Ethicalonestopshop.com was launched in August 2005 with the aim to make it as easy as possible for people to shop ethically. www.ethicalonestopshop.com

By joining this company, you will be  joining many big brand ethical names, including Ecover and Lavera. You can be a part of this business, all for FREE!!!

 NO JOINING FEE!

 NO HOSTING FEE!

NO ADVERTISING FEE!

How it works?

All you have to do it upload the product as a CSV file or you can add new products manually. We will then negotiate the commission together. When customer orders a product from the website, an email will be sent to you, you will then log in to secure the  website for payment and you will dispatch the product to the customer!

 To join follow this link  http://ethicalonestopshop.com/eoss/joinus/d/retailers+join+us/  

 ethicalonestopshop is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Natalie Barnwell of Eco Ezee Ltd named one of the Future 100 Young Social Entrepreneurs for 2009 

Natalie Barnwell founder and Managing Director of Eco Ezee Limited is announced as one of the Future 100 Young Social Entrepreneurs of the Year during Global Entrepreneurship Week 2009.

Global Entrepreneurship Week is looking to unleash people’s enterprising ideas to tackle some of society’s biggest issues such as climate change, poverty, gender equality and health.

The Future 100 Awards puts the spotlight on young people aged 18-35 who are demonstrating entrepreneurial flair and innovation in running a responsible business venture; one which demonstrates a balance between economic, environmental and social goals to achieve ultimate business success. 

Founder of Striding Out and organiser of the Future100 awards, Heather Wilkinson said: “The future of our world is in the hands of individuals who are committed to generating commercial and ethical returns. 

Challenging economic times can offer opportunities to question the way we operate as both a business community and a society. We are profiling the ‘Future 100′ young entrepreneurs who are changing the face of everyday business and improve commerce’s impact on the wider world.”

The Future 100 awards encourages and rewards extraordinary vision, ethical business practice and social responsibility. They aim to showcase businesses that offer innovative and sustainable solutions to social problems. The Future 100 Awards is organized by Striding Out www.stridingout.co.uk, a social enterprise which is committed to supporting the development and growth of young and ethical entrepreneurs.

Eco Ezee Limited is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

The last year has been a period of stark reflection. More than ever before people are acutely aware that our entire economic and business systems have been predicated on one thing alone – the need to create wealth.

As well as the financial imperative, what is increasingly clear is that an economic system based only on the need to maximise profit is not fit for purpose in a world with finite resources.

The danger is that, deep public unease and a tinkering at the edges by policy-makers aside, we could all too easily revert back to conducting business as usual.

The self-serving characteristics of the banking system have been the most publicised enemies of the public, but it has also become clear that a business environment dominated by monopoly plcs has resulted in a distrust of this traditional kind of business model.

Having narrowly avoided disaster, it is imperative that we learn lessons from the last twelve months to rebuild a financial system and business sector that presents the public with genuine choice.

Co-operatives represent a real alternative.

Formed to serve the interests of members, co-operatives are associations of people, not capital. And anyone can be a member. This means that by design, co-operatives are more accountable.

Vitally, enshrined in their founding principles, is the need for co-operatives to secure long-term growth, not short-term profits making them arguably more resilient and sustainable business models. This isn’t to say they don’t make profits.  But as well as paying member dividends, profits from co-operatives are reinvested back into the business.

In addition, they have to deliver employee, societal and environmental benefits and to trade on an ethical basis.  In fact their basic operating policies would shame any plc’s glossy and well publicised Corporate Social Responsibility plan.

The attraction of co-operatives has been born out by the experience of the UK (and the world’s) largest consumer co-operative, the Co-operative Group. Bucking all the trends, its bank recorded a 68% increase in current accounts being opened during the credit crisis and its retail arm has also recorded a 23% increase in food sales. People are voting with their feet (and their wallets).

Not every business can or should operate as a co-operative.  But seeing a growth in the co-operatives sector and the adoption of more co-operative principles by businesses with more traditional structures could certainly improve things – not just for business leaders, but for everyone.

Co-operatives may not be the answer to all our problems but they can certainly help solve one of the most talked about issues of the last 12 months – how to balance profit making with sustainable business ethics.

Forster is working with the Co-operative Group to examine the role of, and potential for, co-operatives in the aftermath of the economic crisis.  Read the report ‘After the Crash; Building a new economic future the co-operative way’.

Forster is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

A recent research report from the EMCC (European Monitoring Centre on Change) stressed the importance of businesses to cultivate “anticipatory awareness” and flexibility in building resilience to change.  How does this translate into straightforward, practical steps that a small business can take to help it “thrive come what may?”

