Marketplace for Conscious Consumers and Sellers

July 30, 2010 - PRLog -- Buying and selling on Ethikl takes commerce back to a time before the Industrial Revolution when customers were intimately linked to the artisans that produced their goods. Social networking features on the site allow people to meet the makers of all the incredible products providing a way to make buying decisions that favour ethical products, be they fair trade, cruelty free, organic, recycled, handmade or produced locally.

Ethikl is the place where small, independent businesses can stay independent and reach buyers all over the world. Sellers have the opportunity to set up virtual storefronts to post their wares and share information. This direct selling model means the producer gets to keep almost 100% of the selling price of the product (whereas in traditional distribution anywhere from 50% of the ultimate selling price never makes it back to the producer). This adds a fundamental new dynamic to the small producer business model. The producer keeps the lion's share of the profit and the consumer gets a unique product.

According to Peita Gardiman, the founder, one of the main aims of Ethikl is to promote and support the ethical consumer movement and encourage shoppers to make positive buying decisions, such as favoring ethical products, be they fair trade, cruelty free, organic, recycled, re-used, or produced locally.  

"One of our goals is to change the way the economy works and begin to change people’s consumption habits. Many people are tired of mass produced, chemically- packed products and want to get back to basics,” says Peita.

“We live in a culture of excess, we want more and more and then throw it away faster and faster. When you buy something from Ethikl, there’s a story behind it. There’s a person behind it. If people start to rediscover handmade, natural products, they will learn to treasure them and become more ethical consumers.”

While there is nothing like the experience of going to a farmer's market, smelling the fresh produce, tasting samples, and interacting with producers themselves, not everyone can afford the time, leisure, or access to do so, but now you can explore Ethikl’s online marketplace and discover handcrafted jewellery, clothing, homewares, unique gifts, specialty foods and more at http://www.ethikl.com.au

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Ethikl is focused on developing community to cultivate dialogue around social impact and commerce by providing people with the resources needed to make good choices and connect with others who share the same passion.