
I wanted to give all of you an update on some very exciting developments here at Green Gifts. I have applied and been approved for a Kiva Loan, they do crowdsourced microloans for small businesses. We just entered the "Public Funding" Phase and are over 40% of the way to our fundraising goal. This loan will be used to procure and outfit a trailer to be able to set up pop up refill stations at various locations throughout Northern California. I am trying to network to find about 15-20 community partners that would be willing to allow me space to set up and return at least monthly.
These pop ups are meant to not only allow community members to be able to fill their own containers with natural home and personal cleaners, eliminating the need for more plastic bottles to be created, but also to test systems and products and conduct research that will make it easier to help other budding zero waste entrepreneurs avoid hurdles and be able to expand their business quickly and serve more customers. I will also be branding the trailer and my vehicle so that they can be used to spread the word about waste free options.
My hope is to also be able to soon purchase a Tesla Model X, an electric vehicle capable or towing a trailer full of product between manufacturers and zero waste retailers. This will eliminate much of the emissions associated with shipping product and cut some of the costs to the retailer. It has been important to me that pre-covid I had been driving out to any West Coast based vendor to pick up my orders directly. This was part to save on cost of shipping, but mostly it was to that I could meet these business owners, see their operation and form a relationship. I also love knowing that driving my EV means I am saving on emissions from shipping. When I have the trailer and longer range EV, I hope to visit manufacturers and shops all over North America.
I want to thank everyone that has contributed to the Kiva loan, it is very very appreciated. I look forward to continuing to grow my business and encouraging others to join in this fast growing industry of helping our communities to become more efficient and less wasteful. Together we can lessen out impact on the environment and evolve retail.
These pop ups are meant to not only allow community members to be able to fill their own containers with natural home and personal cleaners, eliminating the need for more plastic bottles to be created, but also to test systems and products and conduct research that will make it easier to help other budding zero waste entrepreneurs avoid hurdles and be able to expand their business quickly and serve more customers. I will also be branding the trailer and my vehicle so that they can be used to spread the word about waste free options.
My hope is to also be able to soon purchase a Tesla Model X, an electric vehicle capable or towing a trailer full of product between manufacturers and zero waste retailers. This will eliminate much of the emissions associated with shipping product and cut some of the costs to the retailer. It has been important to me that pre-covid I had been driving out to any West Coast based vendor to pick up my orders directly. This was part to save on cost of shipping, but mostly it was to that I could meet these business owners, see their operation and form a relationship. I also love knowing that driving my EV means I am saving on emissions from shipping. When I have the trailer and longer range EV, I hope to visit manufacturers and shops all over North America.
I want to thank everyone that has contributed to the Kiva loan, it is very very appreciated. I look forward to continuing to grow my business and encouraging others to join in this fast growing industry of helping our communities to become more efficient and less wasteful. Together we can lessen out impact on the environment and evolve retail.