In this day and age, most of us know the importance of going green. We recycle at home and have switched out plastic bags for sustainable totes when going to the grocery store. However, not as many green efforts are being made in retail businesses, even though it’s easier than ever to do so.
There are so many reasons to go green, with the most important one being that it is beneficial for us, the future generation and our planet. However, it’s also good for business! Going green helps you both save and make money. When you make small changes, such as becoming energy efficient, you save money every month on your utility bill.
Plus, consumers are demanding more than ever that the companies they are loyal to become more environmentally sustainable. By showing your customers that you are committed to going green, you can attract a new audience base, thereby increasing your sales. Below are five easy tips on a sustainably responsible retail business that you can start implementing today:
Make it Part of Your Corporate Culture
It’s not enough for you to decide to go green, you must encourage your entire team to do so with you. Incorporate an environmentally-friendly initiative into your corporate culture. Discuss ways to be more sustainable with your employees and how you can reduce, reuse and recycle, and then implement the strategies into your everyday life. Purchase blue recycling bins so that your employees remember to recycle. Reward them for biking, taking public transportation or carpooling to work.
Reduce Paper Use
Over 30 million acres of forest around the world are destroyed every year to make paper. This is why it’s important to reduce paper use as much as possible. Encourage your employees to email or write something down on a small post it rather than print an entire page when it’s unnecessary. Teach them to print on both sides instead of single sided.
Ask your customers if they prefer an email receipt over a paper one; this will also give you the opportunity to collect email addresses to stay in touch with your clients. Reward your customers with a small discount for bringing in their bags instead of giving our plastic ones.
Create a Green Wall
In many retail businesses, air is recirculated throughout the ducts and becomes stale. Instead of using the A/C even more or investing in an air purifier, create a green wall! This will allow you to create a unique space that is affordable and will improve air quality. Spider plants, common ivy and sword plants are the best options for cleaner indoor air and a cool look.
Turn Everything Off
It’s likely that you leave computers, cash registers and lights on when your business is not operating, which wastes electricity and raises your utility bill. If you don’t want to go through the trouble of turning each and every item on and off daily, invest into a smart plug. This way, you can control your devices from anywhere with an app or with voice control through Alexa or Google Assistant.
Green Marketing
Once you commit to making sustainable changes in your retail business, spread the word! Concentrate on effective green marketing strategies to let your customers know all of the new initiatives you’re putting forth.
Why not host an event to celebrate you going green, and educate your customers about your efforts? This is an excellent way to increase foot traffic and help new customers get acquainted with your business.
IOU Financial works with small businesses to help them finance their needs. If you need a small business loan in order to help your company go green, visit us today at www.ioufinancial.com.
