|
Thursday
November 17, 2011 Six Myths About Going GreenFiled under: Green
This month’s “Business of Wearables” edition, written by John Veach of Century Place Inc., describes how all “great journeys start with the first step” and that one singular person can make a difference. It’s a good read, complete with six myths about going green, so check it out! And in the meantime, to pique your interests about the eco-friendly movement, here are the six myths:
Monday
September 27, 2010 Tip of the Day - 4 Ways to Overcome Eco ObjectionsFiled under: Tip of the Day
Here are four talking points and details Chiu recommends sharing with clients to overcome objections:
From WearableStyle, vol. 132
Friday
September 24, 2010 Tip of the Day - Promote Your Business in an Eco-Friendly WayFiled under: Tip of the Day
Susan Singer, senior vice president of sales for The Corcoran Group and a self-proclaimed “eco-broker,” has branded herself “The Green Queen.” She promotes the sustainability of the properties she’s offering, and drives potential clients to her website with an eco-friendly self-promo product. “Years ago, I used refrigerator magnets and a mouse pad, and they both got me a lot of mileage,” Singer says. “But I wanted to do something that was eco-friendly this time and that could be used in an eco-friendly way.” To help spread the word about her business, she ordered plenty of imprinted tote bags made of recycled plastic material. The bags feature a stenciled image of the historic London Terrace apartment building, for which she’s a broker, as well as her contact information and branding for Corcoran Group Real Estate. She decided not to include the name of the London Terrace building so that the bag would have wider appeal – she wanted it to be “just about living in New York and having an eco-friendly bag … that way people will want to use them and it’s just free advertising,” she says. Singer sent the totes to her neighbors, clients and potential clients – and gave one to every unit in London Terrace. She also distributes them at events when the opportunity arises. For example, she recently offered the bags after she spoke at an Earth Day seminar at Baruch College in Manhattan. The totes direct people to Singer’s website, www.susansingerspaces.com. On this informational and self-promotional site, they’ll find information about her properties ranging from Brooklyn to Uptown Manhattan, as well as Tales of the Green Queen, a regular comic strip in which a cartoon version of Singer tours the city, helping people save on energy costs. Singer’s totes get an enthusiastic response. “I’ve had people call me or e-mail me saying, ‘I’m so grateful for this tote. It’s so sweet and reminds me of the building,’ and people from the building have just stopped me on the street,” she says. “It’s really been very good for me.” From Stitches Embroidery Business Insights, vol. 127
Tuesday
June 22, 2010 Top 10 Made In the USA ProductsFiled under: General
For more, read yesterday’s press release. And if you’re interested in more seasonally themed product lists, choose from the following:
Enjoy! –BigTopPop
Tuesday
April 13, 2010 Tip of the Day - 5 Earth-Friendly OptionsFiled under: Green, Tip of the Day Curious about what to look for when sourcing for earth-friendly promotions? Try searching for these options:
From Advantages University, April 2010.
Thursday
March 25, 2010 Top 10 Eco Friendly ProductsFiled under: Green
For the complete top-10 list, including the contact information on how to purchase products, go to www.asicentral.com/earth. And as a special bonus, our very own Joe Haley — of The Joe Show fame – gives us a video rundown of the top-10 eco-friendly products in the industry today. Click here to watch the video, or just watch it below. Peace, man. – Mr. ECO
Thursday
October 29, 2009 Sell This Product - Eco-FriendlyFiled under: Sell This Product Products that are safe for the environment don’t have to cost a premium. In-house recycled materials can improve cost-effectiveness and offer big savings. When Garyline (asi/55990) started molding plastic necktie hangers with recycled plastic in the 1960s, nobody knew recycled would become one of the biggest trends in the industry. The supplier has always molded about 10% of its product. Scott Denny, vice president, says the company used to collect all the runners, trimmings and rejects in the molding department to be re-ground and recycled. This first-use, primary recycling is food-safe and can be used in housewares such as sports bottles and auto mugs, which are Garyline’s best-selling recycled products. In addition to bottles and mugs, the company offers tote bags, chip clips, ice scrapers, flyers, yo-yos, first aid cases, clipboards, rulers and many other products. Although many manufacturers sell off the recycled material for use in park benches, flower pots or garbage cans, Garyline began recycling its own plastic 40 years ago as a way to improve competitiveness. “We have always been among the lowest-cost producers because we do not lose 10%-15% of our raw material to waste,” Denny says. Today, many of the supplier’s products are available made of only recycled materials at costs equal to or less than their non-recycled versions. Expanding the company’s color selection has also