11/22/02

Green Products Alliance Newsletter 11/22/02

Greetings Ya'll (all ya'll in some parts of the country)

I hope everyone is approaching the Holiday Season and New Year with a sense of optimism and advancement. Well, maybe not in the areas of environment and conservation, International Peace, separation of big business and government and fair taxation. Intelligent people question why digital/electronic voting showed a 16pt leap in Republican votes at the last minute in one district - defying all polls.

Remember; Enlightenment continues, with or without the US policy makers. And THAT is the important thing. My doctor is practicing Medicine, my lawyer is practicing the Law. We, all of us walking around, are practicing Enlightenment. I DO hope we get the hang of this thing quickly! Someone said that change in society occurs on the fringes, on the edges - THAT is where innovation happens. If we all keep doing what we do, and do it a little bit better everyday, we will be part of a growing movement toward Conscious Capitalism and a creating a Sustainable Society; and, becoming an oasis of prosperity in the process.

There is a profound trend in our Industry occurring right now -today, and it may effect your business dramatically. Natural Products are... almost Mainstream! You may smile and wonder if I just woke up or something - this started many years ago. But now, I am seeing Handmade soap in grocery stores! Quite a change. There are millions of people who want our stuff. How to best work together to get to those hungry consumers yearning for REAL natural products.

Trust me, not everyone in the world wants or cares about great, natural stuff. We ain't putting Proctor and Gamble out of business. We are however, effecting their growth curve. Things are polarized to a greater degree now. There is a lot of sleep walking going on out there, and also a lot of people questioning the picture. The products America buys are an expression of Lifestyle, Self Image, Personality, and Values. There is also a HUGE market for chemical sensitized people having trouble with conventional formulas and product bases. This only increases as we stretch out the last decades of the Petroleum Based Society.

Cross Marketing Follow Up

This email drew more responses than anything else to date. I have edited and pasted your anonymous comments below.

Take a few minutes to read them please. My comments, synopsis, and brainstorm are below.

YES 1) Customer List Swap - YES 2) Goodie Bag YES 3) Group Catalog

YES 4) Block Booth YES 5) Canvas GPA "flags". The biggest ting I need is time >>>>

1) Customer List Swap - no cost way to cooperatively market our goods. This is a good way to begin working together. possibly

2) Goodie Bag -.not clear how this one works, don't want to do samples

3) Group Catalog - can manage at the $25 end suggest needs one person to manage this - not me!

4) Block Booth and/or Block Section at Natural Products Expo East 2003 possible interest depends on pricing and structure

We would definitely be interested in the 1st and 2nd co-op idea, on the last one will it be cheaper the more people sign on? Say if you had all the companies, is that 15 or so? How much would it cost then? We could swing $25 a month but not much more, but great idea. It would be great to one day have a small eco friendly group catalog.

First of all - not to get your hopes up - I am too busy and spread too thin ($$) to participate in any of your great GPA ideas right now... wait until after the holidays for me to be able to even contemplate these ideas.

I'm writing to thank you (a bit belatedly) for coming out with the new, smaller, GPA logo JPG. It's perfect.

He is interested in some of the marketing ideas you have expressed. He really hasn't had a chance to look over the information very closely, as yet.

Group Catalog for me!

You have some great suggestions! We're on board for customer swap list goodie bag group catalog!!

I like all the ideas. The two I favor most are 3 and 1. I'll go how the crowd goes.

Customer Swap List - No, can't do that..... I have committed never to share my list. Goodie Bag - possibly but not able to on a continuous basis as I think you would need. Group Catalog - I would be able to commit to one year at $500. This is my preference in all the categories you suggested. I would consider putting in more if it's printed on tree-free paper : ) Blocked Booth Space at Expo - I will probably never be able to attend or to help work, so other than financial support for GPA, that's all I could do but I certainly feel it's a great opportunity for the overall good. GPA flag/banner - Great price, sound reasonable - sign me up for four when available.

Good ideas. We would be interested in participating in #s 1 and 4, and we could probably use another flag. Since we are tiny and shoestring right now, we couldn't do #s 2 or 3 at present.

The group section at the next Expo East would be an excellent idea. I think the GPA designation is a crucial point of distinction in establishing an alternative to the very murky standards of "natural" and even "organic." It lets buyers and end users know that member companies' products meet a higher standard.

Thanks also for the newsletters -- appreciated

1) Customer List Swap - My list is comparatively small, and doubt any one cares! But if you want it, OK, just doesn't to me have the same impact as a group effort.

2) Goodie Bag - Can do this - I like this idea better than just the list swap, I don't have a staff.

