Like most websites, we need a sustainable revenue model if we are to be sustainable as an offering. So, we thought we'd ask the smartest people on the site...you! Is there a service we could provide you that you would pay for? Or is there a customer group we should approach that would not negativel impact the ethos of Celsias? Speak, we're listening!
Hi everyone, just a thought. Most community based projects advertise and generate revenue through selling t-shirts and various clothing items from mugs to jackets.
Selling Celsias branded clothing would spread the word and at the same time be a quick way to generate funds.
This venture doesn’t necessarily have to be a daunting task. There is a website that offers a service that could take a lot of the effort out. They print and ship you just design.
This particular website lets you set up a shop for free and sell your t-shirts or mugs or whatever. They have the clothing already available, you simply put your stamp on it and they ship it out. I'm sure there are more options but this is just one.
The only cost I can see is management of the shop or perhaps if you were to hire a graphic designer to design the products. Alternatively you could start a competition on Celsias to come up with designs.
Just a thought. I know I wouldn’t mind wearing a Celsias t-shirt or having a Celsias mug.
Written in November 2008
Sounds good to me as long as the T shirts are organic fair trade cotton. Is there a preferable mug choice?
Written in November 2008
There seems to be just a large mug offered. I ran a quick search to see whats there and came up with this one.
http://mugs.cafepress.com/item/wolf-mates-large...
On the organic fare trade cotton issue i have no idea but i have emailed the site to ask for more information on the source of their materials and how clothing is manufactured and so on. Will keep you posted.
Written in November 2008
I realize I run the risk of angering people when I post this, but really, there is gray area here. The world is not yet entirely run on sustainable energy.
Green websites aren't all powered by alternative energy power, the people that write for them are not all living in perfectly sustainable housing or living perfectly green existences. We're all in the process of making important changes, spreading the word, educating and using our passions for the environment to make good things happen.
But no choice is going to be perfect. I mean, I work for a company that sells solar panels and wind turbines and those still get shipped by trucks and boats that negatively impact the environment. Does that mean we stop shipping?
I'm all for being true to what one believes in and I think a site like Celsias can do that while being true to its intentions - even if every decision it makes is not "green" perfect.
At the end of the day, Celsias cannot sustain itself for free and we could all poke holes in every idea. I believe to a certain extent, the end, as long as it is not egregious, does justify the means.
Advertisers are learning that there is a group of people, that is growing every day, who believe that "green" is critical - and those that are greenwashing now will ultimately be forced into compliance as watchdog groups grow.
Maybe, in fact, we should consider building a business model out of being a watch dog - but we can't do that without some solid traffic, which is hard to get via donations and t-shirt sales.
As an internet marketing professional, I know what it takes to get that traffic - and it takes a lot of content, advertising dollars, press releases, a loyal readership and time. Time Celsias may not have without revenue coming in via advertisers, affiliate dollars or other methods.
So do we let a site like Celsias go out of business in the face of perfect green intentions? Or do we find a compromise that can help the voice ring true as we move toward finding a business model that could one day, be entirely green?
Written in November 2008
Very niely put, Blair. That was my thinking on selecting on a by-product - rather than company - basis. If you don't encourage people to be greener, they won't be. So support the initiatives, without being holier-than-thou about it. Otherwise you are only talking to the converted - and that's (sadly) still a very small percentage.
Written in November 2008
Hi folks,
I have to say that I like the pragmatic approach also. Encouragement, in my experience, can be much more effective than criticism. Although I really admire the conviction of many of the comments made here. I have to say Blair, I got kinda saddened when you mentioned "Time celsias may not have..."
Since I joined celsias I've learnt an awful lot from the people here. To be honest I couldn't imagine not logging onto celsias every day, reading the articles, sharing them with my friends on Digg and Facebook, and exchanging ideas with you folks.
Like every web site, celsias relies on traffic and that's something we can all help to boost, by sharing the articles we read and digging them. I had actually never used digg before I joined celsias. Now I send and receive diggs about some great articles every day.
Written in November 2008
CRobb W: Your comment makes it very plain that there are a very wide set of values represented here. The mugs are almost certainly not organic free trade, but made in a Chinese sweatshop.
Blair S: I was with you until you said "advertisers". As a slight generalisation, advertisers are unethical and use every trick in the book to manipulate people into buying product. No suprise that a lot of psychologists end up in the advertising profession.
Advertisers have identified "green" as a marketing tool, but there is a big difference between "being green" and "greeenwashing". A large % of the buying population don't actually care about the difference. They feel guilty and will buy the greenwashed product just to feel better, with no real caring whether the product is truly green or not.
People lurking on celsias are less likely to fall for a quick greenwash and are far more likely to make far more critical choices, still a light greenwashing is enough to satisfy most customers.
Now here's the biggest point of contention with buying a "greened" product (ie, one which is improved, but not "all the way there" green):
* On the plus side you should support that company for making an effort.
* On the negative side you need to think what has really happened in corporate land. Some market analysis folk identify that there is a group of customers who would respond to a greened product. The product development people try to answer the question: "What is the cheapest, lowest amount of greening we can do to this product to increase sales by x % into that market?". They then deliver that product. In other words, the buyers are a victim of profiling.
As you say, it is impossible to be perfectly green and it is a process to get there, maybe taking some interim steps that don't seem to fit with the green values.
Celsias needs to keep its loyal readership, many of whom have very honed green values. Non-green interim steps can look like hypocrisy. Thus it is important that some statement accompany the decision making to explain the decsions and why they have been taken.
Written in November 2008
Hello everyone, I emailed the people at Cafe Press to get more information on their t-shirts and they informed me that they have organic cotton t-shirts that are made in the USA.
This doesn’t necessarily mean to say that all t-shirts are the same. Some research on the café press site would be needed.
Here is an example of an organic cotton t-shirt for sale on their site:
http://t-shirts.cafepress.com/item/100-organic-...
Written in November 2008
This stream reminds me of why the Granolas won't be the one's to solve our problems. You guys have good intentions, but you are stuck in a Judeo-Christian mind frame where everything is about what people SHOULDN'T do. Don't travel on planes, don't drive cars, don't masturbate with petroleam jelly, don't blah blah blah. Get off your granola asses and come up with some ideas people! Think positive, think about what people should do. Everyone's sick of hearing your hippy ass trust fund judgements. Make an honest proposal. Your lame attempts at morality have grown tired. Bring something new to the table please!!!
Written in November 2008
Sponsor educational and fun tours to Alaska, artic circle to witness the methane release, glacier melting, permafrost melting, oil field damage, caribu and polar bears. Watch for Northern Lights and so on.
Written in December 2008
Provide consulting services, support, educational programs and materials to insurance companies. Teach continuing education classes on climate change and extreme weather. State Insurance Commissions have approved this subject for Continuing Educational Credits for renewing insurance licenses of insuance agents. Insurnace Companies are natural allies in fighting global warming because they are paying the bill for much of the consequences. Tornados, hurricanes, floods, fires, crop failure, hail are a few examples. Swiss Re insures most of the oil companies. They threatened to cancel their insurance unless they reduced their carbon footprint. And I bet you thought the oil companies were investing in alternative energies voluntarily. Insurance companies could provide grant money.
Written in December 2008
I think a green directory is a great idea (as John P mentioned above). You have a well ranked website that many businesses would pay to list themselves on I'm sure. Good luck
Written in August 2011
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