Questions and Answers

A preliminary set of decisions based on basic questions about the plan.

Q. #1: What type of business do you have?

An eco-resort, an organic or bio-dynamic type farm and a retreat center. This will be a place for people to come and relax, learn skills, network with like minds, participate in workshops, spiritual retreats, healthy active living and 'alternative' healing services, such as nutrition counseling from a variety of professionals. It will be powered by green energy, participate in a community supported agriculture program and boast sustainably developed facilities.

Q. #2: What is the purpose of this business?

To develop an environmentally friendly mode of relaxing, away from the stress of the busy urban setting. To offer employment to national and international migrant workers. To create a forum for motivational speakers (environmentalists, green technologists, spiritual leaders), to stimulate growth of the green economy including green technology and green energy industries, to secure a permanent greenspace against the (sub)urban sprawl. To educate and empower a generation of youth with the green leadership information and skills that they want. To act as a community centre for common interest groups who have something to contribute.

Q. #3: What is the key message or phrase to describe your business in one sentence?

A sustainable, dynamic, intentional community of ecophiles and visionaries.

Q. #4: What is your reason for starting your own business?

To create space for thinkers, leaders, activists and technicians to engage each other and youth in a healthy and positive atmosphere. My hope is that those who can replicate this project for other local economies will do so. My business model will be open source by year 5.

Q. #5: What is your product or service?

As an eco-resort, the main objective is to create a space for rest, relaxation, education and networking that is self-sustaining and has a minimal carbon footprint. We will demonstrate that living in a more natural style can be economical and pleasurable and that it is possible to maintain a high standard of living while respecting the environment. The services will be participant-driven, depending on our resident specialists. For example, we will have nutritionists, reiki practitioners or other form of alternative medicine and green energy technicians with functional and in-use examples of environmental technologies.

Q. #6: Can you list three unique benefits of your product?

We will promote a healthy, active lifestyle; hands-on demonstrations of technology and access to experts; various arts & culture and natural & agricultural workshops will be available seasonally.

Q. #7: Do you have datasheets, brochures, diagrams, sketches, photographs, related press releases or other documentation about your product / service?

We are developing a brochure outlining the different hospitality packages for patrons depending on the events, activities and facilities they wish to access during their stay. These packages range from daily to annual and from basic tent camping to VIP membership to all facilities. Options will include camping, retreats, conferences, weekend stays, daytime programming, week-long camps and fairs as well as any other programming that contributors wish to develop.

Q. #8: What led you to develop your product?

A dream of mine in High School was to open a pay-what-you-can cafe in downtown Toronto, allowing inner-city youth access to healthy meals and a sense of community in exchange for a volunteer shift or whatever donation they could afford. As I networked with the community in Toronto, my vision changed and grew. I met people who were into organic food, holistic healing, arts and culture, spirituality and political and environmental activism. I decided that I wanted to create an affordable, sustainable permanent safe space for people to network and educate each-other for the benefit of all involved and expand the holistic, environmental consciousness through leadership in a location away from the busy urban center.

Q. #9: Is this product or service used in connection with other products?

Yes. I expect that organizations who put on festivals, conferences, trade shows and retreats will want to use the facility for their own projects. We may find it necessary to create a space in the city to network with the urban community and businesses to generate interest both for programming and membership.

Q. #10: List the top three objections to buying your product/service immediately.

It is a work in progress, we don't have the property yet and there is no programming yet.

Q. #11: When will your product be available?

I plan to acquire land by 2017.

Q. #12: Who is your target audience?

Youth, business owners, activists, counterculture enthusiasts, environmentally and socially conscious persons, artists and artisans, healers, spiritual leaders, leadership experts, entrepreneurs, organic and bio-dynamic farmers, environmental technicians, international clientelle.

Q. #13: Who is your competition?

Farms, specifically organic farms, campgrounds, hotels, motels, Bed & Breakfasts, trade shows, retreat centers, national parks and rental cottages.

Q. #14: How is your product differentiated from that of your competition?

Our services combine the best of features of the competition into a holistic experience that benefits the body, mind, spirit. What each person will get out of a visit to the eco-resort will hopefully be practical applications for environmentally friendlier everyday living.

Q. #15: What is the pricing of your product versus that of your competition?

Pricing will be competitive yet reasonable. Many of our services and programs will be included in the price of your stay, and prices will reflect that.

Q. #16: Are you making any special offers?

Special events will have their own pricing schemes.

Q. #17: What plans do you have for advertising and promotions?

We will rely mostly on word of mouth, social networking and other organizations with similar ideals to get the word out.

Q. #18: How will you finance company growth?
We will start small and work our way up. Starting as a Bed & Breakfast type of establishment, throwing events and parties as fundraisers, approaching investors independently, and keeping our eyes open for grants and other funding from government and NGOs.

Q. #19: Do you have the management team needed to achieve your goals?

Part of the vision of this project is to enable contributors to be part of the management team, this means that the managing collective will fluctuate as the project grows. If you are interested in being a part of this project long-term, please contact me at jacki.sunshine@gmail.com