3) Group Catalog -

I like this idea best, as a 'block' because I think if we offer independent stores a choice, in one easy catalogue (versus all of us sending our pieces separately bombarding the customer) with some good PR up front about us being 'independent and innovative alliance, setting the natural standard', big enough to offer great selection, small enough to offer superior quality and service. I don't know about anyone else, but my company is not a good fit in the consolidation crazy existing distributor arena. I am too small volume wise. This catalogue gives us a chance to shine, and establishes the Alliance as a real entity, and offers store owners (especially co-op's) a choice. Store owners have a lot to do, and like catalogues for the convenience. It would be hard work, but inevitably will be good for all. Think of the PR it could generate for all of us. Also, a catalogue would be great for wellness centers & spas.

4) Block Booth and/or Block Section at Natural Products Expo East 2003

I am anti trade show at this point. I will have to think long and hard before I do another one, and I would lean towards a spa show.

> 1) Customer List Swap - YES > 2) Goodie Bag - NOT SURE WHAT THIS IS.....IE. 1/4oz item???? > PLEASE EXPLAIN > 3) Group Catalog OPEN TO THIS - > AS YOU SAID, THIS WOULD BE THE HARDEST BUT COULD BE VERY EFFECTIVE....... > 4) Block Booth and/or Block Section at Natural Products Expo East 2003....YES IF PRICE COMPARES OR IS BETTER THAN A TABLE TOP($1000 THIS YEAR.....GOING UP TO $1500 NEXT YEAR - OF COURSE!!) How about Expo West?

I'm also into the whole catalog/mailing/co-op thing - I'm just so swamped

I think all sound good but 2 and 3 sound best, only because for me, my customer list is now not great and I feel I wouldn't be offering enough to the group

For me, #1 makes the most sense. As I said before, my target market is VERY specific.

We are definitely interested in participating in a co-op mail project. Either type or both. Thanks for taking the initiative to "get the ball rolling" on this. Count us in!

I am interested in a part of a booth, please let me know costs and other details.

I would be interested in the co-op mailing group too. Let me know when and how it will all work, when you need the money etc. Sent check out for the banner.

Re: co-op adv...let me know which way others want to go with it....$50usd is like $80cnd which is a large monthly commitment.

Re: co-op adv...let me know which way others want to go with it....$50usd is like $80cnd which is a large monthly commitment.

I would like to participate in the co-op mailing. Also, I am still very interested in Expo West. 1/2 booth space would work well for me. I have been talking to the people there but sales have been slow (starting to pick up now). I just can't afford $4,000 for a booth. Let me know what is going on with that also.

I like the catalog idea. Count Way Out Wax as one of the ten. We already have our booth assignment for NPEE 2003. We are booth #3916 by Tom's of Maine and Jason. Do you have a booth cluster reserved yet?

Hi Larry...your idea of co-op catalogue is great. I guess the only thing difficult with it is the cost. A commitment of $50 a is lots for a small biz. Would you be able to share who it is mailed out to so we can follow up?

Just no way I could do Expo East and sounds like maybe that was the best decision for now. Like you I do better following up on my own contacts versus taking the time, travel and money out to do the shows. But it is a Catch -22, as you know.

Anyway, with the economy tanking and more big business names coming out everyday 'Olay Ohm anyone', with Glade aromatherapy, I agree with your focus on allying with the natural retailers. Love the co-op idea! It sounds like you have given this some serious thought. As one of the smaller companies, I would still put up $50 a month to do the catalogue, sounds like a good investment of marketing dollars. How would this be set up?

I AM ALL FOR THE CO-OP CATALOG!! TELL ME MORE...

Synopsis:

Swap Customer Lists: 6 yes plus 1 or 2 maybe

Co-op Catalog: 13 yes This got the most interest and Enthusiasm by far

Trade Show Presence: Expo East 5 and a maybe, Expo West 2

Goodie Bag Co-op mailing: Looks like 8 or more. Many people indicated interest in some kind of co-op mailing, maybe this or something else.

GPA Flags: 19 left! At least 3 interested parties...

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OK - What I am getting is that a lot of us want to do SOMETHING to kick up sales, like the idea of working together, but many have more heart than marketing dollars...How am I doing?

Here's a way (this is rough so add your comments please):

We pool our consumer email addresses and send an emailed Green Products Alliance Good Companies Buying Guide

Short description of GPA and what we do, then links to participating companies (logo and description)

Tell them to save this email, or mark our website in their favorites folder, so they can refer back to the guide throughout the year. Suggest they forward this email to people who care about creating a sustainable society for us all.

This is my best almost no budget idea. It is possible to get this out within a week and hit the Holiday Rush. If we had a budget, we could buy email addresses in our category.....maybe on the next one.

If you want to do this with me email back quick. If it is a dumb idea - let me have it.

Expo East People: If you are Definitely going - let's do this. I would Love to get a bunch of us in the same area! We have to put something together while there are still decent booths available. If you have an assignment, please let me know the #, and if you would Consider another booth if it was also a good one.

Soapman

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