Rob Marchant says: I should also add that you can check out the Barcelona Green blog using the link next to my name at the top or, if you like the idea, join our Supporters Group on LinkedIn at:

http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=2094861&trk=anetsrch_join&goback=.gdr_1246972120811_1

Josh FUqua says: fantastic idea... think it will fly!!!!! congratulations

Luis Pareras says: Let's do it!! consumers are not acting (yet) because they don’t know how, but this could make a difference...

Clive Bowman says: Good idea and should also be an online shop. Good thinking to include advice with the products.

Rob Marchant says: Thanks for the comments. Well, we've certainly thought about having an online shop. The only issue is that you don't get so much opportunity to educate customers that way, however as an adjunct to the retail outlet, I'd agree entirely.

In earlier stages of thinking we even considered automated vending, but discarded it (the industry for value-added products in this space is still in its infancy, although growing rapidly).

recio manuel says: Sound very interesting..

Albert Mercadé says: Dear Rob, I like the idea. Do you want to manufacture the products or just sell them? And how are you intending to get kids interested?

Rob Marchant says: Hi Albert, well the idea is not to manufacture, but repackage as our own under a strong, unified branding. The packaging will also explain in detail why consumers should be buying the product. And getting kids interested will be with some special in-store tricks but I'm not going to say more on a public website! But what's for sure is so-called "pester power" could be a significant effect in our favour.

Sue Kiddie says: Dear Rob,

Liked the pitch. I really like the idea of using in-store video - I know that my kids engage with educational films about nature and energy conservation, and I’m sure they would nag me into buying the products. Also great to have all the products in one place as currently it takes a lot of time and committment to trawl the internet to find one-off items. A one-stop shop offering a range of products and advice on how to get the best from them would make the buying experience much easier and encourage participation in protecting our environment - a benefit to us all!

Yours

Sue Kiddie

Kathryn Davies says: How would you assess the products for their contribution to energy reduction? And are these normal consumer products or are they all targeted at energy reduction?

Rob Marchant says: Ok I'll answer one at a time. Sue, thanks for your comments. It's certainly true that putting the products in one place is something which is rarely seen. For example, in the US companies like Home Depot are selling quite a few energy-saving products with some success, but they are just a tiny proportion of goods in a massive store. You have to really WANT the products to find them. We want to reach out to a much wider audience of consumers through education.

One of my own consumer experiences with green goods, eco-nappies for my little girl (which we won't be selling, by the way, as they're not directly energy-reducing) resulted in me scouring the internet and eventually importing them from the UK to Spain by post (they're available in Spain, but they're a rip-off).

What a hassle! Things like that really put potential buyers off. And that's even if they are well-informed on the issue to start with, which most aren't. It's no big surprise to find that there's a gap between what needs to be done for climate change and what actually happens.

Rob Marchant says: Kathryn, to answer your questions:

About assessing the products for energy reduction, firstly, we're choosy, and our product selection is all part of the value-add. We have eight fairly strict criteria for selecting goods, one of which is that its USE needs to contribute directly to reducing energy consumption or, by extension, greenhouse gases in general.

Secondly, we are not selecting the products for the EXTENT to which they help, it's enough to have a reducing impact, but we ARE intending to quantify it in order to be able to label the products in an easy-to-understand way in the store. Example: "do you know that by using this electricity meter you will save approximately the equivalent CO2 of five trees?", and so on. My guess is also that if a product doesn't really seem to be making much environmental difference, it won't sell so we'll stop stocking it anyway.

So, it's not enough merely to be PRODUCED in an ethical or sustainable way (although that too is one of our criteria), and therefore no, they are not normal consumer products or mere "green goods" in that respect. They are actively changing things through their USE.

rachel gibbons says: Great idea.

As a busy mum, I appreciate the idea of having a wide range of goods in one place. We try our best to "bGreen" -ha, see what I did there :-) - but convenience would make it a whole lot easier. I paticularly like the idea of combining retail with education.

We all know we need to reduce our carbon footprint, but we are less aware of how to do that. If, by reading about a product we are about to buy, we can be informed of the positive impact using it will acheive, we can see the benefit directly.

It seems to me, your idea will inform us on how to make a difference and provide us with the goods to make it happen.

Nice one.

