Just opened this month, Hipcycle is an online store dedicated to bringing upcycled products to the average consumer. Recognizing that most eco-friendly items on the market are unaffordable to most people, founder Andrew Sell strives to offer only products that are attractive, durable, and competitive in price to mainstream products.
Hipcycle is unique in that it is one of very few e-commerce sites that offer exclusively upcycled items for sale. Generally speaking, upcycling is the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value. By simply purchasing upcycled items for their home, office, or as gifts, consumers help keep material out of landfills and protect our natural resources from being harvested unnecessarily for new products. Currently offering furniture, housewares, lighting, and garden products, Hipcycle offers an easy way to get into the “green” movement when you need something new. From tumblers made from reclaimed glass bottles to cutting boards comprised of wood originally used in Germany in the 1800s, Hipcycle strives to offer consumers an eco-friendly alternative to traditionally manufactured products. Sell recognizes that the state of the environment and the mountains of excess waste are problems not only in United States, where Hipcycle is located, but around the world. As a result, Hipcycle products come from a variety of different countries, with a conscientious attempt to ensure fair trade practices at all times. As a company, Hipcycle does indeed need to make a profit to operate, but Sell has established a company atmosphere that encourages social responsibility in all aspects. By simply offering upcycled products within reach of the masses, this company makes a positive difference towards improving the environment, but the positive impact on society does not stop here. While the occasional donation of products to charity raffles and similar events is certainly of note, the positive ripples go much further. Since Hipcycle was founded to make a difference in regards to the environment, a Hipcycle blog discussing environmental issues is a logical addition. Offering a mix of information relevant to anyone, there are also easy, step-by-step tutorials to bring upcycling into the lives of all readers. With upcycling being a fairly recently labeled movement, there are few communities where upcyclers can share ideas with one another. In yet another environmentally-conscious endeavor, just such an online community is emerging via the Hipcycle boards on Pinterest. Designed as a virtual pinboard, Hipcycle encourages the sharing of new upcycling ideas and tips on this relatively new social network. A unique company culture fostering creativity, playing hard and working hard, and making a positive impact in as many ways as possible provides a natural springboard for customer service that values each and every customer, while ensuring that the makers of Hipcycle’s products are fairly compensated and treated with the respect they deserve. All in all, this is one company that has all of the building blocks to make a significant positive difference in the world we live in, one customer at a time.
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