Green is the New Gold
Submitted By: Diane Lemonides, President & Brand Strategist, Verve Marketing & Design
I found my Birkenstocks from college recently. I took them out of the closet and stared at them a while. Then I got to thinking about footsteps, and eventually, footprints, and how a few years ago, a carbon footprint was something you might have thought was a fun thing to do at the beach. Now, the messages are out there widescreen. Save the Planet. Global Warning. Everywhere, it seems, we are surrounded by reminders on how to make green choices in the way we live, work, and play. Organic soaps. Electric cars. All natural clothing. No matter where you look it seems like the latest accessory is a social conscience. While the first Earth Day was in 1970, it’s really Al Gore’s "Inconvenient Truth" that has gotten the environmental ball rolling lately and now there’s a domino effect. Vanity Fair and Town & Country both recently published "green" issues, and The New York Times regularly features articles on organics, including a recent story about Park Avenue socialites having the equivalent of Tupperware parties in their penthouses to launch new organic cleansers. Daytime talk show hosts are having on air "green fests." Scarlett Johansson, Gwyneth Paltrow and Julia Roberts all drive a Toyota Prius to show they take CO2 emissions seriously. It’s not only mandatory, but outright chic, to be green. You might have even noticed a new lingo out there—"ecostyle," "ecorazzi "(ecoconscious celebs) "ecocert" (certified ecological), "ecotecture," (New York Times architecture section, May 20,2007).
Everyday decisions can have a huge impact on the environment. The government recently launched a new web site, www.epa.gov/stewardship, with tips to help your business be more sustainable. But if you want to go beyond the "basic green" and also have some fun, here are tips that prove that ecofriendly and chic can go hand in hand.
First, whether it’s your home or office, get cleaning! If you think for a moment this is unglam, take a look at who is setting the trends these days. Actor turned eco chic entrepreneur Ed Begley, lately called the "greenest man in Tinseltown," is touting an all purpose cleanser, "Begley’s Best," with ingredients like olive seeds and fermented sugar cane roots, and of which are biodegradable. This is something to consider, when the average household contains anywhere from 3-25 gallons of toxic materials, most of which are in cleaners.
Second, treat yourself to organic skin care, the latest trend in eco chic self-care. Stella McCartney recently launched "Care," a unisex line that features the first luxury fashion label to launch a skin care line. Yes to organic lemon balm and apricot—goodbye petrochemicals and silicones.
Third, go clothes shopping the eco chic way, and buy environmentally friendly garb made of organic hemp and other natural fibers. Interest in buying organic fashion products increased to 18 percent of consumers in 2006, from 6 percent in 2004. The recently launched "Big Ideas for a Small Planet" on Robert Redford’s Sundance Channel, featured a story on Linda Loudermilk and other designers who focus on eco chic fibers and clothes. Other companies like Patagonia allow customers to bring in their old clothes so they can be recycled into new polyester garments. Goodbye pesticides, hello bamboo.
Fourth, buy and eat organic. There’s nothing like the boom in Whole Foods Market to reflect the change in public perception that health food is more then granola. In fact, according to the Organic Trade Association, organic produce sales are expected to grow 7 percent by 2010. Want dessert? Indulge in organic Fair Trade chocolate. You’ll be in good company - the organic chocolate and candy market grew 49 percent in 2005, with sales totaling $49 million.
If all this "ecosampling" leaves you ready for a vacation, just try one of the many ecofriendly destinations and travel packages that are booming across the country. From Costa Rica to the Galapagos Islands, eco-friendly practices are being embraced across all levels of tourism. Even the Marriott hotel chain is walking the walk, opening up ecoconscious resorts and showering customers with green tips. So pack up your hemp eco-luggage, and don’t forget your Birkenstocks. I finally tried on mine just this morning, and I was pleased to see they still fit me pretty well. Almost just like new.
Investing in Your Employee’s Education – Lessons from a Small Business Owner
Submitted By: Elizabeth Chuff, President, Ananda
An educated employee is very often your most valuable asset. Investing in your employees on a regular and consistent basis will give your business the edge, and your employees a sense of confidence and ownership.
What sets your business apart from other businesses is having the most competent and knowledgeable employees. If you are a business manager or owner with limited resources some of the following ideas can help you develop an educated workforce without overspending. There are both internal and external resources for knowledge that you can access on a budget.
Tap into your vendor, supplier or service provider network and the resources they have at their disposal. One example is organizing lunch and learn meetings. Not only will your employees appreciate the investment into their learning and development, but your vendors will be happy to work with you to improve sales of their products. Many vendors have at their disposal sales and marketing dollars with which they can sponsor a variety of on and off-site workshops and events. Another example is organizing hands-on training. Again your vendor will be happy to provide you with product samples and complimentary services so that employees gain first hand knowledge of the vendor’s products and services.
Have your stronger employees show-case their winning approach or style at staff meetings. Very often an experienced staff-member can serve as a mentor or a coach to the team. Encourage your employees to practice and develop their skill sets in one-on-one or small group sessions, particularly during down time. Seek feedback from your staff on ways to improve business processes or service offerings at management meetings.
A successful organization understands the importance of keeping up with trends in their industry. Investing in educational materials, like DVDs and books, can be a cost-effective alternative to a live instructor or coach. Circulate articles published in Trade Journals and Magazines. Talk about industry trends and developments at staff meetings. If you do know someone who is an expert, see if they will teach in exchange for services. Call other businesses and ask if they will co-sponsor an event. Like you, many small business owners are faced with similar challenges, and often welcome the opportunity to pool resources and collaborate.
Finally, be sure to reinforce positive actions in your employees. You can even do this on a budget: tap into your fellow business owner’s network to exchange or trade services as a gesture of appreciation from you to your employees. Not only will you earn good-will from your fellow business owners, but an educated employee with self-management skills that will pay long term dividends.
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