Browsing: Festivals

Behind the Scenes

Now, I happen to know one of the warehouse supervisors very well [editor's note, they live together!] and I very often get a full and frank account of what goes on in the fulfilment warehouse on a daily basis.  So I know how hard those guys work, making sure orders are correct, secure in their parcel and dispatched on time.  Especially at this time of year, when we hunched up PC dwellers are asked to help out by picking some orders or wrapping some gifts, I think it helps everyone involved in the circle of ethical shopping understand just how hard we all work to make your shopping experience special.

Whatever you’re celebrating at this time of year, Christmas, Hanukkah, the Solstice, I think it’s important to recognise everyone involved in the circle, from the buyers and marketeers, designers and IT geeks (no offence guys!), web content and stock controllers to the pickers, packers and drivers, who were all working hard to help make your celebrations ethical.

We’ve all worked extremely hard this year to concentrate efforts towards optimising this whole process and we’re proud to say, our service is the best it’s ever been.  In April this year, we asked an independent review company to work with us who send an email to our customers on our behalf asking our customers to rate their experience out of 5 stars and share your thoughts with the world.

Since we started, we’ve already had over 2,600 reviews.  We have an average star rating of 4.7/5 and an impressive 99% approval rating!This process is not all to do with blowing our own trumpet though.  If a customer has had problems with their order, it gives us the opportunity to hear about those problems and do what is needed to make things right.

So if any of you receive one of these emails asking for a review, please take a couple of minutes of your time to complete it.It helps to keep us on our toes and it gives shoppers the confidence to choose Ethical Superstore based on real experiences.  If you had great service, tell everyone.If something went wrong, let us know and we’ll pull out the stops to put things right.

So thanks for reading, if you got this far!I hope you feel a little more clued up on how this all works and thankful, as I am, to all who make it work.

I wish you all a very, very Merry Christmas from everyone at EthicalSuperstore.com.

5pm, Wednesday, 21^st December 2011.  3 days and seven hours to go until Christmas.

One of Ethical Superstore’s priorities when we discussed the busy season six weeks ago was our commitment to getting our customers what they needed in time for Christmas.  Up to 12pm yesterday, orders could still be placed using standard UK delivery and for those who like to leave things to the very last minute, express delivery is available until 12pm tomorrow.  We’ve even temporarily reduced the price of delivery do standard is £2.95 (normally £3.95) and express is £3.95 (normally £5.95)!

Read the rest of The Circle of Ethical Shopping (Part 1) »

I’m about to leave the office to travel to watch my first gig of 2011. Packing my stuff reminded me of how many cool eco-products are now important whether you’re off to a festival, a weekend camping or just visiting friends. Windup torches, solar chargers and bio-degradeable tent pegs are now among the first things I pack when setting off on a trip away. Here are my top ten must-haves for the eco-conscious traveller.

Read the rest of The Essential Festival Guide: Our Top Eco Products That Every Traveller Needs »

Fair Trees

One of my favourite events in the lead up to Christmas has got to be decorating the Christmas tree.  Christmas shopping can prove stressful (although much easier online!), coordinating relatives can be tricky, and planning food can be a nightmare, but decking out the Christmas Tree with my favourite Christmas decorations has always been a real treat for me.

Read the rest of Fair Trade Christmas Trees delivered to your door! »

Now on 5 Cafédirect products!

Maybe it’s the essential cog in your morning routine. Or it’s that impromptu heart to heart forged from that timeless ice-breaker – “Anyone for tea?”. Or perhaps you just enjoy grinding your own beans at home on a sunday afternoon. Whatever the reason, everyone appreciates the perfect time for a good cuppa.

Read the rest of Five Stars for Cafédirect! »

As the weather warms and the longer evenings tempt us to stay up, the festival season is upon us presenting a feast of entertainment to delight in.  Musical festivals, environmental festivals, arts festivals, car festivals, flower festivals, Fairtrade festivals…

Read the rest of Eco Festival Essentials – Our Top 10 »

The phrase ‘Fair Trade’ has been in the press a lot of late. Kit Kat, Cadbury’s and organic chocolate connoisseurs Green & Black’s have all pledged their intention to go Fairtrade, and not long ago, Fair trade was named by the BBC as one of the ‘Words of the Decade’.

Read the rest of World Fair Trade Day Competition »

Burns Night.  I’ve never participated in this before, but as far as I can tell, it’s aaaall aboot the Haggis. 

Read the rest of Got Haggis? »

It snowed here in Gateshead, and we are feeling so festive in the warehouse at Ethical Superstore! Deliveries are coming and going, and all staff are working hard, packing away to the sounds of seasonal music on the radio.

Read the rest of The Elves Come To Help at Ethical Superstore! »

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No – it’s Santa Claus on his bike! A pedal powered Father Christmas may not be the Santa that you’re familiar with, but the residents of Newcastle and Gateshead are going to have to rub their eyes and look again – EthicalSuperstore.com is pioneering a brand new green Christmas delivery service this year, with same-day delivery from Mr Claus himself (or perhaps an EthicalSuperstore understudy…!)

The EthicalSuperstore.com Santa deliveries are a great way to ensure that not only are your Christmas gifts ethically chosen, but that they are delivered with minimal environmental impact. If you live in the NE1 to NE9 postcodes, all you need to do is make sure that your order is in by 10am. Request Santa delivery service in the checkout page delivery comments, and your order will be personally delivered before 2pm the very same day. As well as feeling happy in the knowledge that your delivery is carbon neutral, you’ve got reassurance that you’re beating the Christmas rush with a delivery guarantee that will bring a smile to your face, while enjoying a dose of the EthicalSuperstore Super Service.

The trusty steed that Santa will be riding is a Kona Ute cargo bike, specially designed for carrying a load in an eco-friendly fashion, without the need for a car. The Powerplus Swallow Wind Up Bike Lights will be lighting the way, and the bike is also decked out with Ecosavers Solar LED Lights for decoration as well as extra visibility.

So make sure you get your order in for Santa, and if you see him riding through your area, be sure to give him a shout of encouragement!