There Will Be No Eco Fatigue in 2009

Though the topic of eco fatigue seems to come and go, according to Trendwatching.com, all is well in Ecoland.

No, there will be no ‘eco fatigue’ in 2009, mainly because it’s hard to ignore or to dismiss the mind-boggling fortunes (and the accompanying power shifts and reductions in pollution) that are in store for those who figure out how to get the world off its addiction to oil and coal. Which means a steady stream of eco sub-trends.

They state and I agree though, that the growing wave of green companies will shift from product providers to service providers. The growing need for consultants that help everyone from businesses to consumers go green is sure to be a popular new business to start in 2009.

ECONCIERGES are firms and services dedicated to helping households go green in any possible way. And while any advice that reduces a household’s (harmful) consumption is beneficial enough, the fact that such advice leads to savings makes this a very 2009 development. In the next 12 months, count on cash-strapped consumers to embrace sustainability with a vengeance, but first and foremost for monetary reasons. Next? How about helping consumers to make money by being green, by for example letting them generate and sell excess power to the ‘grid’?

How can ordinary people tap into that trend? By offering services that consumers need. Popular blogger and attorney, Jennifer – The Smart Mama, has already done that by offering toy testing and healthy home consultations. Our own John Simonetta offers eco friendly promotional items at Proforma Green – not producing them, but rather searching out green products to offer to corporations.

And, of course, as a classically trained marketing consultant with green credentials, I offer my consulting services to traditional companies looking to green their marketing efforts. As the economy detracts and companies pull back, I’m finding that there is still a need for services like mine that offer a company the opportunity to go green. But, positioning is key.

With money tight and lay offs the order of the day, green consultants have to offer more than just eco friendly tips. Cost savings, which can and should accompany efforts to go green are critical. Developing a pitch for your services should include ways that your clients can save money.

Greening your company website means reducing use of printed catalogs and going virtual – saving money and making your web site service more attractive to cash-strapped companies. Aiding companies in developing online marketing efforts, especially how to benefit from Tweeting Green, reduces advertising costs and positions them effectively for when the economy recovers.

Opportunities abound in the service sector, from eco friendly carpet cleaning and dry cleaning to teaching consumers and companies how to benefit from alternative energy. How do you position your green service company in this new cost savings environment?

Photo Credit: Mistermoss at Flickr Under Creative Commons License