When I was six I was introduced to my step mom and step sister, who came to live with my dad and I from the Philippines. My step mom sends boxes filled with clothes, toys, and snacks to her family and neighborhood back home. She values sharing with them even if she doesn’t have the extra money which is something I really admire about her. Growing up watching her send these boxes inspired my idea for my senior project. I want to help people the way my step mom has helped her family for so many years. Ever since I fell in love with thrifting I have wanted to spread my experiences and advice to people who also want to shop sustainable for a cheaper price. I have my step mom to thank for my inspiration for my senior project and for my love of thrifting.
Ecotrove is a thrifting subscription box that values affordable prices for people who thrift to save money. We want to make sure buyers get their money’s worth, and have similar pricing to the ones at thrift stores. Ecotrove allows people who are too busy to go thrifting in person the opportunity to receive an affordable curated box monthly, seasonally, or whenever they need it. Ecotrove also allows the purchaser to choose how many items they want to receive. We offer three different variations of the Ecotrove thrift subscription box which include an adult clothing box, a kids clothing box, and a small home decor box.
The primary persona is Malia, a twenty-five-year-old single mom who’s trying her best to give her daughter a wonderful life while also paying the bills. Malia is a frequent thrifter with most of her wardrobe coming from thrift stores, and she shops secondhand for her daughter too, picking up clothes and toys whenever she can.
The secondary persona is Bryson, a twenty-seven-year-old who recently graduated with his master’s degree in computer science. Even though he finished school, he’s having a hard time finding a full-time job because he’s an international student from China. Growing up, his parents taught him to save money, and his mom who is a regular thrifter influenced him to try it too.
The tertiary persona is Lira, a nineteen-year-old college student. She’s on finatcial aid with a small scholarship and doesn’t have much extra money to spend on herself. Lira values saving money and wants to live more sustainably. She got into thrifting thanks to a friend and now prefers it over buying new products.
EcoTrove is an affordable, sustainability-focused thrifting subscription box that offers both clothing and decor, customized to each customer’s aesthetic and needs. Compared to competitors like A Curated Thrift, Thrificient, and Whimsy Barn Vintage, EcoTrove stands out by prioritizing cost-efficient pricing, flexible item options, and unique features such as thrifted decor boxes and donation-based discounts. While all brands promote sustainability, EcoTrove emphasizes accessibility and customer value above profit.
The creator plans to advertise EcoTrove through a mix of digital and in-person strategies, including Instagram and TikTok ads, email marketing, and posters placed around high-traffic areas like thrift stores, schools, and public transit. She also aims to build community through thrift-swap events that encourage clothing exchanges and in-person engagement. This combination of outreach methods helps EcoTrove reach busy, budget-conscious consumers both online and in everyday public spaces.
