explaining 9carrots
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9carrots is not an obvious model. People often mistake it for charity or discounts. When they do get it, they like it because it is so positive. Check out the how it works section also which has a fun cartoon.
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Favorite written explanation
- oct, 2010by anewholm"9carrots offers a way for community and business to co-operate in the fight against climate change. Retailers choose upgrades that will make their business more energy efficient, we advertise them and consumers support them. Each business commits 10% of the extra revenue they make from the extra 9carrots customers towards their target upgrade."
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General
- jul, 2010by anewholmBusinesses sign up to the scheme by identifying steps they need to take to become more efficient - e.g. getting better light bulbs or a more efficient fridge. Next, the business are promoted locally and on the 9carrots online map. When shoppers say they have come because of the 9carrots map 10% of the money they spend is put aside and saved. Eventually the shop has enough money to make the changes already identified.
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Super short, newspaper article style
- jul, 2010by anewholmVarious local businesses have joined the 9carrots scheme (www.9carrots.org), whereby they pledge to put aside 10% of the money they take from 9carrots customers for an upgrade to make their business more energy efficient.
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Newspaper style
- jul, 2010by anewholmIndependent retailers can now generate the capital they need for energy and cost saving upgrades by joining the free, grant funded 9carrots scheme. Retailers choose upgrades that will make their business more energy efficient, 9carrots advertises them and consumers support them. Each business commits 10% of the extra revenue they make from 9carrots customers towards their target upgrade.
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Aimed at shoppers
- jul, 2010by anewholmSo your home is pretty eco-friendly, but how can you go beyond those four walls?
9carrots lets you make the shops in your local community greener. Every time you shop at a participating business, they'll set a portion of the sale price aside for their energy-efficiency project.
Some businesses are saving towards lightbulbs, some towards electric vans. There's everything from bars to bike shops, clothes shops to carpenters, all across London.
Which businesses are in your area? Find out at www.9carrots.org -
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Super short
- jul, 2010by anewholmIn return for free publicity, the local businesses agree to invest 10% of the extra custom they receive towards making themselves more energy-efficient. Like installing low-energy lighting, new refrigerators or electric vehicles, for example
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A pitch to business
- sep, 2010by anewholm
Don't try to explain the 9carrots model all at once. This is sure to fail. It will take a few tries for them to get the idea so explain it several times in different ways.It is always important to speak with the owner, but I find that asking for the owner can cause problems and suspicion so it is best to actually immediately go for it even if you're not sure of the persons role in the business.[pause - wait for questions]
"Maybe there's something here we could help you with? For example: we are helping some take-aways buy electric motorcycles to deliver their food, or maybe the replacing energy expensive halogens etc."
[pause - wait for questions]
"I should explain: the way that we help businesses is quite clever. We are connected thorughout the community here and would advertise the green change you want to make to help you build up the extra custom to pay for it. Our grant funding means this is all free."
[pause - wait for questions, note that I have only explained part of the scheme, not all of it at once]
If they have understood, they may ask "How do you know I will make the investment?" Even if they don't then we can move on to explain the agreement.
"You would agree to invest 10% of the extra custom towards the target. So, it wouldn't affect your normal business, that is left untouched. Also, if no one extra comes, you do nothing. If you get loads of extra custom, then you can make the investment. Don't forget, you would need to make an extra £2000 before you invest only £200 in you business."
[pause]
If they have not understood then we need to explain it again. Time to use an example:
"For example: Let's say we aim for replacing the Halogens with LEDs for £100. We will tell everyone in the community that you are trying to do the green thing. When someone comes in, says they are here to help you do the green thing, and spends £10, you would save £1 towards the LEDs."
If they have understood, they will ask "But how do I know when someone extra comes in just for this?"
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Inevitable change
- feb, 2011by anewholmThis concept is called “9carrots” - businesses making themselves more sustainable using a portion of the extra sales from 9carrots promotion. Any business can join and progressively builds up extra sales over time to invest in green upgrades.
discussion
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pitch- jul, 2010by orangejon
I don't think you necessarily need to emphasise that we're "grant funded" as maybe it makes us sound like we should be more professional, but it's important to explain what we get out of it. I usually just say that we're volunteers who are trying to "reduce businesses energy consumption to help the planet", which usually does the trick.