improved sales of recycled products. Garyline prides itself on remaining on the leading edge of technological developments in the industry. In 2008, it began offering sports bottles made of clean, food-safe, re-crystallized, post-consumer recycled PET at a cost comparable to virgin PET. Denny says the company recycled the equivalent of 12 million disposable one-use soda, juice and water bottles into reusable, recyclable sports bottles. And in 2009, the company began purchasing food-safe, post-consumer-recycled HDPE, and from this material, they have developed a 100% post-consumer recycled bike bottle. “Everyone is concerned for the environment,” Denny says. “Using recycled plastics, especially post-consumer recycled plastics and reusable products that replace disposable products, is a great way to do something to help the environment.” Most people want eco-friendly options without having to pay a premium. Denny says the higher cost for recycled materials is largely due to many manufacturers and importers who see the popularity of “green” promotional products as an opportunity to cash in. By recycling its own materials, Garyline is able to charge the same for recycled materials. As a primary manufacturer with all processes under one roof, the supplier can fill large orders in a short lead time. For example, the company can mold and print more than 25,000 units per day of its 20-oz. recycled bike bottle. All its recycled products are made in the USA, and the supplier has independent laboratory tests for all materials and inks and CPSIA certificates of compliance on file for all of its products. CASE STUDY The purchasing manager for a large corporation was “appalled” by the waste and cost of disposable coffee cups used in their many offices around the country. This company was concerned with the economy and was implementing many cost-cutting programs. They were looking everywhere for savings. They purchased a reusable, recycled auto mug for everyone in the company. They sent an effective message that wastefulness was bad for the company and the environment. From the 2009 Advantages September Supplement.
Tuesday
September 22, 2009 Sell This Product - Eco-FriendlyFiled under: Sell This Product When it comes to an abundance of recycled products, understanding the product, material and cost needs of clients helps “up” your selling game. Last January, Crown Products (asi/47700) launched its Ecologic product line in response to many inquiries for more environmentally friendly products. The line includes customizable, reusable and recyclable products made from recycled materials. It’s part of the company’s commitment to bring sustainable products to the marketplace, and to protect natural resources for future generations. John Ratcliff, vice president of national accounts at Crown Products, says the company anticipated eco-friendly products entering the promotional products industry when the trend became popular in retail several years ago. “Those earth-conscious customers have been loyal and not concerned about the slightly higher price they pay,” Ratcliff says. “Their eco-mindedness outweighs the price.” Recycling, waste management, technology and Fortune 500 companies particularly have been asking for more eco-friendly products to demonstrate their corporate commitment to the environment. The biggest pitfall for distributors when telling their clients about eco-friendly product offerings is lack of knowledge of the market. “Understand the product,” Ratcliff says. “This is a must. Jump on the bandwagon and know the eco lingo. Understand the content and know what the components are.” Knowing what your client is looking for in terms of product, material and price point, as well as having nationwide trends and statistics to support your statements, makes you a more compelling salesman or saleswoman. Choosing to use recycled promotional products helps close the loop by creating demand for the material being collected by recycling programs. FAST RECYCLING FACTS
CASE STUDIES
From the 2009 Advantages September Supplement.
Monday
February 16, 2009 ASICentral Goes GreenFiled under: Markets, Research
With the eco-friendly market skyrocketing and industry experts proclaiming it’s no longer a fad but a trend, we here at ASICentral decided it was about time to create a home on our web site dedicated exclusively for the Green market. Click here to find information regarding the eco-friendly trend, including:
And much more! – meanVINgreen |
Can one person really make a difference? If they’re buying eco apparel, then the answer is yes!
Jennifer Chiu, product manager for Ash City (asi/37127), offers some smart talking points for distributors looking to sell their clients on green. “Clients need to understand the true essence of green products and also, from a business point of view, the marketing value of it,” she says.
Want to promote your business in an eco-friendly way? Take a cue from the real estate industry, where sustainability has become a key selling point.
In honor of Earth Day next month, ASI has created its first-ever top-10 list of eco-friendly giveaways. Included in the list is — among other products — a neat bamboo dinnerware set, seed paper postcards and, no joke, a journal made entirely out of elephant poop! (right)
