Regreet - Product Review

I've mentioned Regreet a few times on Granola Tendencies and I finally took the time this weekend to try the product out at the request of its CEO, Christy Elchers. Welcome to Granola Tendencies first product review.

Photo Credit courtesy of Regreet on Facebook

I received my Regreet package in the mail about two weeks ago and my initial reaction was excitement and intrigue. There was even a handwritten card included in the envelope in which it was suggested that I use that card as my first Regreet. Unfortunately, the card is too pretty to give to someone else, so right now it lives on my desk at work.

Isn't the card so pretty?

So, the first thing I was was dig around my box of old notes, cards and letters for some possible things to "Regreet." I can't give away something too pretty or too precious. It has to be something that was nice but has lived in the box for years just taking up space. (You have no idea the things I found in that box. I must not have gone through it in years!)

After finding a suitable collection of cards that I wanted to regreet, I opened the kit. It seemed easy enough. I apply the journey label to the back of the card. (This is how each recipent is able to track all the places the card has traveled.)

Then I'm supposed to apply a signature label over the message the previous person wrote on the card. I hit a snag during this step. The label wasn't big enough to cover what the person had wrote.

I tried changing the direction. Adding two labels. Nothing worked. The pre-determined size did not fit over all the writing on the card I wanted to use.

Not only did it not fit, but the whole color and theme of the "regreet" label totally messed up the look of the original card. Perhaps if the card was more earth tone in color, it wouldn't look so obviously regifted. After trying two other cards that could also not be covered with the signature label, I neatly packed the "regreet" kit back up and wondered who I could regift the regreet set to.

My review.

While the idea of regreet is intriguing, it turned out to be very limiting. In order for the product to work, you will need a card that fits its pre-determined label sizes and one in which only has writing on a certain part of the card. How does this account for people who have written on both sides of the card or in a place not able to have a label stuck over it.

Since i wasn't able to find a suitable card to regreet, I wasn't able to try the second part of the product which involved tracking the various places the card goes.

My advice.

For old cards that you come across but that need a new home, try old fashioned construction paper, glue, and magazine clippings that way you can cut things to the exact size that you need, find color schemes that work, and pretty much completely remake the card into something new.

Would I recommend this product? Sure, if all your friends send you cards that fit the exact measurements of the regreet kit. Otherwise, you'll need to find a way to regreet the regreet kit. Anyone want to try it on, I'll mail it to you free of charge!

Coming Up on Granola Tendencies

There are some happenings on Granola Tendencies. Some are a little slow in the making but they are coming.

1. My first interview with a dear friend Sam and her personal granola tendencies.
   
2. My review of the Regreet kit.
3. A guest poster speaking on asbestos and its links to cancer
4. A reader green product recommendation
5. My reactions to Dr. Greg's Watson speaking engagement

........And posts ranging on topics of what it means to be an eco-conscious theater artist, how wearing your hair natural makes a difference, and my excitement on the return of the No Impact Project. I will also be experimenting with some new recipes this weekend! Hopefully at least one that's raw!

I am also looking for recipes and recommendations on making my own shower gel, cleaning products, body butter, face moisturizer an alternative to toothpaste.

If there are things you'd like to read about, or if you'd like to guest post or if you want to be featured in an interview because of your granola tendencies, email me! Or leave a comment. I want to know.

Regreet - Product Review

Photo Credit courtesy of Regreet on Facebook

I was recently contacted by the owner of Regreet.com to do a product review. While I am waiting for the Regreet kit to arrive and test out, I stopped by the website to read more about the company. I believe what Christy Elchers has developed is intriguing and creative and is a very good alternative to just recycling old gift cards.

Currently I have two boxes under my bed which houses old greeting cards, notes, ticket stubs, and all sorts of random things. Some greeting cards..whether store bought or handmade are so beautiful that I have them displayed throughout my apartment. My mother took some Maya Angelou Hallmark cards that I gave her and framed them.

But still... there are lots more cards that are in a box under my bed.

