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Well it’s safe to say that the 8th Annual Green Festival in San Francisco was a hit for Guffly! We came, we exhibited, we connected, and we had a blast. This was the first big event for the Guffly team and we think we held our own and established a unique presence at the huge festival.
Since Guffly is an online store, we don’t get to see the smiling faces of our lovely customers and being able to see the excitement and smiles that our products created was awesome. It seems that the Guffly perspective – living an eco-friendly lifestyle doesn’t mean you have to compromise your sense of style – is one that resonates with TONS of you! Thanks – we’re glad you like it!
Some customer favorites included:
Reusable Stainless Steel Razor Kit – men and women alike were thrilled to find an eco-friendly alternative to the disposable razor craziness! The flashy design sure makes it fun too.
Medium Seat Belt Tote – of course, we could have guessed this one based on the feedback we’ve already been getting. People are beyond impressed with the quality of craftsmanship and the functionality of this purse.
Fair Trade Shoes – we knew this but, we heard you all loud and clear: Stylish eco-friendly shoes are incredibly difficult to find! Guys and gals loved the design and humor in these shoes. We definitely are going to be scouting for more options…stay tuned!
Recycled Game Tile Tree Pendant – another online customer favorite held its own in person. These too cute pendants have eye catching designs that drew people in, then we told them to flip it over and they were surprised to find that it was a Scrabble tile!
We got a lot of “Thank Yous!” from people that were there searching for ways to be eco-friendly that felt comfortably in reach to them. There were also people living impressive green lifestyles that really enjoyed what we brought to the table. We think it’s safe to say that regardless of your “green-ness” or age there is something at Guffly for you. Plus with the availability of gift certificates (that’s right, we’re cool like that) and always $2 shipping it’s hard to beat Guffly for your eco-stylish shopping needs.
We also held a drawing ever other hour for one of our cool, eco-stylish products – the response was overwhelming. Winners are in the process of being notified and we appreciate everyone that stopped by to enter.
Something that we always want you folks to remember is we accept product suggestions anytime – just contact us. We also want to know if you are looking for a particular eco-friendly product and can’t find it…we’ll do the searching and work our hardest to find the best products for you.
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Have you heard of Green Festival? It’s a joint project of Global Exchange and Green America…and we’re going to be exhibiting at the upcoming San Francisco festival, November 13-15, 2009.
This is the world’s largest sustainability event that features the best of what’s green. According to Green Festivals you can, “enjoy more than 125 renowned authors, leaders and educators; great how-to workshops; cutting-edge films; fun activities for kids; organic beer and wine; delicious vegetarian cuisine and diverse live music. Shop in our unique marketplace of more than 350 eco-friendly businesses—everything from all-natural body care products and organic cotton clothing to Fair Trade gifts and beautiful kitchen tiles made from renewable resources.”
We’re mostly just excited to get out and meet our customers in person as well as establish new relationships with top-notch eco friendly suppliers. It’s going to be very exciting to be in San Francisco as a part of this great event! Come and visit us in Booth #129 in the Fair Trade section next to the Organic Foods Dining Area and just around the corner from the restrooms (you know you’re going to have to go eventually, might as well swing by and say hi). Our booth is going to be the Guffly website come to life! You’re going to be able to check out our products, play around, listen to some tunes, win some prizes, and purchase those must-have Guffs.
We have some FREE tickets to the Green Festival available to some lucky folks! All you need to do is leave a comment here with a link to your favorite Top Guff and why you love it. Piece of cake, right? You give us awesome feedback we give you free tickets to the Green Festival! Stay tuned to Twitter, Facebook, and right here on our blog for updates on what the Guffly team is up to in San Francisco…
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It creeps up every year but the holiday decorations are going up in the mall, kids are already starting to write Christmas and Hanukah lists. That’s right, the holidays are coming. It may seem a little silly to some to start planning gifts and parties this early. Especially now when many of us will be put on a holiday budget for the first time due to the recession. But there is nothing wrong with having a holiday budget plan. By planning early for the holidays you can save a lot of money and you won’t have to trim down on as many activities as you thought you would. This is the perfect time to introduce someone close to you to an eco-friendly lifestyle or pick up on the habit yourself. These tips can get you started in the right direction
- Money Money Money: The first thing you need to do is sit down and figure out how much money you are willing to spend this holiday season. It doesn’t have to be a set number, due to sales and the price change of the holiday season it is due to change but you should have a range. $2,000-$2,500? $5,000-$6,000? Think about that now and don’t go over your budget. You do not have to spend a fortune to have a great holiday season.
