By Jove, I think we’ve got it: Citizen Commerce ™

Photo credit: Oslo

With a little help from a friend, I think we finally figured out a name to label what we do at Daily Grommet:  Citizen Commerce ™.

(Yes, we are trademarking that term– it’s a big idea.)

Many people are familiar with the various manifestations of citizen journalism:  blogs, video reporting, Digg, StumbleUpon, and Twitter.  With these new tools and behaviors, ordinary people can both supplement, affect, and leapfrog traditional news reporting.

Now Daily Grommet is giving regular people a way to shape something that is equally meaningful:  commerce.  If you share the belief that the products we all buy are a powerful force in defining the world, then Citizen Commerce means that each purchase is actually an act of citizenship.  (Good, bad, or indifferent)

Here’s how I see it:

Good citizenship has to do with supporting products that amplify “good” in the world:  by preserving craft, providing real innovation, by giving back, and by being ecologically responsible.  Not every product can carry all those banners, but in the course of a single person’s consumer life, they can create a “portfolio” of all of these positive effects.

But at Daily Grommet we take this idea a lot further than just  buying.  We are creating an experience where people can actually help us find the products that support these goals and values, where we can share feedback, and together decide which products get supported.  How cool is that?

If this idea appeals to you, send us YOUR finds:  here’s a super-quick form that we use to review ideas.  I promise we look at each one.

Here are some examples of Grommets that were submitted by people who are helping us build this movement:

iRobot Looj Robot Gutter Cleaner (Thanks Brad Feld)

Chivas Skin Care (Thanks Julia Elmer)

CleanRest Pillows (Thanks Carolyn Bagley)

Kathie Stamou Funky Washer Jewelry (Thanks Carolyn Porter)

SodaStream Home Soda Maker (Thanks Omar Khudari)

Cocoon GRID-IT Portable Gadget Organizer (Thanks Dario Antonioni)