Organic/Green Products

[shawngbc]

Hi all,

Sorry i've been away for quite some time, been R&D my muse... I need a little feedback and or advice about the green industry.

I've checked adwords and wordtracker about Organic and/or Green related products and it seems that clothes and skin care and household products have been the most popular.

Which of these industry do you all feel is most lucrative and popular?

Fashion?
Skin Care?
Household Products?
Furniture?

Or any other recommendations?

In need of Help!

Cheers!

[Gina71]

I can only speak for myself here. Organic products are a big topic of discussion in many "mom" circles.

Organic products that are most important to me are food and skin care because they have a direct impact on my body. I prefer to minimize the chemicals that come in contact with my body and my children. The products we use are as natural as possible.

[JKohlbach]

I'm interested in anything "Green" or planet friendly that will actually save me money. For example, replacing my old light bulbs with new eco friendly ones. That sort of thing interests me most. My demographic is under 20-30s male living in Australia. Capital city.

[shawngbc]

Hi

Thanks for the great insight!

Sustainability is great! And i believe that for those people that supports the green movement definitely looks for longevity!

Organic products are great! i notice a shift of consumer interests from organic food to skin care products as well as household goods as well.

I believe that both of these industries would be the next up and coming

[sub8hr]

I saw an organic furniture company recruiting for a Director of Ecommerce a while back. Basically their deal was they make furniture out of wood.. uh.. yeaah.

When I think organics I think of food though... Particularly Whole Foods Market. CSA baskets 'n stuff. Tough to sell that online.

I think you're best bet is probably some kind of re-usable commodity like skin care products. Average sale order is likely to be small and your biz could depend greatly on repeat biz. You might check out Whole Foods Market's website and see what else they are selling besides foods. I know they carry some other stuff and there must be some kind of market for those items for it to be worth it to them.

[JKohlbach]

A contact I have here in QLD does pretty much what you just suggested. She has a massage business, but sells organic skin products online and does quite well out of it. I've ordered from her several times, so I guess I fit the mold of a typical repeat customer. I tend to agree it'd be about making and keeping customers long term in that kind of model.

[Sven]

I do not think that there is a market waiting to be discovered in "organics" Why?

People that are using organic stuff tend not to buy stuff, they do not need much, they are carefull consumers.

I think the only way to make a killing with something organic is to have a product lying in waiting to take over the market completely when oportunity knocks.

This does not mean that you can not make a living out of organic stuff. There is a lot to be learned about it and if you have the knowlege....

[shawngbc]

I saw an organic furniture company recruiting for a Director of Ecommerce a while back. Basically their deal was they make furniture out of wood.. uh.. yeaah.

When I think organics I think of food though... Particularly Whole Foods Market. CSA baskets 'n stuff. Tough to sell that online.

I think you're best bet is probably some kind of re-usable commodity like skin care products. Average sale order is likely to be small and your biz could depend greatly on repeat biz. You might check out Whole Foods Market's website and see what else they are selling besides foods. I know they carry some other stuff and there must be some kind of market for those items for it to be worth it to them.

Reusable skin care products... hmmm... seems interesting.. Perishable goods are kinda hard to do on an international platform, that's why i tend to stay away from that. Also im an advocate for fresh domestic produce unless countries that do not have sufficient land for agriculture...

But i like the Reusable skin care product. Any suggestions?

[shawngbc]

Hi Sven!! Thanks for replying! But here are my thoughts.. what do you think?

I do not think that there is a market waiting to be discovered in "organics" Why?

it really depends on the product, an organic product is more of an added value. Not so much as the selling point.

People that are using organic stuff tend not to buy stuff, they do not need much, they are carefull consumers.

On the contrary, these customers are educated and info driven. The demographics/geographic regions are more relevant. For example "organic customers" upstate new york and "organic customers" New York City are entirely 2 different animal. So a generalization such as yours lacks validity.


I think the only way to make a killing with something organic is to have a product lying in waiting to take over the market completely when oportunity knocks.

This does not mean that you can not make a living out of organic stuff. There is a lot to be learned about it and if you have the knowlege....

I like the way you think and i do agree with getting more educated however i dont believe in being the first, the first are usually martyrs and the natural selection process of success is slim.

But I think this forum is FANTASTIC! SO many incredible minds!

MORE MORE MORE!!!! hhehe i'm loving it!

[Marcie]

Also think about the green economy our new president is creating - info products about green jobs, and green energy products would be interesting to me. For example, I recently read theat solar power is quickly becoming cheaper than regular electricity, esp. with the tax credits now available...

[shawngbc]

Also think about the green economy our new president is creating - info products about green jobs, and green energy products would be interesting to me. For example, I recently read theat solar power is quickly becoming cheaper than regular electricity, esp. with the tax credits now available...

Would you mind providing the link??

Thanks!

