Maltese start-up that offers customizable, eco-friendly plant pots to consumers and businesses is seeking to expand its reach internationally by partnering with agents, retailers, distributors and partners particularly in Europe and North America.

Summary

Profile Type

Business Offer

POD Reference

BOMT20240213017

Term of Validity

13 February 2024 - 12 February 2026

Company's Country

Malta

Type of partnership

Commercial agreement
Investment agreement
Outsourcing agreement
Supplier agreement

Targeted Countries

All countries

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General information

Short Summary

The Maltese company has been providing its range of custom, sustainable plant pots to consumers and business. Due to its limited growth within the Maltese market, the company is exploring internationalisation opportunities and is seeking to partner with world-wide garden centres and businesses that are willing to invest in corporate social responsibility and purchase corporate gifts for their team or clients.

Full Description

The company was launched in 2022 with the aim to reinvent the ordinary plant pot into a playful decor item with personality, thus providing a product with aesthetic appeal and charm, which also creates a sense of appreciation for the natural world. The product range thus far includes aesthetically unique plant pots, which have also been strategically positioned as desk organisers to appeal to a wider target market. Many companies have opted to purchase these custom branded plant pots as a visually striking and eco-friendly alternative to traditional low-impact corporate merchandise for their staff.
The company uses 3D-printing as the manufacturing method of choice due to its versatility in design and low carbon footprint.The pots produced are made from recycled PLA filament and are modular and can be varied in design, shape, size, colour and badge features.
The badge includes Near Field Communication technology that allows a smart phone to be easily connected just by being in close proximity making it possible for the user to interact with the plant pot allowing it to perform quirky functions such as play a favourite song, call someone or turn on smart bedroom lights.

The company’s goals relating to social good are to (a) minimise plastic waste by providing a long-lasting, sustainable solution to plant pots and accessories which are traditionally non-recyclable and damaging to the environment; and (b) to mitigate the effects of climate change by contributing to reforestation efforts around the world through their ongoing strategic partnership with Treeapp, a UK-based B-corporation which plants trees in 13 countries around the world.

While continually innovating around the entry-level plant pot through new designs, materials and techniques, the company has plans to diversify its product offering to also include 3D-printed garden accessories and merchandise; exclusive and unconventional art-deco style plant pots in limited edition runs and other decorative items donning the brand's playful twist on interior decor.

Advantages and Innovations

The products' advantages when compared to traditional plant pots relate to the following points:

(i) Durability - while traditional plastic or terracotta plant pots are flimsy and weak, the products are designed to last decades, thus reducing plastic waste over their lifetime. An average person can balance their entire weight on top of an-upside down pot - in fact, this method is used to stress-test new products before going into market.
(ii) Sustainability - the eco-conscious choice of 3D-printing as the method of production is more sustainable than traditional methods due to the machines' low energy consumption; the use of a bio-based filament - PLA which is derived from renewable organic sources; less than 1% material waste due to 3D-printing precision and efficiency; the 3D printing supplier is a completely solar-powered print farme; () working towards circularity by making use of a PLA-recycling plant within our manufacturing partner's facility which would effectively turn waste into resource.
(iii) Technological Innovation - embedded NFC functionality provides users the ability to customise their plant pot in both form and function.
iv) Customasibality - in shape, size, colour.

Stage of Development

Already on the market

Sustainable Development Goals

Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

IPR status

No IPR applied

Partner Sought

Expected Role of a Partner

The ideal partner is a:
(1) Marketing Partner - a marketing partner, ideally with a sizeable team and a history of success in scaling e-commerce/retail brands through creative digital marketing and content creation. Marketing strategy, advertising strategy and implementation, SEO capabilities, connection to other brands with potential for collaboration.

(2) Retail Partner - brick-and-mortar or web-shop based stores or companies which sell plant pots, interior decor, gifts, souvenirs (or similar establishments) direct to consumers around the world.

(3) Distribution Partner - large scale agents who may supply large volumes of Happy Pot products to various retailers or plant stores through an established continental or global network.

(4) Business Partner - a company or sole investor that possesses the market knowledge, business acumen and extensive network which the team presently lacks. Whilst private investment is not a top priority at this stage, the founders understand the value of bringing on an experienced partner who could help springboard the company's growth and success.

(5) Corporate Clients - companies from SMEs to multinationals looking for a truly custom, cost-effective and sustainable solution for corporate gifts to celebrate an event or show appreciation to clients, partners and employees. Companies reaching out via this network enjoy discounted pricing and a quality guarantee, whilst contributing to their Corporate Social Responsibilities and positive PR thanks to the planting of trees around the world on their behalf.

Type and Size of Partner