Paul Halliwell says: I think this will fly - there needs to be a trusted brand here and energy companies despite their best efforts aren't going to cut it.

Dan Frederiksen says: not bad. could work. not bad at all

james durance says: I really like this idea - think it's a great one. Best of luck with it.

emyr harvey says: Coming from an Environmental Engineering background I can say that it is nice to finally see someone who wants to make Green Products easy to find, use and learn about.

This has been a long time coming and Mr Marchant seems to have an idea which is achievable and relevant in todays climate. What ever your reasons for "going green" to have everything in one place will suit most people, and may well encourage those who would otherwise not bother.

Can you put all your eggs in one basket? You can if they are green. (You can keep that one if you like!).

Hannah Biggs says: Great idea Rob, best of luck.

Rob Marchant says: Wow, thanks for all the comments. Firstly Rachel, glad you like the educational part - we see this as key. You can argue the case, if you like, with simple economics: if a good pays for itself (neglecting cashflow effects for a moment), then the only thing which would stop you from buying it if you walked into the shop would be incomplete information on the product (or that you were going to buy the same product in another shop anyway). In other words, that you didn't KNOW or BELIEVE the product would pay for itself. Now, if we can bridge that educational gap, then why on earth would you not buy?

By the way we could also address cashflow effects (i.e. you pay a chunk of money upfront and only get the money back slowly) by an intelligent consumer financing scheme, although we don't believe this is an essential from day one.

Paul, on the trusted brand thing, exactly - people will buy when they know it's a quality product and not just made by a couple of guys in a garage. However, it's also vital NOT to be part of the establishment, to have the right values embedded in the company from day one, and engage people by that as well. We have to walk the walk.

Emyr, re having the goods in one place, it's vital. Not sure about the green eggs, but keep the taglines coming...:)

Andrey Suldin says:
Well, it's very good idea . Congrad!

Jonathan Upton says: It's often the simplest ideas that are the best! And this is a case in point. But taking up the theme from other contributors-we all 'know' about climate change and the need to adjust our behaviour accordingly. So it's not just about education we need think more about what are key motivations when it comes to taking action. Any thoughts about how to get beyond the converted?
Jonathan

Miguel A. Ariño says: Robert, you are doing a very good job. Congrats,
Miguel

jo billingham says: Great idea - there are so many products promising climate change but to have the most effective of them all in one store with relevant info is unique. Well done!

Rob Marchant says: Coming back on these points: Jonathan, it certainly is a simple idea although no-one is really doing it right now, to our knowledge. (By the way, for any would-be copyists out there, there are a few other detailed reasons which I'm not going to post here why our product will be uniquely innovative...!)

Interesting point about key motivations, as the behaviourists say "satisfy the need underlying the want" (thanks to Prof. Max Torres at IESE if you're reading this). The need we have in this case is to "do good" environmentally, i.e. behave in a way that protects the planet and ultimately, if you like selfishly, our own lives and those of our children.

I think to address this need we need to connect emotionally with our consumers. So I'd agree with you that education about the facts is not enough. But this is the point of our in-store "experience", the way the brand is presented and the values we want to promote among our staff, and it's ultimately why we chose retail stores over, say, vending machines. We really do believe in what we're doing and that comes over. I think that this emotional connection, plus a reminder of the remorseless logic of the climate change argument - it's no longer a matter of opinion but a fact - is a very strong combination that will help us get "beyond the converted".

Jo, thanks for the comment. We believe what we are doing, straightforward though it may sound, is indeed quite unique.

Rob Marchant says: PS you can now follow me on:
twitter at http://twitter.com/rob_marchant

the blog at:
http://www.barcelonagreen.blogspot.com/ and

the Supporters Group on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=2094861

Kevin O'Hanlon says: great idea but will it not take a mountain of finance to get off the ground?

Rob Marchant says: Kevin, an important thought, but we're comfortable that it won't. In retail you don't need to own your shop, and in fact by selecting and reselling goods rather than manufacturing them, you may even end up with a comfortable cashflow position (the supermarket principle), although we are not assuming this. Also, once the first shop is successful, the idea is to "bootstrap" the following stores from the first, rather than constantly looking for more funding.

We have a fully-costed plan which includes the upfront capital investment, but obviously it's not for posting here!

