. Donning a mask, wearing gloves, and ensuring proper ventilation when using certain products seemed wrong despite all the advertising and marketing that said differently. 

No Trace: living true
While researching how my actions can help our planet, I read an article that completely changed my outlook on what I initially thought was a solution—donating gently used or worn clothing to thrift stores. Don’t get me wrong, the concept of thrift stores has merit, but what happened to the garments, tools, and other items when not purchased made me physically sick. My way of life contributed to a global problem—plastic waste never breaks down, so it winds up in our landfills and waterways.
 
You see, I had read article after article explaining that our efforts to donate clothes, shoes, and household items were ruining our home—the planet—and harming us, its citizens. I took time to figure out how to lead a more sustainable life while consuming and purchasing less.
 
No Trace: making a difference
In March 2023, No Trace LLC was born. The business’s primary focus is to educate family, friends, and Arizona’s Southwest Valley community on how to make a true and lasting change—reduce our dependence on single-use plastic while keeping plastic bottles and containers out of landfills. There is no false advertising or marketing jargon. Honest action. Difficult, yes. Impossible, no.
 
No Trace’s vision and mission are to help others see the long- and short-term value of changing our mindset regarding the types of packaging and products that we’re introducing. Instead of stripping our beautiful home, the earth, of its precious resources, we respect and care for them while reducing waste, toxicity, and consumption.
  
Despite its convenience and availability, less than 10 percent of plastics are recycled globally. We have a long way to go. Land animals and sea creatures don’t deserve to suffocate because they’re breathing in plastic waste; mammals don’t deserve to die because they are trapped in plastic materials in their oceans; people shouldn’t have to worry about the microplastics inside their bodies. All living things deserve a plastic-free life.
 
No Trace is more than an online store selling plastic-free and non-toxic items. The business’s primary goal is to make a tremendous difference instead of ignoring the enormity of the unprecedented environmental crisis humankind is coping with.
 
The positive impact of being in business for almost two years is surprising and encouraging! The Buckeye community’s support has been tremendous. Some in the community have expressed gratitude and appreciation for the No Trace mission, which educates them on alternative products and makes them available to the Buckeye community.
 
For No Trace, living true, thinking big, pursuing excellence, being there, and making a difference isn’t about dollars and cents. It’s about helping others make conscious decisions about using only plastic-free products, composting, and reusing instead of buying more only to discard later. We only have one planet; let’s take care of it!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Honestly, no. Being an entrepreneur with a full-time job while running No Trace full-time presents challenges with time management and resources. Fortunately, I have a business mentor and others who are very supportive and are my sounding board. Like most small businesses, access to capital and more significant marketing and advertising opportunities in the surrounding communities are additional challenges the business faces. I’m not able to hire a full-time market coordinator, so until recently, I’ve been handling all of the events solo. A new team member has started, and he helps out at the Waddell Farmers Market for a few hours each Sunday. Participating in local farmers’ markets and other events is the primary way we’ve introduced the business to the community. However, those opportunities are only sometimes readily available. Another obstacle is the cost of leasing a commercial space to grow the business from an online store to a physical retail space.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
For more than 15 years, I’ve worked in the professional services industry as a marketing and business development professional. I also owned a professional organizing business, where I assisted busy professionals with developing personalized systems to help them maintain a clutter-free environment in their homes.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I treat others the way I want to be treated, including being honest, respectful, and transparent, which are essential qualities to No Trace’s success.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mynotrace.com
• Instagram: mynotrace
• Youtube: @MyNoTrace

Image Credits
No Trace LLC