Green Tips for Your Retail Business
From growing your customer base to growing your bottom line, the benefits of going green make it a great strategy for any retail store. Eco-friendly retailing practices can help your business stand out in your community, all while lowering your overhead costs and creating a healthier space for your customers and staff. The Green Business Bureau has the following top green tips for retailers, and we’d love to hear yours as well!
1. Incentivize plastic bag alternatives: Incentives such as discounts or small fees offer powerful motivations for consumers to change their behavior.
2. Provide environmentally-friendly gift wrapping options to your customers: Consider reusable gift bags, wrapping materials made from at least 30% post-consumer waste, and even reused materials like twine, old maps or calendar pages, or newspaper.
3. Install LED lighting for store displays: LEDs are generally up to 5 times more efficient than even fluorescent options, and there are many models, styles, and colors of LED lights that can create exactly the effect you’re seeking while dramatically reducing your electricity bills.
4. Save energy at the cash register: Choose LCD screens instead of tradition cathode ray tube (CRT) computer monitors, and remember that touch screen displays are more energy efficient and take up less space than traditional keyboard or CRT options.
5. Green your receipts: Give your customers the opportunity to opt-out of a receipt - change your cash register or POS equipment so that a customer receipt is only printed on request.