- Every Card You Write: It just might be a whole lot easier to go the e-card route. It saves time and money since a lot of e-card websites are free and allow you to make cards for up to 100 people. Plus it saves on paper. Make the card now, set the date to make sure the e-card is sent by email during the holidays and you’re done. Using recycled paper if you’re making your cards by hand is definitely the way to go.
- Trim the Tree: Buying a Christmas tree is hard work. There are so many to choose from! A new trend in the green community is to buy a living tree. It may not be as big as the ones you usually get but you can plant it in your backyard or local park after the holidays and reduce the carbon foot print. Try to avoid the artificial trees. They are usually made from non-renewable plastics and other toxins. If you have to go the artificial route there are ways to store your tree so that it may last for years and will keep you from buying a new one every December. Going to an organic Christmas tree farm may not be an option for all but if one is in your area you should look into it. Use LED lights or solar powered lights. They save power and your electricity bill will not be as high as those using traditional lights. Make homemade ornaments by doing origami or go collect pine cones and acorns outside and glue a little glitter on them.
- A Bundle of Gifts: Make a list of the people who you would like to send gifts to. Carry this list with you whenever you leave the house. As the holiday season approaches you never know when you might see a great sale on something that a loved one would like. If your budget is tight you can never go wrong with a homemade gift. Baked goods fill the stomach and warm the heart. Make a coupon book filled with tasks that you are willing to do for your loved one as a gift. Make a coupon for the kids allowing them to pick dinner or a family outing. Your husband might like a coupon for a free kiss and hug. You might want to donate to a college fund or start a 529 college savings plan for a child. Name a star after a sci-fi or astrology lover. Plant a tree in someone’s name. Make a donation to someone’s favorite charity in their name. There are countless ways to buy eco-friendly gifts. Donations can be done online and save time. You can always look to Guffly for great eco-friendly gifts. We have something that everyone can use.
- Make Space: More than likely your household has items that they no longer use that sit somewhere collecting dust. Now is a great time to go through those closets and pack up the clothes that are too small and the toys your kids no longer use. The closest and toy chests will be filled after the holidays. But you can donate your gently used items to places like the Salvation Army and the Red Cross where every donation is tax deductable. That way you’ll be getting some cash when you file your taxes and helping someone that is in need now.
Look for more eco-friendly tips and budget saving for the holidays coming from Guffly soon. Happy Holiday Planning!
Guffly is a one product per day online store and community featuring eco friendly products and fair trade lifestyle goods like home, pet, clothing, office and personal accessories. We know that people aren’t interested in ugly stuff, so you can bet Guffly’s green products are stylish, fun and attractive – eco stylish if you will. Shop the Daily Guff at http://www.guffly.com
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We all know that being eco-friendly is fun and easy but for some reason there are some people that haven’t caught on to this idea of saving the earth. Strange, yes, but pat yourself on the back for being a more earth friendly individual. You have decided to ride your bike whenever possible; you shop locally and use those cute reusable bags. Not only have you done this but you also shop for eco –friendly and fair trade products! You go you! But despite your efforts there is one place that probably hasn’t fulfilled your eco-friendly dreams and that of course is your job. If you are an eco-minded person, listen up for some quick tips on how to green your not so green job.
1) Recycle: You may work for a place that doesn’t recycle for whatever reason but don’t let this stop you from doing your part to save the planet. If your place of work doesn’t recycle start a recycling committee. As dorky as it sounds it will work! Find a few likeminded people and organize a recycle crew. Find a box to be used for recycling paper and each week trade off on who takes it home to be recycled with their personal recyclables. This way you are getting rid of those unwanted papers but still being the eco diva or divo that you always knew you wanted to be. Hey, you might even make a new friend!
