Melbourne

Smart Company released an article early Feb saying small medium enterprises (SME) have no real reason to green up their business practices because consumers aren’t demanding them to do so. (http://www.smartcompany.com.au/climate-change/20100211-smes-say-customers-don-t-care-about-their-green-credentials.html)
LETS SHOW THEM AS CONSUMERS WE DO CARE!!! However, rather than demanding them (using the stick)…let use the Carrot to encourage and support SME to make some changes. And the good news is:
“The survey also looked at what would encourage companies to become greener. Consumer demand for greener products was the biggest motivator (82% of respondents), followed by tax incentives for R&D for low-carbon products and services (77%) and rising energy bills (71%).”

It’s easy!..Next time you take your green bag to your local grocery store..ask these simple questions:

- where do you keep your fair trade (product)?

- where is your organic (product)?

And the more they hear these questions being asked by their customers…the more they’ll see that their customers are interested to buy these products! But to make it really count, purchase the item so they can see the difference when it comes to stocktaking.

We have just added a few resources for both consumers and businesses to have a look at. Hopefully this will be a useful tool for you to understand how you can make a positive difference to the environment and socially..Please look on the Resource page (found on the right bottom panel.

Consumers, have a read of the ‘Ethical Consumers Guide’ and take it with you on your next supermarket trip, it will surely make you shop with a conscience. Use your dollar to create positive outcomes!! You can make a difference any day and everyday!!

We are gearing up to have a few local grocery stores undergo assessments shortly and then to start marketing our first event.

Unfortunately we might need to push the event date back to earlyApril, soorrryyyyy everyone whos been waiting for an event to happen in March…..We are disappointed as well….but we’ll definitely keep you posted!!

Carrotmob Melbourne has been busy spreading the word these past few weeks!!

Our info event on the 13th went really well!! We had Jason Cox from the Moreland Energy Foundation came to talk about case studies of some practical changes businesses can make in their business to reduce energy consumption. We also had John McRae from Revium talk about many various sustainable actions they had taken at their workplace to do their bit for the environment and the community. After hearing both the speakers, our guests and the carrotmob team were all excited and positive in the changes we can make as consumers to help businesses when we organise where we shop.  The Carrotmob team certainly became much more knowledgeable and confident to make follow ups with local grocery stores. Video and resources from the info event will become available soon on our blog site.

Those of you in Boroondara probably saw our faces in the Progress Leader 3 weeks ago. We are on the roll to get more publicity for Carrotmob Melbourne! Keep an eye out for us in more media places.

We were also present at the Sustainable Living Festival last weekend at Federation Square. We got to speak to lots of festival visitors and caught many people’s interest. Triple R radio (102.7 FM) did a plug about Carrotmob during their show at the Festival and that got a few people coming over to speak to us! We also gave a snapshot of carrotmob on 3CR radio (855AM).  Listen to the interview on podcast from Thursday on 3CR’s website (http://www.3cr.org.au/podcasts)!

So what’s Next??? We will be revisting businesses this week and stir up the bidding game! We will ask assessors to audit our top 2 or 3 businesses and whichever business offers the highest percentage of profit from the carrotmob event will get a big visit from the MOB!

Keep a close eye on this blog ’cause we’re aiming to run MELBOURNE’S FIRST CARROTMOB EVENT IN MARCH!!!! So start gettin the word out to  all your friends and family to come down to Boroondara and HAVE FUN MOBBING a local grocery store!!!!!!!!!!!

Check out our latest video…
Video

Want to participate in Melbourne’s first Carrotmob event? Follow us on this blogsite to stay tuned. Or, you can email us at carrotmobmelbourne@gmail.com and we will add you to our mailing list!

What do you think? Also, while we continue to visit local grocery stores, we want to know what you think are the most important things that grocery shops should change…Submit your thoughts via the poll on the right hand side of the website.

TRAIN: Glenferrie Train Station is the best stop (Alamain, Lilydale or Belgrave line)
TRAM: #72
PARKING: Street parking around the cafe should be available

View Larger Map

The Melbourne mob will be hosting a “Carrotmob – Your Vote to Launch It” event on the 13th Feb.

The event will expain the carrotmob concept and we will be inviting a local small business to talk about their journey to sustainability. We will also be asking you to vote on a few crucial decision breakers to provide direction for our first carrotmob event. Our first carrotmob event will be held sometime in March or April.

Date: 13th February

Time: 11am – 1pm

Venue: Caffe Sospeso, 428 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn

Finger foods provided but not drinks.

Carrot Mob Melbourne is currently wondering the streets of Boroondara to pick out businesses in the Food category to start the bidding game!!

We will be updating this blog quite often, so don’t forget to come back and see what we’re up to!

Carrot Mob Melbourne Team

– Carrots, not stick –