We are bunch of people who have started an event, and a community, called Cleaning Day, in Finland. The actual event takes place two times a year. Thousands of people go all over the streets and parks and open up their own flea market stands. They mark them all on the Cleaning Day website. Then everyone else, hundreds of thousands of people, browse the stands on using that website, and go shopping. In general, it is just a very fun day.
Cleaning Day is also a 50 000 strong Facebook community, a media about recycling and ecological lifestyles, and a phenomena.
Here it is on a video in English.
And here are the instructions on how to do it in Your country.
Cleaning Day started in Finland in spring 2012, from a simple Facebook status update by a woman desperate to get rid of all of that extra stuff (basically her husband’s) around her home. She had no idea that this post would take fire as it did: after just one day thousands of people were already organizing a recycling event called Cleaning Day, and in two days it was already in the news. Someone volunteered to do a web service, someone else did the illustrations and logo’s, et cetera. It’s been a social movement, actually.
The first Cleaning Day took place on May 2012. Nowadays, Cleaning Day takes place twice a year, on the last full week of May on Saturday and on the last Saturday of August. Cleaning Day will be next organised on May 24th 2014.
The Crises
Okay, so it has been all great so far. We accidentally started a phenomenon, got the whole country out to the streets, got tens of thousands Facebook fans – and just, basically, had a lot of fund out there milling and shopping with just lots of nice people.
But: what started as a social movement with a lot of pro bono activities, is now too big to stay that way. The web service cannot handle the traffic anymore. So, during the past three Cleaning Days, the website has crashed on the precise moment when shoppers are opening it to go looking for some excellent secondhand finds on the Cleaning Day moment. It is so sad, really: so many people have their stands ready, and since nobody can find the information about their stand, nobody comes. We are so sorry, everyone!
Which is why we definitely need a new web service. It is a rather complex and heavy web service where sellers mark their stands and give a little bit info on what they are offering, and where shoppers can see where to go. It is essential to the Cleaning Day experience. We need it.
If this crowdfunding doesn’t succeed, we will have to go with the existing site. No need to be a be a psychic to know what will happen.
This is our Offer to You
1. Making it GLOBAL
Yeah, we are going to do an English language version of the site, with options for additional languages! Yeah, you can seize the moment and start doing it too!
2. Making it EVERYDAY
Okay, this is another idea: we are going to launch another thing called Cleaning Day Everyday. It is a web service where people can mark all kinds of flea market events: in the parks, at schools, fairs – and at homes! Yes, can you see this could turn into an all new piece of urban culture, with people hosting fun shopping events in their apartments, and we would all get to go to other people’s homes? This, plus the increase in all kinds of relaxed flea market themed get togethers in the parks and neighborhoods. Who doesn’t love a market atmosphere? This time with no ecological harm. So be in it!
Support us!
We think this is a chance for you too. So please help us with this website, and you will not regret! We now have an offer of circa 6000€ for the programming for the Cleaning Day website. With some 1000€ extra we get some other cool features. And, as with programming projects usually, some problem will appear, and we should be ready to put in another 1000€. And then there are maintenance and server payments for some 1500€. So our minimum sum is 9500€. And it is also the actual goal. Surely we would love to raise more, and make the web service even better, plus do more paid marketing for the event – but this is just about enough to turn on the programmers.
It can be done. You decide!
Rewards
- Your name on the funders list on the new web service and coffee at our office * 5 euros
- Support membership for our association Yhteismaa for 2015 & coffee & name on the list * 20 euros
- Star Seller – a special sign on the Cleaning Day map service, a Star Seller poster to display on Cleaning Day at your post, and presentation of all star sellers on our Facebook page before the next Cleaning Day, and name on the funders list on the web site * 25 euro
- 50% discount in Fida secondhand stores for clothes until the 23.5. with no maximum purchase limit * 40 euros
- Dinner Under the Sky on the 6th of August 2015, tables, chairs, linen, dishes, everything ready for you outside in public space, and some entrees; you can bring main dishes for the common table * 30 euros
- Your company logo and link on the funder’s page forever * 500 euros
Help us with other means than money
Crowdfunding cannot succeed if people don’t find out about the project. Without big capital, the only way there is only one way for them to know: people share the message. It is just as valuable for you to help spread the word than it is for you to be a funder. This is how you can help.
- Tell about this campaign in Facebook. Twitter and other social media that you use. Remember to include the direct link to this campaign page. If you know nice people who might be interested in the project, approach them and invite them along.
- Tell about the campaign to companies or organizations you are involved with; they do have a great opportunity to join people and gain great visibility with very modest costs. Challenge them!
- Tell EVERYONE about this crowdfunding campaign!
Here are some pics for the dessert, yam!