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Sunday, February 15, 2009

"green" Terminology/Dictionary

Are you eco-saavy? Are you working on reducing your carbon footprint? Are you reducing your water usage therefore decreasing your greywater output? Do you think LED or CFL are secret government acronyms or have you already replaced your standard incandescent light bulbs with them? Are you reducing, reusing and recycling for a better tomorrow? Every little thing helps in making tomorrow greener. With a little understanding of the "green" terminology being used today you too can help with making a Greenier Tomorrow.

Below is an incomplete list of green terms. Click on the green term to be directed to a more complete definition. Please feel free to contact me with additional terms and discriptions.


ANTIMICROBIAL- A natural substance that kills or inhibits the growth of microbes such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, or parasites. For example, Bamboo fabric is naturally antimicrobial.

BIOACCUMULATION - is when toxins taken up by plants and animals from their environment become concentrated in body tissues.

BIODEGRADABLE- Refers to the process by which organic substances are naturally broken down by living organisms when thrown into a landfill.

BIODIVERSITY- Is the state of different living things within one area including plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms and the ecosystems they are part of.

BLACKWATER- Is water that contains fecal matter and urine - i.e. sewage

CARBON FOOTPRINT- Is the carbon dioxide emitted by a person or industry

CFL- Stands for Compact Fluorescent Lamp - an energy saving light bulb.

CHLORINE-FREE- A chlorine-free product does not contain chlorine as a disinfecting or whitening agent, providing a safer, less irritating and less harmful alternative. Chlorine can trigger negative reactions in children, the elderly, and people with chlorine-sensitivity.

CLIMATE CHANGE- Means the rapid change occurring in the Earth's global climate due to many enviromentally unsafe activities.

COMPOSTABLE- Material that breaks down to become what is essentially dirt. It contains no toxins. Compostable materials can sustain plant life.

ECO-SAAVY- Individuals who are aware of their enviroment and the effects their lives have on it.

ECOSYSTEM- The physical and biological elements of an area co-existing to form a self supporting environment.

FAIR TRADE- an organized movement promoting standards for labor, environmentalism and social issues in areas of production of Fair Trade labeled and unlabeled goods. The Fir Trade movement focuses on exports from developing countries to developed countries.

FORMALDEHYDE- Formaldehyde is classified as a human carcinogen and is a known/possible cause for cancer.

FOSSIL FUEL- Is a hydrocarbon deposit used for fuel such as oil, coal and natural gas. Fossil fuels take many years to be created in the natural environment.

FREE RANGE- A method of farming where the animals are permitted to roam freely instead being confined to an enclosure.

GLOBAL WARMING- Is the increase in the average temperature of the Earth's air and large bodied water temperature mainly due to human influences such as emissions, pollutants and the loss of natural resources.

HYPOALLERGENIC- Is a term used in describing cosmetics, textiles and metals that are known to cause fewer allergic reactions.

LED- Light Emitting Diode is becoming a replacemtn for traditional incandescent lights.

LOW-IMPACT DYES- These dyes are synthetic dyes that chemically bond to the clothing fiber. They contain no heavy metals or toxic substances. They use less natural resources in the dying process therefore have less effect on the enviroment.

LOW-VOC FINISHES- VOCs are Volatile Organic Compounds or organic chemical compounds significantly vaporize and enter the atmosphere. VOC finishes have the same the same as traditional finishes without health hazards of pollutants.

MDF- Medium-Denisity Fiberboard - an engineered wood product used in furniture making and home construction.

NATURAL- A natural product that is not altered.

ORGANIC FOOD- Are plants that are grown without pesticides, artificial fertilizers or sewage or processed without food additives. Organic food products produced from animals have not been feed or injected with antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic foods usually costs more, but has far less environmental impact.

PARTICLE BOARD- is an engineered wood product.

POST-CONSUMER WASTE/RECYCLED- Post-consumer material is product that has completed its life cycle as it was intended for and would normall been disposed of but is recycled for reuse. Post-consumer materials include recyclables collected in recycling programs, such as paper, cardboard, aluminum cans, plastics and metals.

PVC- polyvinyl chloride, or PVC. PVC is the only plastic that contains chlorine, so it is creates a hazard.

RECYCLED/ RECYLABLE- A recycled product is a product that contains recovered materials such as post- consumer plastics. Recovered materials is trash that has been recycled from landfills and processed for another use. Recycled products are not always post consumer waste. Many manufacturers recycle the production waste, ie. virgin or recycled chipboard is used in making boxes - when those boxes are die cut out of the sheets of chipboard the waste around the boxes are recycled immediately.

REDUCE- Means to minimize the use of enviromentally unfriendly products therefore producing less post consumer waste.

RENEWABLE ENERGY- The use of natural resources such as sun light, wind, ocean tides and surface tempatures to create other forms of energy such as electricity. Windmills or Windfarms are becoming a more common sight through the US.

SOYBEAN FIBER- Soybean fiber is a textile fiber made from renewable natural resources and is sustainable.

SUSTAINABLE DESIGN (these are lsited together since they all mean the same thing)
ECO-DESIGN
GREEN DESIGN
ENVIROMENTAL DESIGN
Are all desciptions in the designing of physical objects to conform with the principles of economic, social, and ecological sustainability. The primary purpose of sustainable design is to manfuacture buildings, products and to offer services that help reduce in the use of non-renewable resources such as lumber and minimize the environmental impact offering the consumer a more natural environment and product.

