Viv

SHINE A LIGHT FINALIST
"Vote Viv for Change"

Imagine a way to drive environmental change, save money and reap rewards, and engage with a community of conscious consumers, all without going out of your way.  That’s Viv. 

Viv is an innovative small business that enables you to make every purchase count towards building a thriving, sustainable local community that you, your friends and family can enjoy.  Viv empowers and rewards you for supporting the livelihood and environmental sustainability of your favorite local merchants.  Viv works with small businesses, including cafes, restaurants, bars, and local retail establishments to make eco-friendly changes to their operations while bringing in new customers, driving customer engagement and communicating the business’ commitment to change to an audience of engaged customers. 

Viv works in San Francisco, California with plans to engage cities across the US.  Over seventy small merchants currently benefit from the Viv program and 20,000 consumers are members - armed with a loyalty card in the form of a Viv sticker on their credit card. Each Viv merchant commits to making sustainability enhancements to their store (i.e. improving recycling system, adding compost bins, switching light bulbs to more energy efficient CFLs) based on Viv consumers showing their stickers.  Viv consumers drive eco-friendly change by showing their sticker while making purchases at Viv businesses.

One Viv merchant, a sports apparel retail store, loves the Viv program because it gives them a mechanism to share their environmental commitments and progress with their consumers without tooting their own horn.  It also creates a tangible connection between consumer behavior and eco-friendly improvements.

Viv is creating a network of conscious consumers that are empowered to vote with their wallets, and use their purchasing power for good.  Going forward Viv will be enhancing the program with direct rewards for consumers, and mobile technology to inform consumers as they go about their day. Viv is a system by which merchants and consumers can communicate about the importance of resource efficiency and drive and reward change.  The impact of Viv is unlimited: giving anyone anywhere in the US a means by which to vote with their wallet, building a national network of millions of people who care about the future of our planet, building environmentally sustainable small businesses, and driving awareness of the need to conserve our resources and use our collective purchasing power for good.