E-commerce going Green

darrenwis · Jan 6, 2008

Hi everyone,

My new business is soon to launch (www.tots2kids.co.uk) and when sending out orders we are doing our bit to save the environment by not including a paper invoice. The customer can log into their account and see it online or request a paper invoice free of charge. This is clearly stated on the website under the FAQ's and I believe being an educational toys website this is quite an important factor.
My question is by doing this is there any logo I can put on site to be recognised as doing my bit to make the world greener.

Look forward to your replies.

Darren

katej · Jan 6, 2008

For that reason alone you wont be able to put any logo on your website. However you may want to have a section on your website about your environmental/eco policies and list them. Is there anything else you do- i.e use reclaimed packaging when packing orders, recycle /compost, save energy in your workplace.

If you look at my site 'GreenFinder' all companies listed have to provide a green policy. I'm afraid just having a paperless invoice wont really cut it but it is a good starting point. Perhaps think about other things you could do to make your business green. Most thing you can do will actually save you money in the long run.

Kate
GreenFinder

darrenwis · Jan 6, 2008

katej said:
For that reason alone you wont be able to put any logo on your website. However you may want to have a section on your website about your environmental/eco policies and list them. Is there anything else you do- i.e use reclaimed packaging when packing orders, recycle /compost, save energy in your workplace.

If you look at my site 'GreenFinder' all companies listed have to provide a green policy. I'm afraid just having a paperless invoice wont really cut it but it is a good starting point. Perhaps think about other things you could do to make your business green. Most thing you can do will actually save you money in the long run.

Kate
GreenFinder

Ok i will continue thinking, the thing is at present this is a part time venture so as far as recycling etc... I do this in the home but my business is my home? Do that count? And I have energy saving light bulbs

katej · Jan 6, 2008

Yes, list things like that as part of your green policies. If your home is your workplace then it does count.

Kate
GreenFinder

gibby · Jan 6, 2008

we used to do this but it caused problems with customers as sometimes they dont bother to check what they got when it came & then contacted us later as if they ahd had the stuff

also occasionally couriers make a mess of things and we found they split the packaging and couldnt track where the parcel came from - so missing orders

we find an order note with more info also saves alot of phone calls with daft questions - all of it is on our site but once we put the returns notes etc on the order notes alot of phone calls stopped

we still have alot of customers who are not on the net

G

darrenwis · Jan 6, 2008

gibby said:
we used to do this but it caused problems with customers as sometimes they dont bother to check what they got when it came & then contacted us later as if they ahd had the stuff

also occasionally couriers make a mess of things and we found they split the packaging and couldnt track where the parcel came from - so missing orders

we find an order note with more info also saves alot of phone calls with daft questions - all of it is on our site but once we put the returns notes etc on the order notes alot of phone calls stopped

we still have alot of customers who are not on the net

G

Hi Gibby,

We are 100% on the internet and being in the industry we are and the way things are going in the world i think most of our customers would be ok with this.

All our products are required to have a signature via RM so we can find out who signed for it etc. Some products are also dropshipped so although i will have the queries the dropshipper holds responsibility for these items.

I understand where you are coming from tho, in a different market i think i would include the invoice etc. The website is up on e-commerce forum to review if you'd be so kind.

Kind Regards.

Darren

Chris Ashdown · Jan 6, 2008

I think if you sold Green or Trade friendly goods then you would be on the right track but a quick look at you site seems to offer non of the above

On my own side of things, I still see the green thing as a good idea but a marketing con by most firms and companies in that they agree to the princible of paying over the market price by a few pence to help the producers but then make large markups over that small increase themselves so something that would have costed say £1 to buy they give £1.05 and then where originally they would sell it at say £1.50in the UK they now charge £2.50 or more, which doesn't help the original supplier as selling at say £1.55 in the UK they could possibly sell many more and really help them where as the higher price puts many customers off

Help the thrid world suppliers by all means but don't rip of the customer at this end and still claim you are a green company

darrenwis · Jan 6, 2008

Chris Ashdown said:
I think if you sold Green or Trade friendly goods then you would be on the right track but a quick look at you site seems to offer non of the above

On my own side of things, I still see the green thing as a good idea but a marketing con by most firms and companies in that they agree to the princible of paying over the market price by a few pence to help the producers but then make large markups over that small increase themselves so something that would have costed say £1 to buy they give £1.05 and then where originally they would sell it at say £1.50in the UK they now charge £2.50 or more, which doesn't help the original supplier as selling at say £1.55 in the UK they could possibly sell many more and really help them where as the higher price puts many customers off

Help the thrid world suppliers by all means but don't rip of the customer at this end and still claim you are a green company

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the reply, an interesting point you make, however, from a personal point of view I can assure you this is not to 'rip off the customer'. I believe the amount of paper that is wasted everyday is unbelievable and if I was to post out invoice after invoice wouldn't I be adding to it.

Your email seems very harsh when you think I am in the educational industry. Our aim is give young ones the best possible start and I know I'd want my children to grow up in a healthy atmosphere.

As a business we want to be a green as possible and although this maybe seen as a marketing ploy it is actually from a personal point of view why i'm doing it.

Kind Regards.
Darren

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