For most people junk is junk, fit for nothing more than the garbage bin. For the more entrepreneurial among us however, that trash can be turned into cash.
A recent article in CNN Money entitled 'Detroit: The Innovators:Guffly.com' case studied a business that has made money out of other people's waste – and we're not talking simple recycling either, we're talking fashion.
Guffly.com is an online fashion boutique that takes other people's unwanted materials and turns them into highly stylish and, more importantly, eco-friendly clothes and accessories.
Some of the items on sale include handbags made form old seatbelts and pendants made from dominoes and scrabble pieces – sales of which may improve as a result of the online PR the web-based store will have received from the article.
The idea is simple – to make things that people will want to wear from a style point-of-view, but also feel good about wearing as a result of avoiding shops that have not been environmentally sympathetic.
Chanell Scott, the chief executive – or 'chief love distributor' according to the company – told the news provider: "We wanted to make it easy for people to find things that you can feel good about buying, but not feel like you're compromising your style or convenience."
It has only four permanent employees, as well as a few interns, but is hoping that the supportive network of entrepreneurs and businesses in Detroit will help it grow.
Indeed, it is as a result of the city's local support that the company was able to establish itself in the first place.
Ms Scott and her business partner Jordan Contreras both went to Bizdom, a free Detroit-based entrepreneurial institute, to get to grips with business and how best to go about starting one.
The programme also connects students with potential local investors - Guffly.com secured $300,000.
Support from the city's businesspeople is something that Ms Scott is acutely aware of and extremely thankful for.
She said: "Detroiters are overwhelmingly giving of their time and energy. It's been great for us to have a community that's so receptive. People are excited to have new businesses here."
The future of the city and its companies is also something that the entrepreneur is confident of.
"The people who live and work here need places to visit and places to work. I'm seeing more proof that Detroit can support local businesses," she added.
© Adfero Ltd
