October 28, 2010
By the ZippyCart Shopping Cart Reviews Content Team
People looking to save the planet and save money at the same time now have a big collective bargaining tool: ethicalDeal.
Think of it like Groupon with an environmental focus. Just like the previous group-savings system, ethicalDeal offers subscribers a shot at a different promotion every day, but only if a minimum number of people all agree to take the deal. This is win-win in a number of ways for businesses who choose to partner with ethicalDeal, as founder Annalea Krebs stated in a recent interview with Greenmarketing.tv:
“Greenfinders,” not “dealfinders.” Everyone likes to save money, but ethicalDeal’s base is made up of consumers who have already chosen to live a cleaner, greener lifestyle. The ethicalDeal service helps greenhunters find new and interesting ways to live their values, while allowing businesses to directly reach a core audience of people who show the greatest chance of being repeat consumers (green stays green).
Low overhead. This also works two ways. First off, there’s no cost to the business just for partnering with ethicalDeal. The deal only goes through if a minimum number of members buy into it. Given this minimum, businesses can rest assured that if the deal does go through, then they have a guaranteed amount of business coming in as a result (interesting side note: over 60% of Groupon users end up spending more than their voucher at the retailer).
Publicity. EthicalDeal only spotlights one deal at a time, giving businesses maximum exposure for the duration of the deal. It also gives them a great platform to educate consumers on the virtues of their particular product or service (ethicalDeal prides itself on having great copywriters to get that point across). The fact that ethicalDeal members need a minimum number of participants in order to get a given deal off the ground means that members have a stake in spreading the word about the deal, which simultaneously spreads the word about the company.
With the proven success of Groupon, and the strong environmental spirit in Vancouver (it’s flagship location), ethicalDeal seems positioned for success, and plans to roll out in other cities across North America by next year.
Jack Cieslak grew up in New York State where he attended the New School, emerging with a degree in Creative Writing. Seattle drew him in with its focus on personal health and fitness, as well as the environment, and of course the great weather. Three-thousand miles later he is all dug in and ready to throw himself wholeheartedly into writing of all types - including reporting new developments in e-commerce, and places where social media and e-commerce cross paths. Jack revels in a challenge, whether it's writing, running, or lifting heavy objects - Jack says "bring it."
It’s nice to see more daily deal and group-buying sites cropping up that are conscious of the environment and people in need. This gives consumers a good feeling, while they are also able to save.
A great site to find deals and sales in your area is http://www.dailydealpool.com. They’ll send you a daily email with the best discounts and buys, so you don’t miss out on a chance to save!
Thanks for the great article and kind words! You’ve basically nailed it on the head in terms of our value proposition. We are excited to launch in Vancouver on Nov. 1 and look forward to cities across North America in the coming year!