SWEATSHOP-FREE- Sweatshop is where working conditions are poor and workers are paid little while using making textile products. Sweatshop Free is used to describe products that are manufactured in a work enviroment that has fair treatment of workers and follows regulated age and wage guidelines.

VEGETABLE DYES- Any coloring agent that is obtained from a vegetable. Vegetable dyes are mostly an all natural dye and they are more sustainable and an eco-friendly alternative compared to chemical dyes.

WATER BASED INKS- pH neutral inks with a water base rather than petroleum, oil, or metal bases.

Green Dictionary

I just found this complete Green Dictionary and thought for all of you who really want to know all the green terms - Here they are!

http://www.green-e.org/dictionary.shtml

Friday, February 13, 2009

Everyone is Red Hot for "green" Products

How about your local newspaper? Are they focused on local eco-friendly businesses?

Trade magazines and newspapers in the retail packaging industry are all concentrating on "Green" businesses. The local newspapers have been highlighting local manufacturers, growers and businesses trying to be enviromentally friendlier.

So how about the retailers? Don't you think if you have a custom paper or plastic shopping bag made from recycled and biodegradable materials with your name on it, use giftboxes made from 100% post consumer waste, and recycled kraft tissue that might be news worthy?

So retailers go ahead and try it. Have the packaging made and then write a press release to every newspaper within a 50 mile radius of your location, tourist publications and community websites and tell them. You will be surprised how interested an editor will be of the simplest local interest story and you will be more surprised in how many locales will respond to a news paper article.

If new packaging isn't in your budget then offer a discount to those customers bringing in their own shopping bags to take away their purchases. Tell that to the editor. I know I would come visit and make a purcase for a discount. A local grocer gave five cents back for every plastic bag I re-used on every purchase. I know I used 10 bags with most of purchases and that wasn't a huge savings but I thought it was a great attempt by the grocer.

Of course if you are in a "green" community and everyone is already doing it then it might not work. Well then you send out a press release stating you finally joined the "green" movement and some locales might visit your store because you finally came around to their way of thinking.
Watch for my next blog on how to write a press release.

Saturday, January 31, 2009

Perform for your Customer!


A great Broadway Preformance takes alot of work and so should your performance.

Create an atmosphere that is play-like for your customer. Each step of your customers buying experience in your store is another act in your store's play. Your stores product line and atmosphere is the plays story line. Is it the best performance you can give or is there room for more practicing?

You wouldn't buy a ticket to a boring Broadway performance and neither will your customer purchase your ticket or product if its not a great store (story) line.

Every great Broadway play entertains the audience with a dramatic reading of its story line and you should preform or read your store's line with enthusiasm and drama. Entertain your customer and give them what they are paying for.

So, What is your story?

Your store's atmosphere, your employee's appearance and personality, and finally your product line.


Let's start with the atmosphere or stage:

A Stage or Set design must be great to draw the attention of the audience. Your store must be carefully planned to create an atmosphere that is appropriate for your setting, ie., a small cottage boutique wouldn't have flashy contemporary furnishings. No, a small cottage boutique will have fashionable cottage inspired furnishings in white washings, wicker or natural aged woods and touches of color highlighting trims and displays. A store in a mall might have bold and contemporary furnishings. Also your products must depict your set design or stage. Your image says a lot about your store's product pricing. Classic and Traditional furniture in a cottage design indicates a moderate to higher price product where bold white and industrial indicates a low end product like Walmart and such. Also lighting is always used on stages during plays, use your lighting to create dramatic displays. Accent lighting should be used to highlight merchandise of interest. Dark areas of the store are going to be overlooked unless it is called for as in a romantic display such as a playful bedding display or a tabletop display set for two by candlelight. Your customer will be drawn to the lit areas and displays. Spot lights work well in emphasizing a display in a dark area of the store. Large department stores use bright lighting throughout there stores. Though I have noticed that Walmart's lighting in their paint aisle is more like the natural light in a home and not as bright as every where else in the store. Of course retail packaging falls into your atmosphere setting. A well designed match packaging is your play leaflet. Your customer will bring it home and cherish it forever or pass it advertising for your next performance.

Moving onto act two - your employees:

You and Your employees are the actress' and actors in your set design. Have you fulfilled the roles of your store line properly. Each member of your play's cast needs to deliver your store line to your audience when they enter through your door. Curtains drawn! You must hire your cast with their understanding of their part in the play. Your employees must understand your stage and your store line. Explain it to them, rehearse with them and then preform with them. As far as your match packaging develop an act and perform it the same everytime. Use the same tissue in the same bag and box everytime. This will create a great advertisement for your store. People will become familiar with it and remember it.


Moving onto act three - your product line:

Your product line must be a part of your stage or set design. Meaning they must work together, comtemporary art isn't going to work on the walls of a cottage boutique but beautiful landscapes depicting tranquil skys will. Purchase your product based on your location, your store's atmosphere and your customers wants and needs. Price those products fairly for your customer.


And the final preformance:

The climax of all great plays will tear the house down if done right and you will know once it happens. No great preformance will happen if the audience or customer doesn't walk away with a shopping bag in their hand a smile on their face. NO standing ovation needed just repeat customers needed.

A great retail play will occur in your store if the above acts are completed flawlessly. Now think about your preformance or your employees to your last audience. Was it flawless? Are there improvements that can be made? Think Broadway Stage not a High School preformance. Your customer deserves the best now do break a leg and give them it.