Sustainability is a popular topic with businesses around the globe as we all look for ways to reduce the impact that we’re having on the planet, but other benefits can come along with making these changes, for example, you can save on your bills each month by reducing energy usage throughout the company, as well as attracting new, like-minded customers that can help increase profits.
If it’s cost-cutting that is driving you to become more sustainable, using the cheapest credit card processing may be advantageous.
Below, we’ll look at the best place to start when it comes to implementing sustainability within your retail business.
Top 4 Ways Making A Retail Business More Sustainable:
1. Paper-free
The types of materials and how much of them we use plays an important role in the impact we have on the planet and its resources.
Retail businesses can reduce the amount of paper that they’re using by getting rid of the classic paper receipt. We are all familiar with the receipts that we get after we’ve done our weekly shop, or made a single purchase, but have you ever stopped to think about how much paper must be going to waste if a receipt is produced after every transaction?
If this is something that you’re conscious of within your business, you can switch to digital receipts, all you must do is take your customer’s email address (with permission) and email them their receipt, so they have a copy to keep, without the need for paper.
Not only does this help when it comes to sustainability, but you can also grow your mailing list, and social media following in this way.
2. Re-useable materials
Reducing your use of unnecessary materials is one way to become more sustainable, but reusing is also a great way of becoming more eco-friendly.
A lot of retailers are introducing branded reusable bags for their customers to use repeatedly, as a way of reducing single-use plastic that can come with carrier bags. Not only does this mean that less plastic heading into landfill, but it also means that your company can use these bags as a marketing tool, and your loyal customers can promote your business wherever they go.
If you have display materials that aren’t being used, before you throw them away, try and think of other ways to use them, for example, could you upcycle them into something more useful? Or could you give them a freshen-up so that they look good as new? Reusing materials within your business means that you can reduce your contribution to landfill sites.
3. Use less energy
We all know that energy prices are rising, so using less energy, in general, can benefit the environment as well as your bank balance.
There are many ways that you can use less energy within your business, such as using LED lighting. LEDs are economical and efficient, so swapping to these lightbulbs means you can reduce your energy consumption, but still benefit from a bright, eye-catching shop floor.
If you have lights that are left on when you are closed, like display lights, you could install a timer so that they turn on and off at a specific time – you could also do this with heating.
If you’re particularly conscious about your company’s carbon footprint, you could look at installing solar panels as a way of harnessing clean energy.
4. Make it a part of your brand
If you make sustainability a part of your brand, you will attract customers with the same mindset and values as you, it also means that you can attract new customers that may not have used you before. You can do this by promoting your initiatives online and on social media, promoting the steps you’re taking to become more sustainable.
Consumers are becoming a lot more aware of how the products they are buying are produced, as well as how the companies they buy them from are operating. So, if you want to show your customers, present and future, that you’re doing all you can to adhere to sustainable production and manufacturing, spread the word! Make it part of your brand identity.
Additionals:
- Digital Marketing Tips for Small Businesses
- Business Owner? Outsourcing Website Development In 2022
- Everything Your Business Could Know About Managed IT Services
- 7 Essential Elements That Make Up An Effective Business Marketing Plan
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