As a young retiree, Scott Merlo was excited that he finally had enough time to work on his golf game. His only problem was a lack of golf partners — players who matched his skill level who were able to play more than once a week.
As an entrepreneur for over 20 years, Scott applied his business sense to the problem. Why not create a website that would allow golfers to find and contact other golfers to play with based on age, handicap, gender, occupation and location?
GolfPartners.com does just that. It is a service that allows traveling businesspeople, vacationers, and retirees like Scott the ability to search for golf partners.
GolfPartners.com users can contact other members and save hundreds of dollars by paying guests rates rather than tourist rates when traveling The site also allows members to play at private courses to which they might not otherwise have access!
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Visit GolfPartners.com
Entrepreneurs and small business owners may wonder if the growing "green movement" is relevant to them? The answer in many cases: ignoring these "eco-opportunities" can mean leaving significant money on the table.
Spending on organics, "green products" and recycling efforts is booming — driven by a younger generation of environmentally conscious consumers coming of age. The mainstreaming of green business concepts is even reflected in our evolving language — think "carbon footprint" and "localvore". The focus on conservation, recycling and organics creates opportunities for both emerging, and established businesses.
Entrepreneurs are flocking to invest in wind farms and green construction. Established businesses are cutting expenses using simple, widely available energy-saving devices. And everyone is going to hear more in coming months about "green marketing" practices designed to engender consumer loyalty and capture wallet share.
- Savvy entrepreneurs are pursuing new business opportunities in one of the many "green sectors" which are showing strong growth even in tough economic times. Hot sectors include:
- Green Construction: Green building certificates and programs are showing up in academic circles, feeding the demand for eco-friendly construction skills. According to McGraw-Hill's Construction Analytics, SmartMarket Trends Report 2008, the green building sector is worth $12 billion — accounting for 14.2% of US GDP. Mainstream press coverage, like this recent Newsweek story, highlight the growth in green building. The article cites consumer surveys showing that home buyers will spend nearly $9,000 more for an energy-efficient home, than a conventional home. "Green builders" are thriving even as the construction industry overall takes a hit.
- Green Industries & Consumer Behavior — The 2007 ImagePower Green Brands 2.5 Survey noted that: "consumers say they expect to double their spending on green products and services in the next year, totaling a staggering $500 billion annually, or $43 billion per month." As cited in the North Bay Business Journal: "The LOHAS market is composed of people who practice Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability. This $81 billion market, which includes yours truly, wants to patronize green businesses. The sooner you go green, the more likely you'll capture market share."
- Alternative Energy: from 2005 to 2006 the clean energy sector (which includes solar, wind and biomass among other technologies) grew by 39%. Investment in clean energy tripled over this time period — topping $2.4 billion by the end of 2006. The American Wind Energy Association reported that the wind-power industry grew at 45% in 2007. With oil prices topping $105 per barrel the rush to alternative energy sources — and growth in sites devoted to these businesses — shouldn't slow down anytime soon.
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Even if you aren't looking to start a new business, simply pursuing environmentally sensible practices can help your bottom line. "The Big Impact from Greening Small Businesses" cites valuable resources to help the small business owner realize significant savings — without getting in the way of doing business.
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