Jorge Davalos says: great idea on a place that gives advise to help guide purchase, and decrease the negative impact. I look forward to buying from you!

Simon Marchant says: Hang on, surely these outlets are already on every high street in every part of the world?....

.... wait a minute,,, thinking about it, I don't remember seeing even one!!!

Wish I'd thought of this first!

Fortunato Cardenas says: I would be happy to have our aerogel products available in your store. But there is a danger that your store could be more concern in profits than saving the planet.

You see anything that is labeled green could attract customers therefore your store could label fuels, coal, cars and trucks as green products and the customer will be deceived of thinking that they are buying green products to help the planet when in fact they are just buying a label not a real green product.

In my humble opinion buying products via Internet is the best way to shop green products without going to your store in Barcelona. I can save time and fuel and money than traveling to your store.

Besides the customer can get enough information using a phone if they have question. Its like paper and printing. Think first before u print an email because you could be saving trees by not printing an email. The same way it goes to your BarcelonaGreen store. I would rather shop at ebay or something similar. oops I think I just gave you an idea for an entry to this competition lol....

Rob Marchant says: Thanks for your comments Fortunato, always interesting to get comments from a fellow competitor...! I understand your point, that a strong brand could be used to sell products which are not really green. However you'll also forgive me, I'm sure, for not agreeing with it.

Firstly, we are very clear that we need to "walk the walk" with our products, not just "talk the talk". That's why we have a policy of explaining very clearly HOW the products will help combat climate change, with quantitative information. And a strict product selection policy. And hiring staff who are environment-conscious. There's no we could retain such people if we were trying to fool our customers with non-green goods.

Secondly, buying via the internet is always an approach that we are interested in as a second line to the store (see earlier posts), but the problem is that consumers are clearly not buying into this method in large numbers, that's the whole point of why the store is needed. We don't want to "preach to the converted" consumers like you or I, we want to engage with consumers who are NOT already so ecologically-minded.

Anyway, thanks again for your comments and good luck with the competition from Barcelona.

Jackie Stacey says: The proposal is well-presented and enthusiastic, and if you're first on the block you could do extremely well.
Getting publicity will be crucial so make sure you have good mainstream media contacts to get the concept and products featured pre-launch.

Roman Gur`evskiy says: Good idea. and it will work more and more.

Rob Marchant says: Roman, I should just comment here that we are delighted to be receiving comments from people all over the world about the idea. So far as well as Spain, we have the UK, Russia, Denmark, Mexico and Ireland. Thanks very much indeed for your feedback.

Jackie, we think so-called "first-mover advantage" is quite important for us and for our investors, as is some level of consumer marketing, this being a retail concept. Re publicity, we think there will be interest on Spanish news and features programmes around launch time, especially the two regional Catalan TV stations, which are always keen to support local initiatives. We are also interested in spreading the word through online social networks in "guerilla" campaigns, which are low-cost and often highly effective.

Dana Bohlscheid says: Hi Rob,
is your pitch not 1:1 Product (RED) from Bono?
(only they fighting poverty and AIDS)
http://www.joinred.com/Home.aspx

Rob Marchant says: Dear Dana, thanks for your comment. I'd like to take the opportunity to say I have enormous respect for Red and what they're doing. We certainly share their view that the private sector has a big role to play in solving the social issues of the day.

However, apart from that similarity, I'm struggling to see a connection. Apart from the major difference you have pointed out - we fight climate change, they fight AIDS - our organisations couldn't be more different:
- They do not have stores, we do.
- They are selling a wide variety of goods, most of which do not directly affect the cause itself, it is the money that is made from them which goes to fight AIDS; it is fundamentally a cash channel. In contrast, all our goods sold directly affect climate change and we have a strict selection policy which ensures this.
- They are partnering with big-name brands like Starbucks who sell the physical goods under a co-branding arrangement, we are selling private-label goods under our own brand.
- They have masses of high-profile backing from big stars and big companies. We're just little guys wanting to change the world.

Regards from Barcelona to Dortmund, and good luck.

Dana Bohlscheid says: Dear Rob,

I agree in all what you are saying and you showed the differences.

Only one thing: They do have shops, only they have a "shop in shop"-system in the shops of their partners.

