A host of companies around the world claim to offer quality, environmentally-friendly products. But how do you separate truth from propaganda? GreenCupboards.com has one answer.
Spokane-based GreenCupboards.com puts “green” household products through a thorough evaluation and awards the best candidates with its own certification, similar to a Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval, then sells them through its website. Free shipping is provided to customers who order any case of a single product or case of items within a product category in order to reduce packing materials.
GreenCupboards.com is not alone in this field. Similar ventures such as Green Home, Sierra Club Green Home, Greenfeet and GoodGuide supply related services. But few offer comprehensive services including certification, large selection and bulk sales as GreenCupboards.com does. According to the company, close to a third of the “green” products initially tested didn’t make the grade.
“Based on our recent revenue growth rate, we’re targeting sales in 2010 to be in the millions,” says 23-year-old president and CEO Josh Neblett. GreenCupboards.com has fine-tuned its marketing engine and been successful in introducing new sales avenues to vendors and manufacturers.
Founded by Neblett and Tom Simpson, a Spokane venture capitalist and instructor at Gonzaga University, the fledgling business launched its site in October 2008. During his senior year at Gonzaga, Neblett switched his career plan from financial broker to environmental entrepreneur after taking Simpson’s “Creating New Ventures” course and conceiving the GreenCupboards.com business plan.
Neblett’s business plan won the Hogan Entrepreneurial Competition between Whitworth, Gonzaga and Eastern Washington universities in the community category. Simpson and the Spokane angel fund WIN Partners provided startup capital. GreenCupboards.com has increased its workforce to 10 employees from just two a year ago and will soon establish product categories for personal care, cosmetics, office supplies, and lawn and garden products.