[Marcie]

Sure, I originally read about it here: http://www.greendaily.com/2007/09/19/solar-power-you-can-actually-afford/

And now I writing more about it for a class I am taking, I'll post more as I discover. One cool page I found for my state with a calculator is here:

http://www.solarpowerrocks.com/north-carolina/

But you can click on your own state to the right. Cool stuff.

[froldt]

As someone who is concerned with my effect on the environment and my environment's effect on me, I am interested in finding more "organic" personal hygeine products. I want stuff that isn't made from a chemistry lab, but comes from natural ingredients. Maybe bigger isn't better (ever looked on your shampoo bottle, the most common ingredient is water), so if you make a smaller shampoo that lasts just as long, that might be the way to go.
I guess those are my suggestions: hygeine products made from natural ingredients (soap, shampoo, shaving cream, deodorant, toothpaste); and the way to sell it might be make a "concentrated form" like the laundry detergent market did. It's a smaller bottle, but it lasts twice as long (just don't include as much water!)

[Cameron B]

Sven, I think you overlooked the word green above. It's one thing for something to be organic(this is usually aimed at something for contact or consumption by people) it's another for it to be green(good for the environment). My point is that the two words are two different concepts.


P.S. this forum needs a cheers smiley.

[shawngbc]

Hi all,

I'm thankful and grateful on the insights of the organic industry.

Please keep it coming.

I'm a strong advocate of demand side economics and i wish to learn more.

Please check out my muse and would love your feedback, PM or not. I believe in transparency and longevity

www.eccocircle.com

[Free4Family&Community]

re useable stuff. .. nappies, wipes etc I am a mother and want to reduce my throw away stuff. Reusuable stuff is not so good because once you buy something you don't need another because you are reusuing the product over and over again. :eek:

I use organic or no chemical cleaning and beauty. This is a good market because once they buy and like your products then they have to buy and buy again from you. You keep your customers who buy again and again then you can use them to get more customers.:D

[jaywenk]

Hi all,

I'm thankful and grateful on the insights of the organic industry.

Please keep it coming.

I'm a strong advocate of demand side economics and i wish to learn more.

Please check out my muse and would love your feedback, PM or not. I believe in transparency and longevity

www.eccocircle.com

Shawn,

The third column of your site isn't working correctly in IE7 on a 19" monitor. Could just be me, but it ends going all the way to the bottom of the page leaving a lot of emply space near the top and looking very awkward near the bottom.

[shawngbc]

Also think about the green economy our new president is creating - info products about green jobs, and green energy products would be interesting to me. For example, I recently read theat solar power is quickly becoming cheaper than regular electricity, esp. with the tax credits now available...

Hi Marcie,

Great point. Click here (http://eccocircle.com/?p=254) Geroge soros explains it really well.

Personally, i think that the quickest way to stimulate an economy is to provide tax free on employment wages to people who find jobs from now till june or end of year.

Thanks Marice!!! CHeers!

[shawngbc]

Shawn,

The third column of your site isn't working correctly in IE7 on a 19" monitor. Could just be me, but it ends going all the way to the bottom of the page leaving a lot of emply space near the top and looking very awkward near the bottom.

Yes I know, i'm still working on the site, i would like to have adv and or sponsor space on the bottom but thanks for pointing that out.

Also the right hand column is filled too much with widgets and im trying to take away few.

Cheers!

[shawngbc]

re useable stuff. .. nappies, wipes etc I am a mother and want to reduce my throw away stuff. Reusuable stuff is not so good because once you buy something you don't need another because you are reusuing the product over and over again. :eek:

I use organic or no chemical cleaning and beauty. This is a good market because once they buy and like your products then they have to buy and buy again from you. You keep your customers who buy again and again then you can use them to get more customers.:D

I definitely agree! resuable product involves alot of management on the supply chain, i prefer simple easy management and residual opportunities, do you have any recommendations?

[shawngbc]

Sven, I think you overlooked the word green above. It's one thing for something to be organic(this is usually aimed at something for contact or consumption by people) it's another for it to be green(good for the environment). My point is that the two words are two different concepts.


P.S. this forum needs a cheers smiley.

SMILEY IT IS!!!

Thanks for the comment, and i think you have a point. However we are dealing with like minds. it would be parallel industry but will it ever criss cross?

[shawngbc]

As someone who is concerned with my effect on the environment and my environment's effect on me, I am interested in finding more "organic" personal hygeine products. I want stuff that isn't made from a chemistry lab, but comes from natural ingredients. Maybe bigger isn't better (ever looked on your shampoo bottle, the most common ingredient is water), so if you make a smaller shampoo that lasts just as long, that might be the way to go.
I guess those are my suggestions: hygeine products made from natural ingredients (soap, shampoo, shaving cream, deodorant, toothpaste); and the way to sell it might be make a "concentrated form" like the laundry detergent market did. It's a smaller bottle, but it lasts twice as long (just don't include as much water!)

You are a perfect example of my target audience. Cheers!