I am wondering: They have all the support of big celebrities, the big name brands and so on - but they couldn`t realy make the big change, that they were thinking about when they startet. Sure it is impresive, what they have done - but not the figures that Bono and his partners was thinking of...

You say: "We`re just little guys wanting to change the world" - so my question is: How are you planing to make it better than Product(RED) - I can`t see the big difference between you and (RED) that woul`d be the power.... - as this competition is named "One Idea to change the world"

Warm regards to you

P.S.: Please see my oppion not "all against you" - it is meant to help, and take you further!!

Albert Mercadé says: Think this is becoming a debate about whether Red is any good or not, which I'm not sure is relevant. Back to BGreen - how would you look to get people to act on climate change who didn't act before?

Rob Marchant says: Albert, that's exactly the demographic where we are trying to act. Those people who ALREADY have an eco-mindset will be highly knowledgeable, will decide on the good they want and seek it out, quite possibly from a low-margin, "commodity" supplier.

We aren't in the commodity business, we want to sell to a different market at a reasonable price: people for whom time is their key constraint. And we want to make it really easy for them.

Franziska Schneider says: Hi Rob, I like the idea in principle, but am not so sure about the environmental benefit of a physical shop. Plus, running a shop has a much bigger carbon footprint and overall cost than a really well run online one.

I have seen exactly this kind of shop in London, where you can buy lots of very 'cool' eco stuff, they also organise events to educate people etc, but as far as I could see, this was for the people who are already 'green'. I only knew about this shop because my friend went to an event there. It does not reach out to people who 'don't care' about the environment. If you have an educational mission, a shop is going to be a difficult one to attract people who are not that into that thing.

And again, I think a real shop is going to add so much cost to your mission that I cannot believe you can offer low-cost environmental solutions to everyone - I am not sure it is such a good idea.

martin klute says: I have to say I'm not really understanding the arguments of this post. The idea of the store for climate change products seems sound to me, and this post seems not to make too much sense, not sure what the motive is. Whatever, let's deal with it logically.

Firstly, let's be realistic: you are not going to do away with all shops and turn them into online stores. Regarding the argument about the increased carbon footprint of a shop versus online, even if it's correct, which I'm not sure it is...are we to see empty high streets in a greener future? I don't think so. Secondly, just because your own experience of one green shop didn't reach out to the right people doesn't mean that this one won't. There's an earlier post that talks about how to reach out to the wider market which perhaps you should read. Thirdly, how is it you think that stores are uneconomical? There are plenty in the high street that are hugely successful.

Strange post. Good luck with the idea guys.

Rob Marchant says: Martin, thanks for the comments. Nothing to add, except to note that The Body Shop has, over the last 20 years, shown unprecedented success in ethical retail and reaches out to customers who are not "traditional" supporters of ethical business by locating in high-traffic locations. We can all agree or not with their business model - ours is certainly a little different - but successful they certainly are.

Rob Marchant says: As an aside, I just wanted to thank everyone who has lent us their support - at 10am this morning Barcelona Green just passed its 1000th view on this site.

Thank you so much!

Margarit Constantinescu says: I have been following this contest for quite some time and I have to say that having this idea of so called "Climate Change Retail Stores" as very popular is really ridiculous.

I come from a former communist country – Romania where this is what we had for 25 years: one product, one brand because we say so.

If you really want to see where your idea is heading, go to North Korea or watch/read George Orwell’s “1984”.

This idea is against many things a free society stands for: free competition, equal opportunities, non – discrimination.

I wander if you took some time to check with the trade authorities in Barcelona whether this concept is even legally possible.

To me this sound like an idea where you have not put more that five minutes thought and to your amazement turned out popular.

Michel Dupé says: I've just joined the site, but have to say what a weird post that last one was. 1984? North Korea? I don't understand at all where that came from. I don't see how the idea prevents competition, it's a private company after all. Don't understand either how it is discriminatory or, weirder still, why the Barcelona authorities would have a problem with it.

The idea looks very sensible, Rob. It's also clear that you did a lot of homework here, looking at the previous posts on your values, cashflow, educating consumers etc. and you know where you're going. Don't let this kind of thing put you off - it's probably just a full moon.

Margarit Constantinescu says: Dear Rob,
This is a contest for an idea that could change the world which means that one idea like yours could become from isolated very wide spread. I do not see any other way to change the world.

