2 social business ideas

[Kala Philo]

Hello-

I've got 2 ideas that I'm just going to put out there for anyone to comment on, pick up on, forward, whatever. I can't really call them "mine" because I'm not doing anything but thinking about them. I would like to work on some aspect of either but am blessed right now to be enjoying my day job so I don't have the energy bandwidth to spearhead a startup in either area.

but I have to get it out of my brain so here you go:
these are rough ideas, the details could/ would certainly change:

idea one:

A woman's cooperative that

1.  makes environmentally friendly household cleaners from basic natural ingredients and essential oils (see Mrs. Meyers at WFM, etc.). Manufacturing would be located in distressed area, sustainable packaging, sold initially through local stores and farmers markets.

2. provides a home cleaning service that uses these products. Women form 4 member teams - members are surveyed on what would be helpful to them but ideas:
members rotate providing childcare for each other's children while cleaning clients homes,
the team cleans one member's home one morning a week. (So each woman gets a free clean house once a month). 
Company provides opportunities (via partnerships with existing programs) for women to take classes that they are interested in - financial literacy, computer skills, - they get to choose.

Some level of benefits are provided. School supplies for older children or grocery cards are a "bonus" for exemplary employees.

This company positions its domestic service as a valuable and dignified service, with well-trained, empowered employees. I have more thoughts on that front,  see me if you are interested.

Idea 2:

A retail storefront that provides a warm, fun place to create or work on a webpage. Charge per hour or come up with packages. Happy Macs all around. Friendly, knowledgeable assistance is available via trained young people who staff the store - Lifeworks? GirlStart? AISD Garza kids? Could also include a service that manages digital photo albums, creates slideshow DVDs for people, etc. Partner with a local coffee shop to provide coffee service and barista training. Yes, let people drink coffee at their workstation.

Now I know people can sit at home and get a web page put together via some template thingy on the web, but have you ever done that? It kinda sucks. It takes forever and you don't usually end up with what you want.
What if you could spend that same time in a nice environment and get some help? or better yet, say "here is my wedding date, please put together my web page for that nifty package price of..." Consumer side: weddings. online baby announcements. anniversary parties, family renunions. 

and small businesses websites, who do you know that is more busy and cash strapped than small business owners? web video packages - finally, web video made easy (OK, that's my blatant land grab)

They could come in and walk out in 2 hours with a functional website and a coffee buzz, whats not to love?

work out the bugs and this one could maybe even lend itself to franchising - HOW COOL - Austin the home of the FIRST Social Business Franchise in the country....



best
Kala

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Kala Philo
Walkie Talkie Productions
Digital and Internet Video Services
512.567.6046

Check out the latest WTP videos for small business at walkietalkieproductions.com/pages/wtpmov.html