Crowdsourced Design & Innovative Marketing Improves Sustainability
Katie Cordrey — January 29, 2010 — Eco
References: fashion4home & homeworkshop
Fashion4Home's crowdsourced designs and design features combined with on-demand manufacturing give Fashion4Home a unique position in the home furnishings market.
Shoppers vote on new designs so the company can test the market demand for designs before production. Once ordered, furniture is produced and shipped directly to the customer. There is no waste, no warehousing, or unnecessary shipping. That means fewer resources are consumed to get furniture into customer hands.
Fashion4Home also seeks sustainable materials and conducts eco-audits to optimize efficiency and reduce waste.
Shoppers vote on new designs so the company can test the market demand for designs before production. Once ordered, furniture is produced and shipped directly to the customer. There is no waste, no warehousing, or unnecessary shipping. That means fewer resources are consumed to get furniture into customer hands.
Fashion4Home also seeks sustainable materials and conducts eco-audits to optimize efficiency and reduce waste.
Trend Themes
1. Crowdsourced Design - Opportunity for businesses to involve customers in design process to test market demand and reduce waste.
2. On-demand Manufacturing - Disruptive innovation opportunity for companies to produce goods only when ordered, reducing waste and costs associated with storage and unsold inventory.
3. Sustainable Materials - Growing trend among businesses to adopt green practices and use eco-friendly materials to reduce waste and environmental impact.
Industry Implications
1. Furniture - On-demand furniture manufacturing presents an opportunity for furniture retailers to reduce costs and inventory waste while improving customer satisfaction with custom-made products.
2. Retail - Crowdsourcing design and on-demand manufacturing can be applied to other retail sectors to improve the efficiency of supply chains and sustainability practices.
3. Home Goods - Sustainable materials and eco-friendly manufacturing processes can help home goods companies differentiate their products and appeal to environmentally conscious consumers.
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