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tips for creating local zero waste directory?

 
pollinator
Posts: 146
Location: Hilversum, Netherlands, urban, zone 7
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Bea Johnson is often credited with starting the zero waste home movement. She went on to develop an app called 'bulk' which mapped out where you could buy things in bulk to help with your zero waste intentions. However, this stopped because they didn't have the funding to keep it up to date with all the software changes. They created an indiegogo and didn't reach their target so they don't know the future of the app (see info here).

So I was thinking about alternatives. And basically, I created a directory for my local town where I just put up a list of all the places I knew of where you could source bulk goods, as well as a list of things that were still missing.

See here: Zero Waste Hilversum

Do you have any suggestions on how to take this forward?


I asked everybody I knew and got several suggestions which were added to the list.
I created a Twitter and a hashtag.

Mainly right now the problem I see is that it's a marketing issue; you need to drum up energy and excitement about it in the local area so that people are conscious about it.

Eventually, if I had the time and energy, I could also reach out to the local city council to try and create incentives for shopowners to provide more bulk.

 
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Shaz, neat name.
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Twenty years ago I was perusing Small Business Opportunity magazine, came across an ad for a business that you got local business's to volunteer there wares, then got specific groups to market it for you. You sat back and did a minimal amount of work and collected a wad of money.
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This is you in a nutshell. You have an agenda, help spread Zero Waste products, etc. You need a way to get it out to the masses.
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I suggest casting a larger net made up of your chosen target, then add farmer type markets, backyard gardening products, even obscurely connected businesses.These businesses all offer a discount to new customers, buy one, get ones, maybe a free item just to get them in the door to see their stuff.
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You are creating a coupon book that has mass appeal. Have you seen The Entertainment Book? Loaded with all sorts of coupons.
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Find yourself a local company that wants some nearly free publicity, get them to pay for your first thousand books. Sell them on the Green angle.
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Think of a catchy name that has long-term appeal. "The Green Machine", The Green Saver, etc.
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Now to your marketing strategy. Every area has school groups, clubs, etc looking for a way to earn money. You offer them your coupon book for their fundraising. When they sell it for ten bucks, they keep half, give you half. Now if it sells well you can afford to print more without the sponsors. Unless they want to...
 
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