Recently for my birthday and associate at work...actually my BOSS BOSS sent me a card that's green and white and elegant and beautil and he wrote a note inside saying how the card had been made from post consumer recycled content and it was printed on soy ink and therefore he thought of me when seeing that card...since I facilitate our green initiatives at work....and the card is nice. I love it. Its one of the ones displayed on my bookcase.

It's hard to see on this picture. But the top shelf has a white card with green swirls. That's the one he gave me. (Pay no mind to the random colored squares on the wall. They are paint samples. I was trying to figure out what color to pain my apartment. I settled on Ralph Lauran Suede Mochernut. Except its not eco-friendly. So I'm back to square one.)

All that to say...yes some cards are on display, some are framed by my mom and the rest are in boxes, bins and drawers taking up space. And each year more cards are added to that pile.

This is where Regreet comes in. Rather then just recycling the cards..why not extend the life of these cards and reuse them. Thus reducing the amount of cards that are purchased. Thus reduced the need to even buy them in the first place. (Although truth be told, I take scraps of everything since I do Art Journaling and make my own greeting cards.) But I also buy cards a lot too.

According to their website,

regreet™ Encourages Consumers to Get More Mileage from Their Greeting Cards

Greeting card re-use kits promote eco-conscious habits while connecting loved ones through the mail and online

MINNEAPOLIS – Sept. 28, 2009 – Almost everyone is familiar with “miles per gallon” ratings for their cars, but a new consumer product encourages people to consider “miles per greeting” for their greeting cards. regreet™ greeting kits enable consumers to reuse greeting cards they receive by sending them on to loved ones using whimsical labels and envelopes. In addition, card senders and recipients can track the path of these “regreeted” cards online, and watch where they travel over time. 

Reducing human impact on our planet and encouraging thoughtful consumption are central to the regreet business philosophy. regreet kits enable consumers to reduce the number of greeting cards they need to buy by reusing cards they receive. In addition, regreet kits are produced on earth-friendly materials with a minimum of 30 percent post-consumer waste and printed with soy inks. regreet kits enable consumers to reduce, reuse and recycle with panache and style. Each year, the typical American household purchases 30 cards at an average price of $2-$4 each. Getting more “miles per greeting” out of just a few of those cards each year will help eco-conscious consumers reduce their environmental impact and save money at the same time.

Supporting the Community an Important Part of regreet Business Model

At regreet, encouraging reducing, reusing and recycling of goods is just the beginning. regreet supports designated nonprofits by sharing a portion of company profits. Each time a customer purchases a regreet greeting kit, they earn the right to cast a vote for the nonprofit they think is most deserving. This year, the regreet team designated three nonprofits to receive donations: 4-H, The Nature Conservancy and Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. regreet will use the vote counts to proportionally distribute its nonprofit donations.

About regreet™

regreet greeting kits enable customers to reuse old greeting cards, reducing the number of greeting cards that enter our waste stream and saving consumers money. Regreeted cards provide more whimsy with less waste—helping senders look good and save the planet at the same time. At regreet, encouraging reducing, reusing and recycling of goods is just the beginning. regreet supports nonprofit beneficiaries who are improving the world in important ways. Every time customers purchase a regreet kit, they get to vote for the nonprofit they think is most deserving. Each year, regreet tallies the votes to proportionally distribute donations to the nonprofits. Learn more about regreet at www.regreet.com.

So, I am going to try it out. When the kit arrives I'm going to take a few of my greeting cards that are in a box under my bed...some have been there since 2000. (Almost ten years). And i am going to regreet them and send them to others.

I will also upcycle and repurpose others. I'm really trying to clear the boxes of things from under my bed and get rid of all the paper and things I have around the house. So I will take some cards and reuse them for pieces in my art journal. Maybe I'll make collages out of others. And who knows what else.

I look forward to doing a product review of Regreet and letting you know how it goes! Has anyone ever used regreet? Or has anyone regifted/repurposed a greeting card on their own? How did it go?