Product life stories can be used to demonstrate sustainability—as in the case of Made-By, which we just recently covered—but they also simply make new products more interesting. Such authenticity-boosting status stories are at the heart of the Daily Grommet, a curated marketplace that highlights one such tale every day.
Currently in beta, Massachusetts-based Daily Grommet releases a profile of one new product each day at noon Eastern US time. Products chosen for inclusion on the site range from household products to kids' items to simple indulgences; most are from small, independent producers and are selected for their combination of craft, utility, invention and style. Many products are submitted by visitors to the site; others are discovered through team members' own research. On Tuesday of this week, for example, the product profiled was "Arghand hand-crafted soap pebbles from Afghanistan," complete with video, social and environmental context, and specific product details. Subscribers to the Daily Grommet can comment online about a particular day's profile as well as buying products online; widgets are also available for publishers, with revenue opportunities through shared sales or click-throughs.
Combining thoughtful curation, status stories and a pinch of planned scarcity, the Daily Grommet is attempting to go a step beyond Etsy and other online marketplaces with its up-close focus on product origins. Artists, craftsmen and manufacturers around the globe are no doubt lining up for consideration even as we speak; for all others, one to emulate with a niche or regional approach...? (Related: Upscale vending machine sells curated luxury goods — Top 3 choices for shoppers — Ranking Ranqueen — A deal a day.)
Website: www.dailygrommet.com
Contact: folks@dailygrommet.com
Hi Springwise folks! This is Jules, pictured using the scissors in the photo, and founder of Daily Grommet. Springwise readers will really "get" what we do...I found Springwise when I lived in Ireland and really appreciated your keeping me in touch with innovative ideas all over the globe. You were an inspiration to Daily Grommet. For anyone taking a look at us, be sure to click the brown button "Shop more Grommets"--to see the range of videos and stories we have created. There is a world of great innovation out there, and we try to help it thrive! This venture has been SO much fun, and we welcome any product ideas Springwise readers would like to submit. Just use the link at the bottom of our home page to submit your favorite idea for a "Grommet".
Whilst the site is great looking and features interesting things, I am not sure how new this is, as surely it treads very similar ground to Daily Candy? Whilst the suppliers might be smaller, the principal would seem to still be the same.
Hi Helen T. - Jeanne here - and I'm part of the founding team at Daily Grommet. In some ways you're right that there are similiarities between what we're doing and what Daily Candy does, but we think we're taking this concept in an exciting new direction. Like us, Daily Candy features new, or up-and-coming products and services, but we also enable our shoppers and community to make their purchases right from our site. We dig deeper to tell the stories behind those products and services, and we do it with a video every day. One of the biggest differences, though, is that we invite our community into the conversation - so each day we have a representative from that day's "Grommet" available online to answer questions and talk about their business with our own community. We've had authors like Jane Hamilton and Wall Street Journal columnist, Jeff Zaslow ... talented musicians like Will Dailey ... and entrepreneurs like Aaron Patzer from Mint.com. I hope you'll take the opportunity to poke around on the site and let us know what you think. It means a lot to us that Springwise chose to feature us since, as Jules mentions above, we're so inspired by this community's passion for what's new and exciting!
Seems exactly like Woot.com and Delight.com -- they both are curated, one item-a-day sites
Jules from Daily Grommet here again. @CarlenLea. Well, kinda sorta. I love Woot's simplicity and the way they cleverly write about their offers. And their great community vibe. But they do end-of-life cycle stuff, mainly from big manufacturers. You know, the end of model before the new, better one is introduced. Daily Grommet is all about discovering the new, the innovative, and definitely not about dumping old stuff.
Funny you mention Delight...I just met their delightful CEO. We do look at many of the same product categories and respect what they do.