When you explore what it takes to launch an advertising campaign, is there an answer for small business owners who depend on foot traffic and local sales? One technique has proven to be a winner: designing custom shopping bags and watching your customers spread the word for you. If you put a nice product together, you’ll see great returns on a small investment. The concept is simple. Your customers need bags to carry your products out of the store. You can give them disposable bags that are...

Face it: the world is becoming a greener place. The people who walk through the doors of your store think green, and they demand a greener shopping experience. Wise retailers have found that it pays to bring a bit of green to their stores. From eco-friendly reusable shopping bags to recycling centers, major chains like Target and even local shops are learning the ins and outs of green retailing. The benefits do not just include being kind to the environment, but also a boost to business as...

While city council members all across the U.S. debate ending the use of plastic bags, how to do it best remains a sticking point. Should cities ban plastic bags outright, or start with a voluntary tax to help deter people off these bags that pollute the ecosystem so violently? In both cases, the problem is solved by introducing reusable grocery bags. The questions are complicated, but simple answers offer a solution in most cases. This first thing to remember is how well bans and taxes work....

As plastic bag bans continue going into effect across the country, observers and supporters of environmental causes are wondering if it is only the beginning. A recent New York Times article suggested the Big Apple is headed one step further and may mandate composting city-wide. While eco-friendly reusable shopping bags are a first step for many cities, New York is taking a leap into the next dimension. The West Coast has been pioneering the environmental movement for decades, and its plastic...

Whether or not you’re an avid supporter of environmental causes, it’s hard to deny that Americans produce far too much waste. To combat the twin problems of waste removal and pollution, many cities are banning single-use plastic bags, the type you get in grocery stores and pharmacies. Every small business owner will have to cope with these changes at one point, but the solution is simple: personalized shopping bags. The fact is many business owners already pay to have customized bags made....

If you put a finger on the pulse of America, you would feel it quicken when the topic of banning plastic bags was discussed. In recent years, cities like Seattle, San Francisco and L.A. all got on board and either banned or taxed single-use plastic bags in grocery stores, drugstores and elsewhere. Should business owners be worried about the consequences of a world where reusable shopping bags become the norm? If there are reasons to worry, they’d be difficult to pinpoint. As for not supplying...

There is always an East Coast vs. West Coast argument. In the 1970s, the battle was crystallized in a Yankees-Dodgers rivalry. In the 1980s, it was the Lakers and the Celtics, New York vs. L.A. - City life vs. surf culture. Meanwhile, the environmental battle – Americans versus the planet – has raged on, with Mother Earth losing on every front. From the lead in reusable grocery bags to electric car use, California and the rest of West Coast are proving to be far ahead of New York and all...

There is never a dull day in Washington. For this reason, causes of the day are in constant collision among politicians who want to defend the country, cater to voters’ interests and save the planet at the same time. Actually, is saving the planet really on politicians’ minds? It’s hard to tell in many cases, but there are many mayors and governors across the U.S. who do act on green initiatives. Still, replacing destructive plastic bags with reusable shopping bags is a long way off in many...

In many places around the country, Earth Day comes and goes without much fanfare. If you asked every person individually, nearly all would tell you they believe in environmental conservation. So why can’t they reconcile daily life with green practices? In fact, in everything from reusable grocery bags to eco-friendly modes of transportation, it’s easier than you think to make Earth Day every day of the week. What are the factors contributing to the earth’s decline? Among the most potent are...

When consumers fully understand the detrimental effects of plastic bags on the environment, eco-friendly reusable shopping bags overwhelmingly become the better choice. With just a few small changes in daily routines, individuals, families and businesses all over the country can truly make a difference in protecting our precious natural resources and the environment. When someone goes to the grocery or department store, the one small act of bringing along a reusable shopping bag will be the...