ORGANIC COTTON BABY CLOTHES
ORGANIC, COTTON, NATURAL, CERTIFIED ORGANIC

Allowing Customers to Friend You on MySpace & Facebook

Is your company on MySpace or Facebook?

Check out Blentec’s MySpace page to see how the small blender maker, famous for its viral Will It Blend videos, is bringing its online marketing together with social networking.

Blendtec is just one example. Here’s the Facebook page of PTS Data Center Solutions Inc., a small New Jersey consulting firm.

Small and midsize companies in the U.S. are expected to move more of their advertising and promotion to social networking in 2008, doubling their investments in sites like Facebook, MySpace and LinkedIn, according to a forecast by Access Markets International Parters Inc., an information-technology strategy firm.

These digital outposts, while typically low cost, can require a lot of managing. And all that interaction can raise potentially uncomfortable situations when customers take advantage of these sites’ easy ability to talk back — you may not always like what they’re saying.

Small companies looking at social networking should choose where they want to be and what they want to say carefully, says Niki Fielding, chief executive of Digital Brand Expressions, a consulting firm that helps PTS with its strategy. To be effective, these pages should be refreshed and monitored frequently — and you have to engage users. “You can’t just set them up and not involve yourself in the community,” she says.

We have two websites: www.chocolatedownunder.com.au and www.organicbabe.com.au selling worldwide.

Our problem has always been who to use and exactly what is the right thing for you to do.

There are so many websites and information out there and after all the research and long hours reading and reading you still sometimes dont come up with more clicks.

Its hard for a small business to begin their dream and lack of knowledge is one of the key issues of how successful you will be.

I will check out the above websites and hope they will be useful.

Thanks for the great article.

- Cotton is one of the most widely traded commodities on earth. It is versatile and as such, is used for a vast variety of food and fibre products. - Cotton represents an essential component of foreign exchange earnings for more than fifty countries.

Yet the simple act of growing and harvesting the one kilo of cotton fibre needed to make a simple T-shirt takes an enormous toll on the earth's air, water, and soil, and has significant impacts on the health of people in cotton growing areas.

"According to 1995 data, for example, United States farmers applied nearly one-third of a pound of chemical fertilizers and pesticides for every pound of cotton harvested. When all nineteen cotton-growing states are tallied, the crop accounts for twenty-five percent of all the pesticides used in the U.S. Some of these chemicals are among the most toxic classified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In developing countries, where regulations are less stringent, the negative impacts are even more severe." [www.sustainablecotton.org]

The good news is that positive alternatives to conventional cotton and its related businesses are available. Over the past decade, a small number of farmers and manufacturers have pioneered the market for organically grown cotton, producing fibres and clothing while significantly reducing toxic chemicals.

The truth about ORGANIC COTTON

Organic cotton is grown and processed without the use of harmful chemicals. Unlike conventional cotton, sustainable farming practices have been used to produce organic cotton without chemical pesticides, defoliants or fertilisers. These practices do not pollute ground or surface water, soil or air. Organic cotton is safer for farmers, for you, for your children and for the environment. Organic cotton feels softer, smells cleaner and is less likely to trigger allergies.

Comparing Conventional & Organic Cotton

Con: The chemicals used on conventional cotton are among the most toxic substances used in farming, the runoff from irrigation seeps into our drinking water and contaminates it.
Org: Organic farms respect our water resources by eliminating the use of chemicals that pollute. The primary focus is building healthy soils together with protecting and conserving water resources.

CON: An estimated 25 million people worldwide are poisoned by pesticides every year.
ORG: Organic production reduces health risks by preventing harmful chemicals from getting into the air, earth and water that sustain us.

CON: Conventional cotton occupies 3% of the world's farmland, but uses 25% of the world's chemical pesticides and fertilisers.
ORG: International production of organic cotton was 6,368 metric tons, or in excess of 14million pounds. All grown without harmful chemicals.

The choice is simple - ecologically sustainable living.
Together we can make a difference.

Soft Touch
Sept 2001 | Vogue Kids

Australian clothing label Gaia and toylabel Maud n Lil have both used eco-friendly organiccotton to create baby clothes and toys suitable for sensitive little skins.

Gaia Organic Cotton

Another business taking the responsible design journey is Gaia Organic Cotton.

Based in the Blue Mountains about 90 minutes from Sydney, designer/director Annette O'Donnell made the change to organic cotton about two years ago when she was designing a range of children's wear using conventional cotton.

"I was becoming more environmentally aware and concerned," says Annette. "When I learnt about the cotton industry and its extensive use of toxic chemical pesticides I knew I had to make a change and hopefully make a difference."

Such was the birth of Gaia Organic Cotton, Annette's design business where she combines her commitment to the environment with her love of design.

Primarily for newborns, the Gaia range of babywear includes garments as practical as they are gorgeous. Pants, pullovers, tank tops, bloomers, bodysuits, kimonos, sleeping sacs, rugs, hats and sheet sets make up the collection which is all made in a natural cream - as there's no pink or blue, customers can plan ahead without wondering if baby will be a boy or a girl.

Features of the range, aside from the organic cotton, include the mittenlseeves - ideal for sheltering tiny hands; the drawstring - making nappy changes simpler; and the kimono - great for those who prefer the wrap around dressing option. "Organic cotton for babywear makes sense," says Annette. "Not only is it soft and safe for their tender skin, the next generation is our future and as the quote says, we didn't inherit the earth from our grandparents, we are borrowing it from our grandchildren."

How old is Gaia?
The Gaia collection was launched one year ago, however in my mind I have been doing Gaia for about three to four years! The range has always used organic cotton.

Are you enviro friendly?
Absolutely! ...What frustrates me is that many people do not realise how simple it can be to make small steps for cleaner living. Obviously many urban homes can't compost and enjoy a backyard vegie garden, but things like recycling, refusing plastic bags and using environmentally sound cleaning products can be done without making great lifestyle changes. It's a matter of people taking responsibility.

Where do you get your inspiration?
I don't have children myself, but I am the youngest of five and my brother and three sisters are all having babies - so for the past couple of years there's been a constant supply of baby models!

Any organic feedback?
Just constant comments about how soft the cotton is. In fact on a number of occasiions I've herad feedback from mums and dads that Gaia is their favourite babywear.

Plans for the future?
Heaps of plans! If only there was more time in the day so I could do everything now! My business has taught me to be patient and realise that things don't happen overnight. Good design and marketing takes time. I've got so many ideas I can hardly wait to implement them!