SMETKA, Alternative shop and book caffe + #1 GIVEAWAY
Till now, I have already written a lot about responsible shopping, so this topic (I hope) is now more familiar to you. But to start using theory in everyday life, a firm decision and a lot of practice is needed. One of the first stores I discovered on my journey to a more conscious purchases was Smetka, which is also a true harem for responsible shopping in Maribor.
Alternative shop Smetka is located on Gosposka Street 29 in the very center of Maribor and offers visitors the possibility of alternative shopping. Every product is carefully selected, has its own story and a positive background with social impact. By knowing what you buy, the consumer is more responsible and contributes to the development of the local, social and green economy. Products that are offered in the store are products of Slovenian social enterprises, organic farms, cooperatives and fair trade.
In the store you can find products from Fair Trade 3MUHE (Ljubljana), which offers many different types of coffee, chocolate, spices as well as fair sugar, cocoa, tea, shea butter, rice, various snacks and other products such as jewelry, instruments and other products for home. By purchasing fair-trade products, we support trading according to ethical principles and contribute to reducing poverty in less developed countries, thus changing the world for the better.
An alternative shop also offers products of the eco-social farm Korenika from the very heart of the Goričko Landscape Park (Šalovci), a recognized example of good practice in the field of social entrepreneurship, employment of people with disabilities and people from other vulnerable social groups. They produce various home-made teas, tinctures, seasoning blends, syrups and liqueurs. Another example of good practice present in Smetka is Cooperative Ladies from Maribor, which have their own small restaurant on the right side of the river Drava and offer a variety of marmalades, juices and home-made vegeta which is really tasting with adding into cooked dishes.
The store also offers a nostalgic enamel dishes of Slovenian producer Emo novum from Celje. The factory of enamelled dishes was one of the first major industrial company in Slovenia, which produced various cooking dishes, enameled pots and plates with different paintings. Every one of these products brings us memories of grandma's kitchen and our past, as bitter as sweet. In the time of transition, Emo almost closed his door, but later has recovered and formed Emo novum. Due to the ability to withstand high temperatures and durability, such enameled dishes are one of the most healthy to use.
Smetka shop also supports various local designers who produce various products and jewelry from natural or recycled materials. The current visiting designers are Essen Woodcraft and Eva Prepeva. The first ones are wooden products hand-made by craftsman Matija and Tine. Another designer Eva, however, produces unique ceramics with organic shapes in which true love for making jewelry reveals.
As I already mentioned in the article EVERYTHING STARTED HERE ... Smetka is still a very young, socially responsible company, which developed from the so-called project within the society Aktiviraj se. The society is leading a number of very good programs that contribute to a greener local community in Maribor. Their first project was the center of re-use Ropotarnica, which is a program for collecting, restoring and recycling used items. Urban gardens allow people to experience gardening, get the contact with the soil and also cultivate green spaces in the city that have no function or are abandoned. They carry out creative workshops and intergenerational gatherings, thus raising awareness and information on reuse, recycling opportunities and manual skills.
As a third project, they have developed the Recycling Lab., which is the upgrade of the Ropotarnica program. The society's development center develops and manufactures recycled products under the name 100%R. The brand was created on the idea of using waste textiles and other materials for the production of new useful items. Every product 100%R is unique and has its own story behind it. They produce various bags, wallets, decorative items, pillows, bags to store fruit or vegetables and toilet bags. You can also order them items by your desires.
Smetka, however, not only offers products for shopping but also encourages the consumer to actively participate and recycle. Because they do not use plastic bags in the store, they collect paper-based used gift and shopping bags, which then offer to their customers. However, you can also bring in the store old jeans, buttons, remnants of textile, wool, thread, beads and other materials for recycling.
They also opened a new coffee shop, where you can enjoy vintage atmosphere and a large selection of books. In the special offer there is an ecological and fair trade coffee Buna, served with normal or vegetable milk. They also offer fair tea, cocoa, home-made juices from the eco-social farm Korenika, a fair coca-cola and a fair beer. Welcome to the very special atmosphere on Gosposka Street 29 in Maribor!
I have always been more accustomed to practice than theorie, so I, together with Smetka, prepared #1 GIVEAWAY with the intention TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO SHOP MORE RESPONSIBLY! I welcome you to participate; the reward is 100%R shopping bag, two bags where you can store fruit or vegetable and a small thank-you gift - a recycled pendant in the shape of heart made of waste material collected in a store and designed as a keyring. The prize game will run through social media Facebook and Instagram. Available is for all European countries. and is open till Friday, 12.4.2019 12:00 (Central European Time - UTC+01:00)
Giveaway (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/ursaconcept/
Giveaway (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/urskacotic/
Giveaway (Smetka, Alternativna veleblagovnica)
Giveaway (Smetka, Alternativna veleblagovnica)
Giveaway (Smetka, Alternativna veleblagovnica)