2) Turn off the lights: You may work in an office that always has those huge lights on all the time. If it is at all possible turn those lights off and let the natural sunlight light up your office. This way you are cutting back on the energy needed to power them and refreshing your mind with some good old fashion sun. If this isn’t a possibility ask if you can turn off some of the lights. Turning on only half of them will also cut down on energy use and still light up the office.
3) Recycled Paper: Many offices use a lot of paper and if you want to green your job, be sure to suggest using recycled paper. Recycled paper has the same quality as traditional paper but it is better for the environment. If you suggest this you will be making a big stride to making your office greener.
4) Car pool: If riding your bike to work is not an option or is becoming less of an option because of the cold weather that is approaching, suggest to car pool with people that live nearby. Sure, this could be awkward at first if you don’t know the person that well but after a few car rides of awkward silence you will develop a relationship and an attitude for eco-friendly living. So, be brave and find that eco-friendly person in your office and ask them to jump in for a ride!
Guffly is a one product per day online store and community featuring eco friendly products and fair trade lifestyle goods like home, pet, clothing, office and personal accessories. We know that people aren’t interested in ugly stuff, so you can bet Guffly’s green products are stylish, fun and attractive – eco stylish if you will. Shop the Daily Guff at http://www.guffly.com/
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Name: Soy Miguel Scott
Owner: Chief Guffly Love Distributor, Chanell Scott
Birthday: May 4, 2008
Weight: 8.5 pounds
Favorite Snack: Chicken
Favorite Toy: Anything anyone else is playing with first!
Favorite Place Hang: Curled up under the covers at Chanell’s feet
Guffly Product Pick: Comfy Organic Pet Bed – it’s Soy tested and Pup approved!
Soy in a nutshell: At 1 year 5 months, Soy is the youngest (and smallest!) of the Guffly mascots. Don’t be fooled though, this little guy can hold his own and isn’t afraid to tell you about it! He likes to stay busy by patrolling the office, sitting on desks to look out the window, and finding the other dog’s toys to play with. At home, he enjoys watching TV and continuing his love/hate relationship with his grandmother. Believe it or not, this dog enjoys being rocked to sleep and willingly indulges his grandmother in this. Although Chanell is 99.9% sure Soy is a dog, we have yet to hear him bark – he attempts to speak English which comes out like a human saying meow. We’re glad to have the Soy dog with us to provide entertainment!
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Unless you’ve been hiding in a cave for a while you know that the it trend is to be green. Recycling, using less electricity in your home, and now buying clothing that doesn’t take a lot out of Mother Nature and still keeps you looking chic. The Spring 2010 Mercedes Benz Fashion Week definitely took a new route this year. From September 11 through the 17th, many designers showcased their work; many of whom are taking that extra effort to find earth friendly materials at a cheaper cost. Designers are starting to show that anyone can dress green no matter if you live in New York City or the North Pole. Here were some of the big green trends that were seen at fashion week and how you can get them:
- The Throwbacks: The boyfriend blazer, the motorcycle jacket, the suit vest, and the garden party dress. The old school is always reinventing itself in the new school. The great thing about these trends is they were all in style 10-20 years ago. More than likely you still have these items in your house somewhere. So run up to that attic and shake the dust off of those boxes! If you’re too young to remember, what the ‘80s were like the nearest thrift store or second hand shop is only a hop away. Often you will find things there that still have price tags on them or have never been used.
- The Green Shows: A first for this year, fashion week held The Green Shows: Eco Fashion Week. This event was held for two days and only showcased designers that were 100% eco-friendly. Most of these designers are underground or new, which is great because you’ll probably be the only person in your office building rocking their stuff. New things that designers are doing are recycling old fabrics and patterns from previous fashion lines. The idea of using paint is old; to dye garments many are using fruits and vegetables. Checking to make sure that the production factories are doing their best to provide a safe and healthy environment for their employees is one of the many reasons to check out these fashion lines. All of these artists are taking the extra step to make sure that the fashion they give to you is made by honest companies who are working hard to preserve the earth. So next time you think about taking a quick run to the mall, shop with these designers and others who are going green.