So if your kind of store will become the most common way to market products then I believe we will be in real big trouble.

Once "what is good" for the public will be decided by you and your associates for most of the market and not by free competition (under the legal rules), once labeling and free marketing will be not permitted then that will be the beginning of a form of autocracy.

"'An autocracy'''' is a form of government in which the political power is held by a single, self-appointed rule".

If you plan to keep this enterprise small then I have no problem with your idea.

Rob Marchant says: Dear Margarit, I'm delighted you think that our idea will be so popular as to be very widespread - we hope so too. But, to state what I'm sure most people reading this realise, we've no intentions whatsoever of limiting the forces of the free market, which I'm sure will continue to function perfectly, as they do in all other areas of retail. We couldn't do what you're suggesting even if we wanted to. But thanks for your contribution and especially for suggesting that we'll be very successful!

Michel, thanks for your comments. We have indeed done our homework - we've been working on this for over a year and have gone through a number of iterations to refine the idea. We've got a detailed business plan, and in about a month or so we will be in a position to take it to the investor community.

felipe ocana says: Joder Rob que orgulloso estoy de ti, eres un maquinito y la idea me parece genil como todo lo que haces. muchos besos y al toro.
Felipe

Luis Pareras says: To Margarit,

I am sorry to say I really don't understand the point you are trying to make... are you suggesting that a retail start-up could escape the forces of the free market?

1984? Autocracy? North Korea? Discrimination? Being in "real trouble"?

Wow! We want just to create a chain of “one-stop shops” for tools to help individuals fight climate change... and I think this really could make a difference.

Thanks anyway for your comments.

asun henares says: Rob, this is an exceptional idea, connecting people's desire to "go good" on climate change with the practical means for doing it. Now, how will you aim to grow the business once you have the first Spanish stores up and running? And where will the Spanish stores be?

Elena Grimaldos says: Asun, thanks for the comments. Yes - the key thing about the idea is that in entrepreneurship, you always have to have a strong "need" which your idea is satisfying. That there is a need for these products is beyond doubt - with a couple of odd exceptions, everyone across the Western world agrees that climate change is the no. 1 environmental problem facing us right now. What we lack is real movement on the part of the majority of the population to act - it's this gap that we're addressing.

Now to answer your questions,

Re the store rollout, the business plan envisages first a group in Barcelona, then Madrid, and then the smaller cities - Valencia, Bilbao, Seville. Once we have the Spanish stores up and running, the idea is to move to a second country, which would probably be the UK for a number of reasons:
- It has a relatively advanced green agenda;
- I know London well, having lived there for 16 years and it's the obvious place to start;
- It's a much easier place to get equity funding for expansion than most Continental countries, especially with a proven idea.

But let's keep our feet on the ground - first the seed capital!

Rob Marchant says: Asun, sorry - my mother-in-law was logged in on my PC just now registering on the site, but the comment was from me (obviously)!

Rob Marchant says: By the way, would like to remind everyone that you can now follow us on:

twitter at http://twitter.com/rob_marchant

the blog at:
http://www.barcelonagreen.blogspot.com/ and

the Barcelona Green Supporters Group on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=2094861

Loy Veal says: Read your links above... Interesting...

Nice touch there with you mother-in-law!
Gets hard to deal all these identities.

I wouldn't have come hard on you if it wasn't for you blog where I came across your entries and you seem to be doing same as you're complaining about:
07/23:
"By the way...
...have to say I'm a bit disappointed with some of the candidates getting their friends and supporters to do critical posts on the other entries to try and make them look bad. It's happened to us twice now, once from Ireland and once from Germany. Don't tell me these posts were just coincidence - they weren't, in each case the posters live a few miles from another entrant.

In each case I've just given polite answers. I've also noticed it happening on other entries (one poster from Holland posting on a German entry if I'm not mistaken).

I'm not going to play that game and post back on their entries, it doesn't make anyone look good.

Stop, please."

Is your English speaking mother-in-law with you because I read in blog dated 07/29 that:

"I'm in London this week, and have just seen some energy-efficiency products being sold in a large, out-of-town hardware"

Luis Pareras says: Hi all, great debate!

Just one thing I'm not sure it has been already discussed, and it is the fact that the majority of these goods will easily pay for themselves in reduced energy/waste costs.

