Hello, fellow environmentalists!
We've received numerous inquiries from you over the past few weeks asking when we'd finally reopen. Today we have the answer for you: The time has come! Our shop has reopened its virtual doors.
During the break, we were anything but idle. A lot has been happening behind the scenes, and we're thrilled to present the new features to you!
Brief overview:
1. What's new in the shop?
2. New material and optimized production
3. Team update and a shining returnee
4. Transparency: Why prices have changed & growth
5. Solution to offer the Umweltfreund product at a lower price in the future
What's new in the shop? We've completely revamped the shop. It took a lot of time and effort, but the result is impressive. We've redesigned our product pages to make ordering more intuitive and easier. Now no one will forget the perfect magnet to complete their set.
New material and optimized production: We haven't just been working on the shop, but also on our product itself. Our Umweltfreunds are now made from a new material. This material is significantly stronger than before, making the product even more robust and durable.
To meet the high demand, we have also expanded our production. We are now gradually moving towards automation. This means for you: We can produce faster and offer you even greater material thickness at the same time.
Team update and a shining returnee ! We're now officially two and a half! While Arnaud handles the day-to-day business, we've got reinforcements:
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I'm Tarek: I'm now Arnaud's right-hand man and I'm allowed to do everything, including keeping you all updated here on the blog! I'm incredibly excited to be part of the team and to help drive the green mission forward. ☺️
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Jakob, our student intern, helps with packing and unpacking and everything else that needs doing. 💪🏼
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An old friend returns: The Neon Umweltfreund, which glows in the dark, is once again part of our product range. We are delighted to have this product back.
Your wishes, our bundles: Due to your overwhelming demand, we've decided to offer bundles. This means you can now order our products in larger quantities. It's ideal for anyone who wants to tackle a project together with friends or family.
Transparency: Why prices have changed & growth This also means change. Previously, our founder was registered as a sole proprietor, and all products were exempt from VAT. Since we anticipate significantly more work this year, and the government wants its 19% VAT, and we've also hired additional staff (Tarek, Jakob, and Arnaud need to make a living somehow), this is no longer feasible. These new tax regulations and personnel costs have unfortunately forced us to adjust our prices.
We're working on finding a way to make the Umweltfreund more affordable and already have an initial idea: we want to create a series called "Sponsored by." This will give companies the opportunity to place their logo on our Umweltfreund for a fixed price per sponsorship. In return, depending on the monthly sponsorship amount, they'll receive a discounted price for their logo on the Umweltfreund. You are welcome to suggest potential partners! 💚
I'm thrilled to be here. Here's to a successful year and lots of litter collection together!
Yours truly, Tarek and the team