Bye Bye Bags, No More Paper or Plastic

The national movement to go Green has spread, and independent retailers are now investing in eco-friendly displays, paperless receipt options, and ‘bring your own bag’ (BYOB) initiatives. As Intuit’s Small Business Blog reports, “All around the country, there’s a war on plastic bags.” For retailers it is not just about environmental credit or good public relations, but adding to the bottom line. According to NPR, “Plastic bags have become victims of their own success. Their very ubiquity, an estimated 90 billion plastic bags are used... 

Efficiency Upgrades Could Provide a Competitive Edge

Efficiency upgrades could have more of an effect on your bottom line results than you think. And while some green initiatives may have a higher price tag than you would like, the cost savings and consumer interest gained will make up for the initial out of pocket expenses. Many big box retail and chain stores have made it a habit to invest in Green activities and materials in an effort to continue their plans for expansion. However, independent retailers will benefit most from their Green initiatives. Money saved will not be going towards bigger... 

Strategic Sustainability Wins UK Grocer Indie Retail Award

Supermarket News reports, “The average American is spending 7 percent less each month on groceries and $94.60 on a routine trip compared to $98.70 in 2010,” indicating that independent and local grocery shops have to work harder to keep customers coming, and more importantly, spending. American grocers, however, aren’t the only grocery retailers feeling the effects of a sluggish economy. The BBC reports that, “UK retail sales fell 1.4 percent in May. Households remain heavily indebted and are eager to reduce, rather than add to their debt... 

Retailers Looking to Provide Paperless Receipts

Earth Day is our annual calendar reminder that Green is good and energy conservation is smart. Yet, concerted efforts of eco-friendly behavior and business activity are seen daily from home owners, utility suppliers, and retailers, among others. As an independent retailer, partaking in the Green movement could prove to be the best decision you make as you position yourself in a competitive market. How can you get the word out to your customers that you root for the Green team? Ok, so maybe GE Ecomagination’s Elephant mascot isn’t waiting outside... 

Updating Your Business Model: Remember Green Work Takes Teamwork

The environmental movement is powerful, and whether you as an independent retailer are partaking in it or not could prove to be the best or worst decision as you position yourself in a competitive market. As a previous Independent Retailer piece mentions, bylined by Nicole Whitney, president and owner of Paloma Pottery, “The time has come for the environment and conserving natural resources to be factored into consumer products and is essential for a competitive economy in the 21st Century.” This statement appears true as not only mom and pop... 

Fair Trade Is Green

It’s no secret that “green” is red hot. You’ve surely noticed the marketing campaigns and retail trends that appeal to consumers’ eco-conscience, and small businesses can’t afford to ignore the profit possibilities. Here’s something else you already know: the big boys have cornered the discount goods market. There’s no way to top the buying power of chain stores without undercutting your own bottom line. Small retailers must set themselves apart in order to survive, and buying the same mass produced... 

Recycled Movie Handbags

The first thing customers do when they see recycled movie film handbags is smile and say something like, “OMG,” or, “I can’t believe it,” or, “Wow, I know someone who this bag would be perfect for!” Then they spend at least several minutes, and often longer, trying to figure out what movies they recognize in the bags. This product is definitely an item that keeps folks in your store, or brings them in to see what films they might recognize. Store owners see the delight in shoppers’ faces when they... 

Wal-Mart Implements Greener Standards for Its Suppliers

The nation’s largest retailer is taking further steps toward an environmentally sound business model–specifically by evaluating its supply chain. Wal-Mart announced on Thursday that it planned to cut as much as 20 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, which would be the environmental equivalent of taking 3.8 million cars off the road. In order to achieve this goal, the company’s suppliers are being asked to rethink the manner in which they source, manufacture, package and transportgoods with the highest embedded carbon.... 

Create an Eco Buzz: Sell Hemp

It happens nearly every time; whether it is at a street fair, the New York Fashion Boutique Show, a store, or a Grateful Dead show, the first thing a person does when they encounter products made from 100 percent hemp fabric is pick it up and smell it. Countless wholesale and retail customers all agree: this is the predominant reaction to someone’s first exposure to product made from hemp (Cannabis Sativa L.). This nasal curiosity is quite a buzz because according to the Webster’s Dictionary, and the U.S. government, hemp products are... 

Kohl's Leads the Pack in Green Energy

Department store chain Kohl’s—already the number-one ranking retailer as far as green power purchases—has officially gone to the next level. The company has announced that it has achieved 100 percent green power. “Starting 2010 at 100 percent green power helps reduce our carbon footprint and brings us another step closer to achieving our goal of reaching net zero greenhouse emissions by the end of the year,” said Ken Bonning, Kohl’s Executive VP of Store Planning & Logistics. Kohl’s has purchased nearly 1.4 billion kilowatt-hours... 

Next Page »