This looks as the best marketing pitch to enter the marketplace, isn't it? I mean, making a difference contributing to climate change, and saving your own money at the same time... that's a no brainer!!!

Any comments on that?

Loy Veal says: Yes Luis, I'd like to comment something. In a previous reply to Margret you're talking like the store was yours and now you're saying about that your pitch is the greatest. Aren't we a bit too modest?

Talk to Rob before you post something.

Luis Pareras says:
Hey Loy,

Yes, I am one of the entrepreneurs behind this project (Rob and I are co-founders)

Thanks for your comment... I guess entrepreneurs should be passionate at what they do isn't it? And yes, I guess we are passionate indeed!

I am sure you are passionate as well at what you do, so I don't think this has nothing to do with being modest

Thanks again

Michel Dupé says: Rob and Luis, I'm not quite sure why this guy is putting in all these negative comments, but apparently he's done it with a bunch of other entries too, don't worry. If it's ok with everyone I'd prefer to discuss the real issues: I want to know how you can make people engage with products for energy efficiency, that might seem a bit dry and technical in nature?

Rob Marchant says: Michel, sure. We've already discussed the "educational" aspect of the store, which helps make sure that people are engaged with the IDEA of climate change and heed the "call to action". But this angle is not intended to deal with technical products.

Firstly, for products which are non-technical or only slightly technical, we are big on product labelling and packaging, explaining in simple language (and cool design) exactly what the product does, how many trees it might save, and so on.

Secondly, our way of dealing with more technical or complex products, or those that require specialist installation, is simple - we don't stock them. Perhaps in a later phase we might broaden the product set to include such products, but for the moment it's one of our eight selection criteria - no complex products.

Josh FUqua says: I was wondering how do you envision the stores... will they be around everywhere, or you will have some selection criteria for the location of the stores. And, I would love to know as well where will you open the first ones.

Thanks

Luis Pareras says: Thanks for your comments Josh. Yes, as in all retail based start-ups, location will be essential... we are planning to open in malls or other high traffic areas.

Let's remember we are after middle-class 30s/40s and their children, and from a psychographic perspective, after social liberals, people willing to make a difference, people who are less bothered about price, and more about action. Therefore we will open first in areas where we know these criteria are met.

As I think was already commented in a previous post, we will open in Barcelona first. We will aim for a short-term “oil drop” expansion strategy (saturate one city before you move to the next), and then move to other spanish cities (madrid, baleares, seville, and other high population areas).

Once we have Spanish stores up and running, the idea is to move to a second country. International expansion will likely start in UK.

Thanks.

mark flowers says: I think this is a great idea. I think a one stop shop for everything we need to green our consumer lives is spot on. If you are busy and spend all day on a computer, who on earth wants to then trawl the internet and websites for idividual items. That is something I would never get round to doing.

On the other hand a cool bright shop that I can pop into is something I would engage with and find very exciting.

All the best Mark

Rob Marchant says: Just to note that I am away on holiday for a few days, my partner Luis will be "minding the shop" - back on the boards this weekend.

Luis Pareras says: Thanks for your comments mark... We indeed considered selling on the internet (or even using vending machines) to bring the goods to the marketplace, but we think a "cool bright shop" (using your own words, thanks!) is something that should work really well.

Of course we may consider other channels in the future, but our priority right now is to focus on creating a chain of “one-stop shops” for tools to help individuals fight climate change.

Thanks for your support.

Olga Pareras says: excuse my english, not very good,

when you say bringing science to your product selection what do you mean, could you say some examples?

thanks!

Luis Pareras says: Olga,

Our products must actively contribute to reducing personal energy consumption or waste emission (from a scientific point of view), and NOT just be “green products”. For example, energy efficient lightbulbs cost less than $10. If every household switched five regular light bulbs for five fluorescent bulbs, it would be the equivalent of taking 1 million cars off the highways for a full year. Bringing the actual "figures" to the marketplace may help consumers understand the reason why it is important to buy them.

Another example, conserving water devices reduce water wastage by up to 70% while enabling you to have the normal full flow. This really makes a difference.

