An (may be dumb) idea that stroke me. please tell me what you think.

https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1mG3AWD3YK5xvjjAs75X2BmSyqdSPVyUzA53XvU5cHDc

by elvirs • 16 years ago

1 6 16 years ago

docs.google.com

elvirs3• 16 years ago

Project Description:

A website that will collect donations of used clothes and deliver them to people who really need them. Please contact me: elvirs /at/ gmail /dot/ com

Givers:

   1. Will have to:

   1. Register on the webpage
   2. Submit new donation. Mentioning name of each item, best date/time to pick up.

 

   2. To stimulate motivation and satisfaction will be able to:

   1. Monitor which of their items have been requested, shipped to where.
   2. Receive anonymous thank-you note from the buyer.
   3. Mention special notes on where the items can go to.

Takers:

   3. Will have to:

   1. Register on the webpage filling out their contact info and physical address.
   2. Enter their sizes and type of clothing they need.
   3. Confirm if the shipping has arrived or no.
   4. (Optional) Leave feedback/thank-you for the items they have received.

 

   4. To prevent abuse and ensure fairness won’t be able to :

   1. Browse among all of the available stock and request anything they want.
   2. Request more than a certain number of items per person.
   3. Request more than a certain number of items for certain period of time per person.
   4. Request items that were not mentioned as needed.

We:

   1. Notify a cargo company to pick up the items and ship them to the storage
   2. Dry clean arrived items, take photos of items and enter full description of items to the website
   3. Notify eligible takers about new relevant items.
   4. Ship the package when request has been approved.
   5. Notify the giver and taker about the shipment.

Alternatives to cover shipping, dry cleaning and operational costs:

   1. Ask cargo companies fully or partially sponsor the shipping

   1. In return put their banners on the website, on packages, etc.

   2. Ask dry cleaning companies fully or partially sponsor the dry  cleaning

   1. In return put their banners on the website, on packages, etc.

   3. Charge small amount of money for most requested and/or valuable items available
   4. Sell advertisements on website
   5. Accept money donations
   6. Ask takers to cover their shipment costs.

barrydahlberg• 16 years ago

"A website that will collect donations of used clothes and deliver them to people who really need them."

This makes it sound like a kind of charity but your description does not, who is the target audience here?

elvirs3• 16 years ago

actually it is a kind of charity. the purpose is to establish an efficient channel of distribution of clothing to people in need. target audience is people who can not afford to buy new clothes at boutique stores but have to wear something and people who buy new clothing constantly and have clothing that they do not wear anymore. btw, it is not a business idea, nobody is trying to get rich. it just stroke me and i wanted to check if the world really needs something like this.

mikecane• 16 years ago

As far as I know, there are bins for that in a lot of places as well as just calling Salvation Army and other existing groups. Solution for problem that does not exist.

JacobAldridge• 16 years ago

Solution for problem that does not exist

Yup - that's my reading of the situation as well. I'm moving to London in a few weeks so have been cleaning house for months. Both my beautiful wife and I have rounded up a LOT of clothes in good condition that aren't useful to us anymore - these were put into bags, and I did multiple runs to nearby charity bin at a time when the motivation struck me. Five minutes from thought to being rid of the clothes.

It was easy as pie to do so, and those clothes will be sold for cents on the dollar to people who need them who can go to any number of thrift stores and take immediate possession. Easy browsing, no shipping costs or time or web access to consider.

Good to see someone chasing charitable projects online. This one doesn't strike me as being practical, but perhaps the next idea will be.

elvirs3• 16 years ago

thanks for your comment, made many things clear.

An (may be dumb) idea that stroke me. please tell me what you think.

Related Stories