- I Shop Green: So you’ve decided to shop green. Great! You wake up one morning, get ready, grab your wallet as you head out of the door; but wait! Where can you go to get green clothing that is fierce? Check out online eco-friendly retailers for fashions from around the globe. Also, not only can you shop with your friends but shop in their closets too. You might not have that animal print dress you’ve been searching for but your best friend might. Host a swapping party and bring things that you no longer want or need to trade with your friends for items they have that you want. Trade those out-of-date neon leggings for something you really want for free. It’s great for saving cash and still getting something new.
Guffly is a one product per day online store and community featuring eco friendly products and fair trade lifestyle goods like home, pet, clothing, office and personal accessories. We know that people aren’t interested in ugly stuff, so you can bet Guffly’s green products are stylish, fun and attractive – eco stylish if you will. Shop the Daily Guff at www.guffly.com
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The Woven Rattan Fair Trade Bag on the Daily Guff today comes from Start Naked. This company was founded through a desire to contribute to the world, experience the refreshingly unfamiliar tastes, sights and sounds of other cultures while embracing the spirit of entrepreneurship. Start Naked co-creates handcrafted products with artisans in several countries by actually going to their village and observing their craft and creating a product of interest to the global marketplace. How could we not support a company like that? They do this while observing Fair Trade practices (woo hoo!) by paying artisans a competitive rate and most often just what they request. All artisans receive a 50% advance when an order is placed. Their local agents collect Start Naked’s products from these families. In some cases the unique skills found in five different villages help to complete a single product. It’s pretty impressive and the products are fantastic!
In Start Naked’s own words:
We believe in uniqueness and quality, and do nothing in “mass” production. In many ways our products are all “limited edition” being crafted in homes with no two products exactly alike. Stores that carry a Start Naked products help improve the quality of life and opportunity of these talented artists. Thank you for carrying our products and being a part of the Start Naked vision to help families and preserve traditional craft.
We can’t think of a cooler way to find a hip bag that’s perfect for travel, the gym, or just your regular grocery shopping. This dynamic bag is fair trade, beautiful and functional, that’s why you can find it on the Daily Guff: http://guffly.com
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It’s true that diamonds are a girl’s best friend but can diamonds be an eco-friendly girl’s best friend? As many of you are aware, many of the pieces of jewelry we rock isn’t always produced in the most safe and environmentally friendly way. Take gold mining for example, this process of extracting gold from the ground is both dangerous and harmful to those that work in the industry. Gold mining uses cyanide which can be deadly poisonous. This is all being said not to scare those that love gold but to inform gold consumers of what this process can do to the people and the environment. Although this is happening, there are ways to rock beautiful jewelry and still be eco-friendly.
1) Green Mining: However controversial and debatable, there are companies out there that practice green mining. These companies are concerned with sustainability and being ethical when it comes to mining. According to some, mining can be done responsibly and in a way that contributes to the environment instead of taking away. So, when considering buying jewelry, do some research and see which companies practice green mining. This is a great way to make a small impact on the environment and to take the steps to being a more environmentally conscious shopper.
2) Recycled Jewelry: Buying jewelry that is recycled is a great way to be an eco-friendly jewelry fashionista. One way to do this is to purchase jewelry made from recycled silver. This eco-friendly option is great because silver is increasingly popular and having a recycled option is great for the environment. Over the past 20 years jewelry made from recycled silver has increased but isn’t where it should be. Since recycling is very important to the sustainability of our planet making recycled silver for jewelry is an important way to contribute to the greening of our earth. Another recyclable jewelry option is to purchase jewelry that is made with reclaimed materials. This could be broken plates, electronics or even other jewelry. By producing and purchasing such jewelry these items are not thrown into landfills and are instead rocked by eco-friendly stylish people like yourself. Next time you are in the mood to be the eco-friendly jewelry wearer that you are, be sure to check out recycled jewelry to make an even bigger statement.
3) Sustainable Materials: Jewelry made from sustainable materials is not only eco-friendly but also very fashionable. When a material is sustainable, it means there is an abundance of the material that makes up the product. The material grows at a faster rate than the rate the material is being consumed. So, purchasing products that are made out of sustainable materials like wood, bamboo or granite are eco-friendly because these materials are able to replenish themselves are a very rapid pace. If you are looking to stand out and be eco-friendly, be sure to purchase jewelry made from sustainable materials.