Or, programmable thermostats that cost from $50 to $100, and they can actually cut your heating and cooling costs. Set the setting so it's a little bit cooler in the winter and warmer in the summer when you're not in the house. A difference of 2 degrees can reduce a home's CO2 emissions by up to 9 percent over the course of a year.

Again, explaining the numbers behind your buying decission may help consumers, and that's what we mean.

Thanks

Vivek Sharma says: Great Idea. A similar concept was given by me in Global Development Marketplace 2009 for Himalayas. I was proposing to set up Shops of Low Cost Climate Change Adaptation Technologies on Franchise basis. It could not make into finalists.
Hope your idea clicks. Best of Luck.

Rob Marchant says: Back on the boards after a few days' well-needed rest...

Vivek, thanks very much for your positive comments, wow, how great that you were pitching a similar idea from India, I think that's very encouraging. We're aiming squarely at the West and not intending to franchise, but we think the principle is still vital wherever you apply it. Good luck to you too in your future entrepreneurial endeavours.

vic weekes says: Just wondering why you haven't opened up a shop already? There is plenty of start up capital for the right 'green' retail business out there, but it needs to be tested first. Like many of the ideas here it is untested and if it doesn't work will have used up more energy in start up. Lets see more prototypes and first step businesses that are already running.

Michel Dupé says: Vic, as an entrepreneur myself, I'm really not sure I understand the logic of that last point at all. 3 comments:

1. I am frankly amazed that you think there is "plenty of startup capital". We are in the middle of a credit crunch - there is no bank financing, no VC, nothing.

2. Obviously a lot of the ideas on this site are awaiting their first test, not just this one. They cannot be tested until they have the capital to take that first step, or you would enter into a vicious circle. That is why they are all entering this competition.

3. The idea that you should refrain from doing a startup idea, because it would use up more energy in the event that it failed, makes no sense. This would imply that there should be no startups whatsoever, anywhere.

Vic, sorry but I can't agree with your comments, however well-intentioned they may be - maybe I've misunderstood something?

Rob, if this is the toughest argument against your climate change stores, you are doing ok.

Albert Mercadé says: Let's to move on - what are the immediate plans for BGreen?

Albert

Rob Marchant says: Albert, our plans are as follows:

- Right now we're busy reviewing and re-reviewing the business case to make sure it's watertight, and covering off any potential risk areas;

- This September we will be looking to start our funding rounds and approaching potential investors;

- During Sep-Dec 2009 we will be aiming to firm up supplier deals and enter location negotiations, although to finish the latter may realistically take significantly longer.

We also have a detailed longer-term plan, but like all such plans it's largely contingent on the date you achieve funding and therefore liable to vary, so I won't go into detail here. But, suffice it to say, it's fully costed and includes 5 year cashflow projections.

Hope that answers your question.

Marc Rechter says: Dear Rob,

Congratulations on your Climate Change Retail Stores concept. It seems that the current mind set much favors a move towards a more sustainable lifestyle, and all initiatives supporting such change are worthwhile causes.

Having read and seen your pitch, I would like to invite you to view and read our Algarve Energy Park presentation (http://www.goodentrepreneur.com/The-Competition/Entries-Pool/Algarve-Energy-Park-Addressing-global-challenges-through-Nature-and-Technology).

We believe that your store concept could work well within the setting of the Energy Experience Park, a public facing component of the Algarve Energy Park. Within the Energy Experience Park, sustainable concept stores will inform and educate the public about the latest products, technologies and actions that can help them live more sustainable lifestyles, reduce their energy bills, and revive interest in science and technology among the younger generations. We believe that bundling a number of sustainable concept stores in a "science & technology mall" type environment will allow a much needed critical mass that will maximize the impact on consumer behavior. We would welcome a discussion on how your store format could be a part of this effort. That said, it is not quite clear to us what product range your outlets would focus on, or you would be selling anything that is "energy reducing". The selection, verification and management of this seems a real challenge (will you take the product supply chain CO2 impact into account?).

On a broader level, we believe that in order to bring about real momentum towards a more sustainable (= less polluting and healthier) future, there are two fundamental requirements:

1. To ensure the acceleration of relevant sustainable technology research and development through a long term coordinated effort involving industry, government and academics.
2. To motivate a behavioral change among the general public required for the kind of mass (technology) adoption necessary for generating enduring sustainable results.

