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Downsizing The McMansion
April 30, 2007
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A new trend in the home improvement, building and retail world is downsizing the McMansion into smaller, more energy efficient dwellings. With the rise in awareness in global warming, people are taking into account their inflated energy bills, their contribution to greenhouse gases, and their overall footprint on the Earth. How does this affect you as a retailer? It could have a very large impact on you in the coming years as people focus on buying sustainable products, purchasing less, and recycling more. What can you do to prepare? Here are 4 suggestions:
- Look at your inventory. Are you selling products you would keep, would you find them in a consignment shop, or would you stumble across them in a town dump? True, one man's trash is another man's treasure, but the trend is growing toward useful and non-toxic, so start investigating merchandise that will one day be someone's treasure.
- Is your home and store costing you a fortune in overhead utility expenses? Check with your local electric company to get an energy audit to help lower your bills. This will not only help the environment, but the extra money you save can be poured back into your business or put into savings.
- Are you buying furniture or goods that are easily storable, can be modified into other products (chairs into beds, tables with storage, etc.). These will come in handy as people downsize their homes and need pieces that are functional, as well as decorative. Plus, as you're shopping for your store, keep your eyes open for sustainable trends (sounds like an oxymoron): clothes made out of non-toxic materials, furniture built from non-rainforest trees, paper that's recycled, etc.
- Recycle what you don't need or want. Give to a charity, recycle the materials you can, and start moving toward a healthier, greener environment.
Do I sound hokey or preachy? Hopefully not. I know hundreds of people and organizations who only buy from stores and companies that take an initiative on giving back. It's a huge movement, one that is moving virally through the Internet at lightning speed and bringing thousands of people on board daily. Check out how you can make small differences - it cannot hurt you to investigate, but it will help in the long run.
Posted by Suze Bragg on April 30, 2007 | Comments (0)