Guffly is a one product per day online store and community featuring eco friendly products and fair trade lifestyle goods like home, pet, clothing, office and personal accessories. We know that people aren’t interested in ugly stuff, so you can bet Guffly’s green products are stylish, fun and attractive – eco stylish if you will. Shop the Daily Guff at www.guffly.com
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As a bright eyed senior in college I thought I knew it all. My time at the University of Michigan had me thinking I knew a lot about how the world worked and what my opinions were on the whole operation. That was the case until I took a class that, now that I look back on it, challenged every decision I had made until that point. That class taught me all about fair trade, and sadly the reality of what occurs when there ISN’T fair trade. Simply put, I had a rude awakening.
During the course we learned about the history of trade, specifically between the US and Mexico. I won’t bore you with the academic details though. Instead, I’ll skip to the part when we actually went to border cities in Mexico and got a hands on feel of how trade effects real people. I stayed with a woman and her family. Her home was two rooms made from concrete, one bedroom for her, her husband, and her son, and another for pretty much everything else. There was no running water, no heat, and spotty electricity. Despite this, she was maybe one of the most kind women I have ever met. She took in visitors like myself because that is what she had to do to get by in addition to making corn tortillas and selling them to her local community.
Her husband once worked in a factory for a US company who’s name I won’t mention. Even as one of the better maquiladoras (factories) in the area, the work conditions left a lot to be desired. He was searching for other work, but the city he and his family lived in was completely dominated by factories who didn’t pay enough to support a family with. He had no choice but to leave his family, his home, and his city to look for other work. Like many others in his situation, he debated taking the life threatening risk of entering the US without documentation in order to make ends meet.
There’s no way I could explain the grim reality faced by this whole group of people. Beyond the direct impact that maquiladoras have on the workers and their families, there is also a slew of negatives that the poverty they sustain contributes to – like drug and alchohol abuse, abandoned and abused children, and health related problems (all of which I encountered pretty closely by visiting a drug rehab center, an orphanage, and a health clinic). After seeing all these things that hurt my heart (literally, it ached…) I felt pretty hopeless. I knew that my buying decisions encouraged this and it made me feel pretty gross.
That’s when I knew I had to (1) make fair trade a part of my life as a consumer because I knew I couldn’t stop buying stuff altogther. So, I decided to buy less so that I could afford to buy stuff that supports people getting paid and treated fairly. And (2), figure out a way to tie my beliefs about fair trade to whatever it was that I would end up doing with my life.
That turned out to be the first little seed of Guffly being planted in my head. I’m happy I saw what I did, when I did. Though ignorance was bliss, doing something to encourage fair trade feels way better.
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It’s Fair Trade Week at Guffly and we think there’s no better way to celebrate than by directly supporting an entrepreneur who needs our help. Using Kiva (which we totally heart), Guffly will donate a micro loan but it’s your job to determine how much we’ll give!
We need everyone and their mama to retweet this post because for everyone new person who FOLLOWS US ON TWITTER or JOINS OUR FACEBOOK FAN PAGE by Saturday, September 13, 2009 and we’ll donate $1. Yep, that’s right…if 500 join and follow, then we’ll donate $500.
So, who do we want to donate a micro loan to? Her name is Amevi Adokanu and she currently needs $475. She “lives in the neighborhood of Totsi in Lomé. She is a traveling saleswoman of shoes for women and little girls. This business allows her to financially assist her husband, a cook, provide for their children’s needs. She sells her wares house to house, which means that she is well-known in many homes. Right now her stock is almost exhausted; it is for this reason that she is requesting a loan from the micro-finance group WAGES, in order to purchase 25 boxes of various styles of shoes for women and 30 boxes of shoes for children.” (Kiva.org)
If we exceed the amount she needs then we’ll find a second entrepreneur to lend to! So come on…when has doing something so HUGE been so easy? Join Guffly’s Facebook Fan Page or follow us on Twitter by Septemeber 13, 2009 so that you can help us help out Amevi.
We live for this stuff.
xoxo,
The Guffly Crew
