PLANT BOYS: DELIVERING FRESH OXYGEN ON BICYCLES

STREET CYCLIST OF MUMBAI.

For an e-shopper, it is convenient to order plants online and get them delivered at their doorstep. Through Virtual platforms, gifting plants on special occasions is another possibility with a click of a button. Online shopping helps save time and travel cost, allows quick comparisons, get the best deals, redeem coupons and provides payment options that add-ups to the credit card points.

Consumers who vouch for the personal experience involved in a traditional shopping process would still prefer visiting the local plant nursery. They can examine the variety more closely, like to touch and feel, survey the market for new stock, bargain to get better deals and establish loyalty with the seller. And those who like group shopping, it’s a great idea of spending time, gossip on the way, make plans and some parents believe it’s good for children to relate their botany lessons with actual surroundings.

But did you know there is a third alternative to buy plants?

Utilitarian cyclists run a creative business model of selling natures produce on two wheels. Shrubs and flowers stacked on rectangular plastic crates are shuttled in the backstreets of urban neighborhoods. Cafes, boutiques, clinics, saloons, building residents and cottages often procure green inventory to adorn their gardens. Getting access to plants via cycle logistics is like ‘fusion shopping’, where a customer experiences a mix of both online and offline benefits. Order a certain species in advance, fix a specific time of delivery, payment on arrival and get cheap bargains. All this is possible with the Plant Boys.

At this moment in time, their entrepreneurial ventures are impacted by corona virus lockdown. Streets are deserted and the sustainable warriors have remained out of sight. I photographed a few of them previously and sharing in this article.

Post lockdown is lifted, buy some plants from them and re-inforce their effort in promoting eco-friendly ventures. At least with a bicycle, the boys are able to make a living and not dependent to receive alms, begging or any sort of a crime.

You can make a difference.

Every day is a new beginning, take a deep breath and do something green!