If you’re already running your small business sustainably (i.e. in accordance with the triple bottom line – people, planet, profit) then you’re well on the way to establishing resilience in your business. There is, however, another vital ingredient for sustainable small businesses to take on board in order to ensure that we can respond effectively and quickly to unforeseen changes. This essential business quality is known as “holism”.

What is a Holistic Business?

“The whole is more than the sum of its parts.” Aristotle

Awareness

A holistic business is one that operates in the awareness of the importance and interrelatedness of all of its parts and of its integration with its physical, community and business environments.

One way we can understand the interrelatedness of business parts is by using the holistic view of the human form – mind, body and soul.

Mind

We can think of the “mind” of a business as being its collection of plans, strategies, logistics and management systems (financial, marketing, distribution etc). So, just like in a human, it’s the thinking, rational part of the business.

Body

We can think of the “body” of a business as being its resources, materials and stock, physical environment, employees, business relationships, premises etc. It’s the company’s physical manifestation in the world.

Soul

We can think of the “soul” of a business as its values; those qualities that are the most important reasons for its existence, aside from earning a living for those employed by it. This is usually communicated in the form of a mission statement and spells out, in the case of a sustainable business, how the company is making a positive contribution to humanity and the planet.

Within the business, these three elements are interconnected. You will probably know from experience that whatever you do to change a management system (business mind), for example, will have an impact on your material resources (business body). Also, that it’s a good idea, when making business decisions (business mind), to refer to your mission statement (business soul) to ensure that whatever you decide to do will keep you on track with your business purpose.

The business, rather than existing in isolation, is intricately linked to its physical environment and the community it serves and that it operates in.  A business can be said to be holistic when it recognises itself as a significant, interdependent element in its environment.

So, how does the “sum of the parts” become more than “the whole” and how does it help us to respond to unforeseen circumstances?

By recognising the interconnectness of these internal and external elements, we become more aware of how everything we do within and outside the business has the potential to create or destroy, to serve or to consume. So, a holistic and sustainable business not only adheres to the triple bottom line, but it also behaves authentically, congruently, ethically and with integrity. It recognises that what it gives to the outside world, also benefits itself. The two cannot be separated.

Paradoxically, because of this interrelatedness and synergy, each business is also unique in its business requirements. With small businesses in particular, the company is often a reflection of the values, character and personality of the business owner or management team. This doesn’t mean that the Managing Director is the only person in the business whose ideas count, or that it is run dictatorially. Rather, it indicates just how personal and inspiring business ventures can be and just how much potential there is to effect positive and creative change using business as a vehicle.

Flexibility

Flexibility in business is about having choices. When faced with the downturn of a market we’re serving, we need to be able to diversify. When looking for new opportunities, we need to have the ideas, the energy and the resources to follow them up and convert them into something tangible. By running our businesses holistically, we become aware on a daily basis of the big picture of our business – the place it occupies in the world and it’s interrelatedness to all things internal and external. This is the approach that allows us to unearth countless possibilities for change, growth and development. This is the approach that feeds our creativity, imagination and motivation. So, it is a model that fully supports flexibility in our small businesses and therefore the capacity for resilience.

Conclusion

Sustainability plus holism leads to resilience, for small businesses.

By using this insight to cultivate awareness and flexibility in our business ventures, we can quickly respond to changes and opportunities and recover from setbacks in a fruitful way.

© Sally Lever 2009. www.sallylever.co.uk

Sally Lever works with those who aspire to live more simply and with less stress or who are running sustainable small businesses. She offers one-to-one coaching, workshops for groups and writes a blog.

Sally Lever is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

The week sees the launch of a new green pages website for the Midlands region. ‘The Midlands Green Pages’ covers the counties of central England and enables the public to find green businesses in their local area, as well as information about living a green lifestyle.

The website provides a regional directory which lists environmentally friendly companies, organisations, services and products. From where to buy cloth nappies to finding information about woodland burial sites, green gifts and eco wedding services, all this and more can be found on the website.

‘The Midlands Green Pages’ will also include the latest green news stories, local campaigns and will include details of local green events.
 
Website founder Kate Haines founder of the national eco website ‘GreenFinder’ is based in Leamington Spa where she runs both websites from her dining room table. She said ‘Since setting up GreenFinder almost three years ago I’ve met a great many small business owners based in the midlands like myself who work from small shops, studios or home offices that provide great green services and products’

‘Being a Midlander born and bred and being passionate about the ‘shop local, shop green message’ I thought it was the ideal time to set up a regional green directory. Every pound spent with a local supplier or business is worth £1.76 to the local economy yet only 36 pence if it is spent out of the area so it’s really important for the economy of the Midlands that Midlanders support their local businesses.

