Starting Up a New Business
The spark started when I had just moved to Canberra - I wanted to recycle all of my waste including food waste at my new home. This led to a little worm farm on the balcony and then to a bigger question; what do shopping centres do? I started asking questions and researching. I was astounded when I discovered the following: Shopping centres produce 15-60 tonnes of waste a month, 40% of which is recyclable organics. Due to poor practises, this is sent straight to landfill!
I found that shopping centres wanted to do something about this but had no one to manage the large amounts of waste AND have it work for all the people involved. I wanted to impact this! So Envirolove was created with 2 partners to provide an access for these large scale industries to recycle their organic waste.
Receiving a Micro-credit Loan
To kickstart Envirolove, we required the knowledge and expertise of a viticulturist to ensure the quality of our Envirolove's end product – compost – and to create a bridge between our end product and local buyers.
The loan enabled us to be able to pay for the services of a viticulturist in the ACT region. What we gained from this was invaluable! Through his services, we were able to do soil testing on our compost end product, to show that it was a high quality product, and then tap into a market to sell our product to.
Creating a Sustainable Business
One of the most valuable and incredible things this loan provides is the support, advice and consultation. The advice and direction given to complement the microloan has played a major part in the design of this business, plus being a source of knowledge for what it takes to make a business successful. My original vision for Envirolove has grown, expanded and changed as a result of what has opened up from the advice given through the Brilliant Idea program. 
The loan has also provided credibility, publicity and media opportunities which will play a part in getting the attention of potential clients and others who will play a role in the business.
The Brilliant Idea Program
The meetings have enabled me to clearly create and develop the magic that Envirolove provides, i.e. the thing that sets us apart from everyone else.
I have taken on advice of how to balance the immediate things that are to be taken care of, with the big vision and where the business is heading.
The meetings have provided me with ideas on how to add further value to our business and have it make more impact.
I have also been given access into how to have the business have more impact with more velocity, through marketing, promotion, creating the 'smartest' way to set it up or to achieve particular outcomes PLUS the loan has led to getting into touch with valuable contacts who have made a big difference to what we are doing.
Top Tips
First of all, definitely apply for one!
Create a vision and look at the brand of your business. That way as you go along creating your business, you can always check if you are aligned with your brand and what you are out to achieve. Also be prepared for your business to look a different way to what you initially thought – have the creation be a dynamic one.
Don't ignore details and all the aspects that are required for running a business – find out about them! And love dealing with each detail and aspect! Even if it's tax or insurance etc. - they are an essential foundation for your business to be successful.
Talk to people! Get the word out there about what you are up to. There is a wealth of knowledge and support out there, and people want you to win with your business. Don't hold back, there will be someone to give you exactly what you need.
What next?
Envirolove is out to expand to other centres and industry in the ACT and set them up powerfully to recycle their organic waste. Plus we want to create ourselves as experts in waste/recycling auditing, consulting and implementation.
We are a provider for ACT smart business and office, and at their recent award ceremony, our client was nominated for two major prizes and won one due to their organic waste recycling done through envirolove. I would like to use this as a platform to approach other centres and give them confidence to begin organic waste recycling themselves.
In July we shall be starting organic waste recycling with a new type of client to shopping centres, though still providing our magic of having multiple people sorting lots of organic waste and that being diverted from landfill. I am excited about this and the future of this clients waste management.
We also have our sights on other cities and other opportunities to contribute to waste recycling.
Contact details
Jahne Meyer
0400302781
jahne [dot] meyer [at] envirolove [dot] com [dot] au
envirolove.com.au
Posted July 2011
