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Alums’ cell company offers innovation

Students wanting to go green and save green can get a little help from GreenCells.

GreenCells was founded in 2005 by Bradley alumni Jay Hines and Brian Moore with the intent of helping people to save money while going green.

GreenCells sells refurbished cell phones to customers at a cheaper price, and the reuse of cell phones reduces the hazardous waste they would cause if they were to be thrown out.

“Reusing a cell phone saves you money, frees you from contracts with carriers, lets you try new models more often, and helps the environment. Reuse is not a new idea, but it is the right idea,” according to GreenCell’s Web Site.

In addition to cheap phones and greener products, GreenCells also offers a variety of benefits many cell phone carriers do not, including a 30-day return offer, free shipping and the “trade in/trade up” program, which allows customers to turn in used cell or smart phones for cash.

It takes very little effort to become a GreenCells customer.

“GreenCells makes the buying process easy for customers, who only need to visit the online store to purchase the company’s quality cell phones,” Moore, said.  “Those interested in GreenCells can read testimonials of the company’s many satisfied customers on Facebook. These fans and customers are part of the movement that has brought reuse to the mainstream, just as reduce and recycle have gone before it.”

Moore said he also had other suggestions on how to go green during college.

“The younger generation tends to be very comfortable with living green. College students today are doing their part, starting with the three ‘Rs:’ reuse, reduce, and recycle,” Moore said. “There are so many ways to be ecofriendly, from walking and biking instead of driving and investing in used electronics to using compact fluorescent light bulbs and repairing big-ticket consumer items. Reuse of items from water bottles to electronics is shaping the way we will live and buy in the future.”

Some students said GreenCells was a good idea.

“It’s a great way for people to get cell phones for a reduced price, and it’s a great way to prevent unnecessary waste,” said freshman entrepreneurship major Zach Chapman. “People don’t really think about throwing away things like batteries, and that can really add up.”

Freshman public relations major Camille Ivy-O’Donnell also said the idea will benefit the environment.

“The idea produced by GreenCells to refurbish cell phones would be wonderful for the environment,” Ivy-O’Donnell said. “It is much more manageable than switching energy sources quickly. It is important to take small steps.”

However, Ivy-O’Donnell also said she also had her doubts about the success of GreenCells.

“Our society is very materialistically driven,” she said. “Many people could very well see these phones as just thrift store items. Even though I have found very amazing affordable items at thrift stores, these stores are not a trend many people feel comfortable jumping into. It would be very important to somehow market the phones as more than just ‘used.’ ”

Moore said what GreenCells has to offer will help it succeed.

“The GreenCells model is based on extending and enhancing the life of products via reuse, repair and renewal,” said Moore. “We offer real value – a better product, at a better price and allow our customers to contribute to a greater goal.”

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