Meeting Holistic Needs Locally
Thanks to Holistic Local, a new web-based directory that lists thousands of holistically minded businesses, the days of endless phone calls and quizzical looks may be drawing to a close.
(PRWEB) December 5, 2005
Growing concerns about health, food and the environment are just three reasons why more and more people are seeking a holistic, sustainable and healthy way of life. Green and ethical businesses that offer services ranging from organic home delivery to complementary therapies are most definitely on the increase.
Whatever your worry or need, chances are there’s a small business out there to meet it – but how on mother earth do you find a fertility boosting reflexologist or green funeral advisor and everything in-between if you want to live the good life from start to finish?
Until now, finding a specialist holistic business can be like looking for an acupuncture needle in an organic haystack. In a globalised, corporate marketplace, dominated by the advertising budgets of multi-nationals, it’s a time and energy-consuming challenge. Or is it?
Thanks to Holistic Local, a new web-based directory that lists thousands of holistically minded businesses, the days of endless phone calls and quizzical looks may be drawing to a close. By simply typing in what you want and where you want it, Holistic Local's database can reveal a list of options and contact details.
These guys are in sync with web insiders who - despite the Internet's obvious global appeal - estimate that the vast majority of searches are for local products and services. "Most people's purchases are local." says Google CEO Eric Schmidt.
“Our vision is to become the world's most popular Internet directory and search engine for holistic and socially responsible business services, products & information,” proclaims co-founder Andy Metcalfe who, frustrated by the lack of user friendly and professional looking web sites of this kind, decided to start his own.
“For conscious consumers and information seekers we provide fast, relevant search results that help people to find what they're looking for in the area they live in,” he adds.
“We also want to play a role in bringing about personal and global transformation by inspiring and helping people to raise their awareness,” says colleague Nick Sturgeon, an international expert and advisor to small businesses.
Free to use for both enquirer and the holistic businesses that populate the site, Holistic Local also lists events, courses and articles on all manner of life-enhancing and planet-saving activities relating to your part of the country.
Online now and awaiting your enquiry at: www. holisticlocal. com, this service is set to not only be a help to individuals seeking out holistic enterprises, but also to humankind as the need for these services becomes a bigger and more pressing issue.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Andy Metcalfe
+44 (0)113 229 4897
Editor notes:
Holistic Local is available on-line in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand - www. holisticlocal. com; www. holisticlocal. co. uk; www. holisticlocal. ca; www. holisticlocal. com. au; www. holisticlocal. co. nz
Holistic Local is a directory for holistic, green and conscious business services, however we soon plan to offer social & community networking services for people who want to make new friends and connect with others who share similar values and way of life.
Our search engine can be used to find:
Business & Services - Find holistic & conscious business services locally - e. g. holistic therapists, health food stores and spiritual retreats.
Events - Including workshops, retreats, lectures, expos, conferences and more.
Courses - Further your education or just learning something new - this section contains local courses.
Information - All our members are invited to add their articles into our information database. If you're looking for articles or information on a particular subject then check out our information section.
Background information for editors:
USA:
In the US, complementary and alternative medicine is a $30 billion industry and more than 60% of health plans are thought to include complementary and alternative medicine services as a covered benefit. More than 70 percent of adults aged 50 or older use some type of alternative or complementary therapy, such as herbal medicine, meditation or seeing a chiropractor - according to new study findings, and more than one third of all U. S. Adults (36%) use services of this kind.
UK:
Research earlier this year suggested that more than two thirds of British people believe that complementary therapies, including nutrition and herbal medicine, can be as valid as conventional treatment. Britons spend an estimated £130 million a year on alternative therapies, such as acupuncture and reflexology, and that is expected to rise by £70 million over the next four years.
Canada:
In a survey, almost three-quarters of respondents (73%) had used at least one alternative therapy sometime in their lives. Approximately 88% of alternative therapy users found the medical care they received to be either “very” or “somewhat” helpful. Of those who used alternative medicine in the 12 months prior, 44.3% discussed doing so with their doctor. Canadians spent more than $1.8 billion out-of-pocket on visits to providers of alternative medicine. If the additional money spent on books, medical equipment, herbs, vitamins and special diet programs is included, the estimated total spending on alternative medicine in Canada increases to more than $3.8 billion.
Australia:
Australians now spend an estimated A$2.3 billion a year on alternative medicines and therapies, a recent survey shows a significant increase in the use of alternative therapies, with 44% of men and 60% of women using alternative medicines, and 20% of men and 26% of women now consulting alternative practitioners.
(sources available on request)
# # #
