Green Industry Search - Aggregating an Industry - How We Got Here

We finally got it right. It's only taken 7 years. (:P)   www.GreenIndustrySearch.com is working.

We've had 24 companies sign up today. They get it. The industry is supporting the notion that our industry needs ONE database that aggregates what is fragmented, at a "no brainer" cost of $99.00 per year to subscribe, and FREE to use (no passwords).

Here is how we got to this place:

In 2001 we launched a web product called Green Industry Yellow Pages (www.GIYP.com). It was way ahead of its time in regards to Internet Search. We had trade-only businesses on the site and could not keep the consumer out of it. Wholesale businesses being contacted by Harry and Henrietta Homeowner looking for a pretty tree. Yikes!

Then, in 2004 - 2005 we partnered with a magazine publisher in an effort to provide a web product that integrated content and commerce, at the same time closing off the search engines (consumers) from finding the site.

Well that didn't work either. The magazine sales team had no interest in selling interactive and couldn' speak the speak, so it sat on the shelf of the magazine. The Green Industry Yellow Pages customers suffered.

We decided that we owed our GIYP customers something, so we extended their listing through 2007 to make up for "our bad".

During 2007, we changed our corporate name to 10-20 Media, Inc. (from Green Industry Yellow Pages) because the Yellow Pages mindset was "I don't use it or need it, and it's too expensive". We were pigeon-holed into a yellow door stop.

So here we are kicking off 2008 with www.GreenIndustrySearch.com, a search engine for green industry trade products and services, at a low barrier to entry, in an effort to create a true resource for finding products and services on the Internet.

We have recently opened up an opportunity for trade shows to sponsor their exhibitors for FREE, as the shows are the existing marketplaces where a friendly smile and a handshake still counts.

For those exhibitors who want to add text and links (called a Standard Listing) to their listing, it is as simple as filling out a form.

Here is an example of what a Standard Listing can be.

I appreciate the words of encouragement you have given me along this journey. I want you to know that I listen to your praise and your constructive criticism and take both seriously.

Thank you green industry friend,

Steve