Echostore Sustainable Lifestyle

ECHOstore Sustainable Lifestyle, the pioneer specialty store focused on eco-friendly and fair trade community made products. ECHO is the acronym for Environment & Community Hope Organization. The iconic symbol is three spirals emanating from a center stands for the power of three (three women who started it: Pacita “Chit” Juan, Jeannie Javelosa and Regina “Reena” Francisco) and the three principles: to nurture and sustain the Self, Community and Environment. All these are united in one vision: To push the sustainable lifestyle.

ECHOstore is the first concept store of its kind in the Philippines that after its first month into operation, won the 2009 Best Concept in the country from the Business in Development BID Challenge sponsored by the PBSP and foreign partners. ECHOstore was also winner of the first Ayala Green Merchants Award given in 2009 by Ayala Malls. This store brand offers everything that can make customers begin a sustainable lifestyle, while challenging them to be more conscious and caring consumers.

All the products sold at ECHOstore are any or all of the following: natural, organic, environment-friendly, and benefits marginalized communities and women groups. All customers assume a socially-responsible mind set when they step into ECHOstore. Each product comes with story tags that help the consumer understand the process in making the product and who makes them. Every product is locally sourced and makes the Filipino proud of what the country has to offer.

ECHOstore/cafe provides the retail space where artisanal crafts are sold. Organic food, natural health and beauty products, biodegradable home cleaning solutions cleaners and supplies, various products made from recycled materials like newspapers, magazines, tarpaulins, posters and streamers are turned into useful products such as bags, envelopes, waste paper baskets, home décor, containers and other functional gifts. The flagship store in Serendra also houses a café where healthful drinks like juices, organically-grown coffee and organic wines may be bought, where the menu attempts to use the products sold at the store.

Since it first opened 2.5 years ago, ECHOstore has stepped into a unique niche in the Philippines retail scene. It presented the specialty market offerings of all Filipino made products, while embracing small community groups all around the country. Its unique value chain is focused on selling products, but downstream, it moves around various organized groups such as NGOs and micro-enterprise groups that develop community livelihood skills. When products are available, ECHOstore steps in to critique, enhance either through design or product development and even begins brand positioning as products make their way to the ECHOstore shelves. ECHOstore then markets and positions these products through their retail stores, dissemination branches and small event gondolas, aligning all these with product information dissemination initiatives. ECHOstore also gives customer feedback to the communities about their products so communities in turn can further enhance their products.