Click here to visit the Midlands Green Pages

GreenFinder is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

We’re delighted to announce that GreenSteps Natural Eco-Paint is finally on the shelves at 61 Tesco stores nationwide. A genuinely eco-friendly paint from an Ethical Junction member at a high street store. It’s our objective to make eco-friendly products part of the mainstream and by buying the paint, you’ll help us to offer more genuine eco-products in the same way in future. You can see an interactive map to find your nearest stocking store at www.greensteps.co.uk/paint.

GreenSteps paint is:

• VOC free
• Solvent free 
• Non-toxic 
• Easy to use
• Highly durable and 
• Breathable.

Available in a pure White and a warm Magnolia, it offers a genuinely healthy and environmentally friendly choice and it’s great value at only £17 for 2.5L. Go to www.greensteps.co.uk/paint for more details.

GreenSteps Limited is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Our mission is to increase your revenue at no cost to you!

We GIVE you an e-commerce bookshop, customised for your audience, filled with literally millions of books;

You GIVE us the opportunity to offer this service to your members;

We GIVE you 50%, yes HALF, of the profits earned on every book sold through your shop (that’s £2 on an average £10 book).

You GIVE your members a truly useful service.

There is no catch and it’s FREE!

What’s more we do most of the work.

How do we do it? 

We break the mould of online bookselling and revenue-generation by bringing them together. 

Our evolution of online fundraising is a revolution in affiliate marketing.

Your supporters, members and/or customers will respond to your expertise as expressed in the wide selection of relevant books in your store.

The power of the web lets us harness a huge catalogue of books to our unique business model thus providing a service your users will love.

The team at Eclector has decades of experience in publishing, bookselling, e-commerce, marketing and charity management, all of which is at your service!.

Your own Bookshop in Three Easy Steps

Our shops come with all the data for every book readily available in the UK.

Step One: Provide images and your logo for your bookshop’s home page.  Then choose its colour scheme.

Step Two: We organise your shop’s menus according to your wishes and fill them with all the books relevant to the Institute’s and its members’ interests.

Step Three: Link to the bookshop from as many relevant places as possible in your website and market the shop to your supporters by email and post.

You are now open for business!

Your shop presents your supporters with the best and most relevant selection of books.

They can also buy any other book readily available in the UK.

Every book purchased through your shop makes a significant contribution to your organisation (this contribution can be shown under each book).

Orders from your shop go straight to our suppliers.

They despatch them to anywhere in the world.

We manage all transactions and customer service.

At any time, you can log in to the admin section of your shop to see how sales are going and add, delete or edit menus, books and discounts.

You can do what you like with your half of the gross profit – keep it all or share it with your members/supporters via the discounts you set.  Every month or quarter we pay you the contribution your sales have generated.

E-marketing can significantly grow the traffic to, and therefore the revenue from your bookshop.

Search Engine Optimisation can get your bookshop’s listing of individual books high up in search results.

Email marketing can include books which when clicked take the reader back to that book’s page in your shop.

For a modest fee – collected from the contribution your sales make – we can help you with this process.

Check out who’s using our stores at http://www.eclector.co.uk

Eclector Ltd is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Over the last few weeks, some messages have been trickling out form a man I have admired hugely for years. Messages that made me think things were not good.  Frankly, when founder of a company you love tells you he’s leaving, it’s hard not to be disturbed.

This post http://brainfood.howies.co.uk/2009/10/11295/ from David Hieatt of howies has had me in tears every time I read it. You see, I love howies, I have loved them since I first saw their ‘brandwashed’ slogan T shirt (which I have STILL not managed to get hold of). I love that they ooze passion and love and commitment and thoughtfulness and tenderness and care and joy and play.  I love their no quibble officer dibble guarantee and the rocking chair test. And their Chevron bag and bike tyre belts. And when I had the chance to meet David and Claire at the DO lectures in 2008, I was as star struck as when I stood next to Shami Chakrabati at a protest. Or as star struck as I might have been had I ever had the chance to meet New Kids on the Block when I was about 12.

David has left howies, the company he and Claire set up and have poured their lives into.   Reading his words, ‘If you find something you love, you should never sell your love.’ sent me googling and the hairs on the back of my neck atingling. And thinking, ‘Please no, please no, please don’t let howies be sold.’