The Algarve Energy Park is developing as an enabling platform, looking to maximize the impact of the efforts made by its multiple stakeholders, and lay the foundations for a new European model of sustainable economic and social growth. We look forward to discuss how your idea could be integrated with the other sustainable concept stores in our Experience Park.

Best wishes, looking forward to hear from you.

Marc

Rob Marchant says: Dear Marc, firstly thanks for your positive comments, nice to see other entrants debating things in a positive way. I've just taken a look at your pitch - it's interesting, so good luck with it. We'd be delighted to discuss potential collaborations - send me a note on LinkedIn once the competition's done.

Rishi Diwan says: Dear Rob, I see good opportunities to collaborate with each other.

Once the competition is over, lets figure out -how to take our ideas to the next level.

I am sure your retail stores can help sell our products, our partners' products and provided related services, in the locations where we do not plan our presence.

Anne Flowers says: Rishi, likewise - think the smart move is for us entrants to look for any opportunities to collaborate amongst us in areas where we're not competing with each other. After all, we're ultimately working towards the same goal. Let's keep in touch, and good luck for Friday with your entry.

Josh FUqua says: guys, just a quick question, will the store sell high priced goods as well? or will it have only commoditized products, light bulbs and cheap things.

thanks

Josh

Luis Pareras says: Josh,

Our product selection criteria clearly sets the "nature" of the goods we will sell... maybe Rob already said it in another post, but to clarify this issue for you, let me tell you that our maximum product sale price will be around €200, and most of them will be in the range €5-€50...

Our products will be simple to use, and will not require specialist installation or maintenance... I hope this will help you in "imagining" the type of goods we will be selling.

Thanks for your comments

Luis

Bremley W.B. Lyngdoh says: What a great pick for a city to launch your project from Rob!

May the green positive force be with you and your team as you start the green revolution from the heart of Barcelona.

Keep the faith,

Bremley

Rob Marchant says: Dear all, this is just to say thank you all so much for your support over the last six weeks during the Good Entrepreneur competition. We are delighted to have given our idea local, national and international profile through the competition. Of course, it would have been useful to win, but we still think we've got a great idea.

The best of luck to the 10 shortlisters, and to all of you who we competed against. For those of you who would like to continue following the Barcelona Green story, you can do so at:

twitter at http://twitter.com/rob_marchant

the blog at:
http://www.barcelonagreen.blogspot.com/ and

the Barcelona Green Supporters Group on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=2094861

Rob, Luis and the BGreen team

Norman Davison says: Dear Robert,

Sorry that you did not make the final , it is not in anyway a refection on the quality of your idea . which I thought was the front runner. The more I look into this green/eco concept ther more it is obvious that Education, and psychology are greatly required for its successfull uptake.

Don't be put of by the people who can't see the doughnut , and insist on calling it a hole all the time . If we listen to these type of people we would still be waiting to discover Amarica.

The stock msrket has realy turned now , as usual the US is ahead of the rest of us. last week a software company called logmein floated as an IPO at $16 , these have moved ahead well . THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED IN THE LAST 2 YEARS and presages things to come. It is a very positive sign.

Do not listen to clowns who are parroting the empty pockets/empty banks doggrel.
The institutional fund managers have to a man been wrong footed. They are drownning in defensive stocks and CASH. They have NO CYCLICALS and NO IPO's . The stock market beast is now starting to wake up , and the next Bull run is under way. ( that is if you are able to recognise a doughnut when you see one)

If you would like to stay in contact my E mail is nwdavison@hotmail.co.uk

Rob Marchant says: Dear Norman, thanks for your positive words about our entry. I agree that there are still good possibilities for investment for ideas like those we have been sketching out in this competition. I'll mail you offline.

Lucy O says: Amidst unemployment and tight credit retailers are struggling. Most independent retailers wondered if they would be able to survive. The retail year revolves around the Christmas season, or holiday season, and this holiday shopping season saw an increase in retail purchases, but the side effect is that January is almost a mini-recession for <a rev="vote for" title="Retailer’s Christmas Performance Post-Recession" href="http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/2010/01/05/retailers-christmas-performance-postrecession/ ">retail stores</a> unto itself. That said, the numbers for the 2009 holiday shopping should be out soon, and we'll see if consumers were regaining confidence, or if they still could use payday loans.