In today's conscientious world, the demand for sustainable products has reached new heights, with consumers actively seeking alternatives that align with their values. Small businesses focusing on selling sustainable hygiene goods have emerged as beacons of hope, offering eco-friendly alternatives to conventional products. However, businesses such as VONB, face formidable challenges when competing with big brands armed with substantial marketing and public relations budgets.
In this blog, we want to delve into the hurdles faced by small businesses and discuss some of the challenges and in this competitive landscape, and the vital role of customer purchasing power in supporting sustainability.
Establishing Brand Awareness:
Small businesses face a significant obstacle in establishing brand awareness when compared to their larger counterparts. Big brands enjoy extensive marketing budgets, enabling them to reach a wide audience through traditional advertising channels, celebrity endorsements, and influential partnerships. Small businesses must be innovative in building brand recognition, utilising targeted social media marketing – which can still be costly to a small business- collaborating with micro- influencers and bloggers, and harnessing the power of user-generated content to amplify their presence within the sustainable community. Customers, with their purchasing power, can play a crucial role in spreading awareness through word-of-mouth recommendations and social media sharing.
Limited Financial Resources:
Small businesses often operate on limited budgets, restricting their ability to invest in elaborate marketing campaigns or hire dedicated public relations teams. It can be challenging to compete with large-scale advertising initiatives and media coverage secured by big brands. To overcome this challenge, small businesses need to focus on cost-effective marketing tactics such as targeted online advertisements, email marketing, and search engine optimisation (SEO), which as discussed above are not for free. However, customers can support small businesses by engaging with their content, sharing their products on social media, and leaving positive reviews to enhance their visibility and reach. When we say, we do a little dance every time a customer purchases an item, we really mean it.
Building Trust and Credibility:
Trust and credibility are paramount in the success of any business. Large brands have the advantage of established reputations and customer trust, accumulated over years of operation. Small businesses face the uphill battle of building trust within their niche. Transparency becomes a vital element, with small businesses highlighting their commitment to sustainability, showcasing quality certifications, and sharing testimonials from satisfied customers. Engaging with customers through personalised interactions, providing exceptional customer service are crucial steps in building trust. Customers, by actively supporting and advocating for small businesses, can play a pivotal role in establishing their credibility. This is a hand in hand collaboration between the customer and the brand. The more support a brand like VONB receives from its customers the more power the brand has to demand a better quality, more variety of products at better prices for its customers. So as you see, when this happens, there really is a cause for the little dance and celebration!
Differentiation and Unique Value Proposition:
In a saturated market of sustainable hygiene products, differentiation is key. Small businesses must identify their unique value proposition and effectively communicate it to their target audience. This involves highlighting the use of innovative materials, emphasising the product's positive environmental impact, and showcasing the brand's dedication to social responsibility. Small businesses can leverage storytelling to create emotional connections with consumers, illustrating their mission and values. By actively choosing to purchase from small businesses, customers not only encourage product innovation but also contribute to the preservation of diversity and creativity in the market. At VONB we are very proud to have been able to gather variety of products for daily use and for makeup artists, all in one place. We have also been very specific about how committed we are to environment right from the beginning. We have considered, production, shipping, packaging and everything in between to ensure we stay true to our mission.
Empowering Change through Purchasing Decisions:
Customer purchasing power plays a vital role in shaping the market landscape and supporting sustainability. By consciously choosing to support small businesses that sell sustainable hygiene goods, customers can drive change and promote a more environmentally conscious future. Every purchase made from a small business contributes to their growth, allowing them to invest in better materials, expand their product offerings, and enhance their impact on the environment. Customers hold the power to influence the market by voting with their wallets and encouraging a shift towards more sustainable and ethical practices.
We are in this together! When you help us with your purchase, we are able to give you more in return.