I found out that my fandom had been rather lax and that on the 4th December 2006, David had announced on the howies brainfood pages that they were selling part of the business to Timberland. Other pages I found hinted that a majority stake was sold, and that the deal hadn’t worked out quote how the Hieatts wanted. In some ways the detail is irrelevant to me. What I’m feeling is sad and sorry and like I want to give David a hug because it sounds to me like he is feeling sad. And, y’see, I’m setting up a business too and the thought of it going a way I couldn’t bear, to the extent that I had to leave or hate it, is truly, truly, awful.

howies features heavily in my list of inspirations for whomadeyourpants? I loved that they thought business could make positive changes and needn’t be pilloried just for being business. I loved that they strove for transparency and they thought, like me,  that high quality, long lasting products, are the way forward. That products can be beautiful, sustainable, challenging, and enjoyable – not just a cheap thrill for a weekend and then binned when a seam tears. These things are all part of the whomadeyourpants? story too, as is ( I hope) the feeling of belonging – I loved feeling part of the howies family and hope people feel that way about us too.

But there has always been one key difference. whomadeyourpants? was formed specifically as a worker co-op to make sure that we can pass on maximum benefit to the workers, We’re not just about great pants. We’re about empowering women right here in the UK by providing up front training and then giving them a job – and offering membership of a worker co-op, whereby they can get profit share and be part shaping the direction of the business is, to me, a key part of that empowerment. Some (not all) of the women we work with, in the words of a colleague, had a life of ‘things being done to, for or around them’ – they have not been able to take responsibility  for anything. I believe that people work best when challenged and that we all have strengths to play to. We can all cope with responsibility and we ought all have the chance to prove to ourselves and everyone else what we can do.  Alongside making utterly gorgeous ethical pants, I really want to pass on a little bit of the joy that comes from becoming empowered – it was passed on to me in 2008 and I want to share it.

I’d not for one minute suggest that howies would have been better as a co-op as it is still, in my mind, an almost perfect example of what I love. But I hope and wish that I never feel the same way about whomadeyourpants? as I’m imagining David feels now. I hope I never have to make that choice. I’m so sad to hear he has left, but so pleased he was there. Howies has been a guiding light for me in forming whomadeyourpants? And keeping true to my vision when it gets knocked or questioned and when things get hard.  For that gift of inspiration, for blazing that trail, I will always be grateful.

David’s talked about ’sitting in my shed with Sonny (my dog) working away on the future’ and I truly hope he is happy and productive there – I have no doubt he will be. David, with love – thank you.

wewow are pleased to announce they have been commissioned by the BBC to help them develop a new eco-friendly DVD pack for Worldwide distribution.

wewow won a three-way pitch after submitting its WowWallet product for consideration. wewow worked closely with the BBC to further develop the WowWallet to tailor it for their specific requirements. The resulting product is WowWallet (Half Moon); the half moon window displays the title of the DVD through the front of the pack.

Stuart Jones, Managing Director said, “It has been a real pleasure to work with the Beeb on such a high profile project. We know the WowWallet is a good product but it is always pleasing to have an organisation like the BBC appreciate its green credentials and overall design”.

WowWallet is a tray-less product so the disc doesn’t need a plastic tray to hold it in place within the pack. November 2009 sees wewow launch its DVD-size version of the WowWallet and they are already in talks with a world renowned band about using the product for their next video release.

For further information contact wewow on 0845 450 6262 or http://www.wewow.co.uk/

Reports on the Credit Crunch have indicated that it is affecting women in employment more than in previous downturns.  New website Mothers of Innovation (http://www.moixx.com/) aims to be an antidote to recessionary gloom and a breath of fresh air for working women and mothers in the UK.

Founder Sarah Dawnay, set up Mothers of Innovation after she was made redundant from her  job; with the only available earning options seeming to be corporate roles which make no allowance for women with young families or pyramid selling schemes that were either patronising or expensive, Sarah turned to her own initiative. She says “As a Mum I had already come up with a great design for my little girl when she needed a coat but hated  putting one on – and I realised that there must be many Mums like me, who have great ideas and skills but who just lack an appropriate way to get their products to market; thus Mothers of Innovation was born!”

Sarah is determind that out of her redunancy she will build not only a new career for herself but  a great resource for Mumpreneurs with ideas and help for those trying to start their own business. Also, for busy Mums the site is also a fantastic shopping experience with a huge range of quirky, innovative products inspired by real parents, as well as tips, recipes and fun stories about our children.

MOIXX sells products which have been devised to answer thorny parenting issues. For example, with five young boys how do you juggle them, your handbag and keep the baby’s socks on? How can you carry a baby AND all your belongings on the school run? How do you keep 4 to 8 year olds happy on a rainy afternoon?

Sock Ons are the ingenious little things that keep those socks on; the Baby and All Bag carries all your essentials and baby too! and the incredible Spark Box was designed by a Mum of two to be multi-sensory, educational, interactive and ethical: and at just £15 is a great credit crunch alternative to an expensive day out!

There are many other different products with prices from £5: from cute clothing to stylish things for the home and educational toys. The site allows you to search according to a range of criteria such as fairly trade,d British made, organic and goodies made form recycled materials.