Friday, November 28, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Did you hear?...Flexible, proactive attitude can keep retailers healthy in down economy
In an article published Nov. 19 in The (Nevada County) Union, a small daily newspaper in Northern California, titled, "Local experts believe downturn has bright spots,"
Craig McGovern, owner of a local arts, crafts and frame store in Grass Valley called Ben Franklin spoke about his success even in recessions.
Ben Franklin has been in business for 35 years and has weathered, by McGovern's count, at least five recessions. How? By being proactive, he said, and by having the flexibility to accept new ideas and try new things.
McGovern recounted how one of his sons came to him with an idea to have the store imprint its name on recycled, reusable shopping bags for customers to take home.
Then, every Wednesday, the store would offer customers 20 percent off everything they could fit into he bags when they brought the bags back into the store.
He admitted being very lukewarm to the idea at first, but said he was willing to try it. The idea not only worked, but it has been so successful the program remains in effect.
Craig McGovern, owner of a local arts, crafts and frame store in Grass Valley called Ben Franklin spoke about his success even in recessions.
Ben Franklin has been in business for 35 years and has weathered, by McGovern's count, at least five recessions. How? By being proactive, he said, and by having the flexibility to accept new ideas and try new things.
McGovern recounted how one of his sons came to him with an idea to have the store imprint its name on recycled, reusable shopping bags for customers to take home.
Then, every Wednesday, the store would offer customers 20 percent off everything they could fit into he bags when they brought the bags back into the store.
He admitted being very lukewarm to the idea at first, but said he was willing to try it. The idea not only worked, but it has been so successful the program remains in effect.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Dear Santa … What Are Outdoor Enthusiasts Wishing For This Holiday?
When times are tough, the tough want to look good while practicing their favorite sport.
What tops the list of sports, fitness and outdoor merchandise that Most Active Americans want to give and receive this holiday season?
Athletic/fitness apparel followed closely by outdoor apparel (jackets and pants).
Here is the top ten list of Outdoor, Sports and Fitness Product Categories that Most Active Americans wish for and plan to give this holiday season:
1. Athletic/Fitness Apparel
2. Outdoor Apparel
3. Camping Equipment and Accessories
4. Athletic Fitness Footwear
5. Athletic Equipment
6. Electronic Devices/Instruments (GPS, Altimeters, Heart Rate Monitors)
7. Outdoor Footwear
8. Fitness Equipment
9. Fishing Equipment and Accessories
10. Ski/Snowboard Equipment
Are Active Americans going to buy for the holidays or play Ebenezer Scrooge because of the economy?
Eighty-five percent have the spirit to buy and give, but they will buy fewer gifts and may not spring for big-ticket items. Only two percent say they will increase their spending this year.
Where will they shop? Outdoor specialty chains will be most frequented (74% say they will visit one or more before December 25), followed by the Internet (55%), sporting goods chains (56%), discount stores (52%) and independent specialty stores (45%).
When asked about vacations: bike trips, adventure travel, ski vacations, rafting and mountain vacations were mentioned most often. One respondent described her personal nirvana, "a fitness vacation – hiking, a spa, a great bed combined with healthy cooking seminars."
Here are other Active American vacation wishes:
“A fly fishing trip to Montana. Why? A conservation and nature based activity in one of the most wild and beautiful areas in our nation!”
“A hiking vacation, preferably in the Smoky Mountains. I miss the mountains and I want to spend several days walking in the mountains.”
“Hiking in Denali National Park in Alaska.”
"A vacation to the see the redwoods and fish this summer. Reason is to see the things in nature that few people get to see. In reality, though, maybe a fly rod or camping supplies."
What tops the list of sports, fitness and outdoor merchandise that Most Active Americans want to give and receive this holiday season?
Athletic/fitness apparel followed closely by outdoor apparel (jackets and pants).
Here is the top ten list of Outdoor, Sports and Fitness Product Categories that Most Active Americans wish for and plan to give this holiday season:
1. Athletic/Fitness Apparel
2. Outdoor Apparel
3. Camping Equipment and Accessories
4. Athletic Fitness Footwear
5. Athletic Equipment
6. Electronic Devices/Instruments (GPS, Altimeters, Heart Rate Monitors)
7. Outdoor Footwear
8. Fitness Equipment
9. Fishing Equipment and Accessories
10. Ski/Snowboard Equipment
Are Active Americans going to buy for the holidays or play Ebenezer Scrooge because of the economy?
Eighty-five percent have the spirit to buy and give, but they will buy fewer gifts and may not spring for big-ticket items. Only two percent say they will increase their spending this year.
Where will they shop? Outdoor specialty chains will be most frequented (74% say they will visit one or more before December 25), followed by the Internet (55%), sporting goods chains (56%), discount stores (52%) and independent specialty stores (45%).
When asked about vacations: bike trips, adventure travel, ski vacations, rafting and mountain vacations were mentioned most often. One respondent described her personal nirvana, "a fitness vacation – hiking, a spa, a great bed combined with healthy cooking seminars."
Here are other Active American vacation wishes:
“A fly fishing trip to Montana. Why? A conservation and nature based activity in one of the most wild and beautiful areas in our nation!”
“A hiking vacation, preferably in the Smoky Mountains. I miss the mountains and I want to spend several days walking in the mountains.”
“Hiking in Denali National Park in Alaska.”
"A vacation to the see the redwoods and fish this summer. Reason is to see the things in nature that few people get to see. In reality, though, maybe a fly rod or camping supplies."
Longer Sustainability Reports Win Awards, Carbon-Intense Companies Report Less
LONDON, UK -- Companies that publish longer environmental reports tend to earn more awards, companies in low carbon-intense sectors put out longer reports and almost all companies fail to define key sustainability terms, according to a study of corporate reports.
Admitting the variety of reporting methods and ways companies present sustainability information presents many limitations, communications consultancy Spada hopes its white paper, Environmental Reporting: Trends in FTSE 100 Sustainability Reports, spurs further research and discussion on sustainability reporting.
"Now is the time to develop a more rigorous consensus on how theseissues should be communicated and appraised in the public domain,"writes Spada managing director Gavin Ingham Brooke and research consultant Ana Catalano in the report.
Spada looked at reports from companies listed in the U.K.'s FTSE 100, examining terms and themes used and the report lengths.
Many corporations do not define important and frequently-used termssuch as sustainability, clean energy and zero carbon.
In the case ofsustainability, 79 companies use that word, but only two define whatsustainability means to them in the first instance.
By using a standard word count as a baseline for how long a page is,Spada calculated that the average report from FTSE 100 companies is 21pages.
Those companies that have won Business in the Community Top 100 awards averaged 25 pages, winners of Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations averaged 26 pages and Carbon Disclosure Project Leaders averaged 30 pages.
For every 10-page increase in a sustainability report, the odds of acompany winning an award increase 30 percent. However, Spada admitsthat its findings do not mean the length of a report is the sole causeof a company winning an award.
Although Spada questions that heftyreports might be seen as meaning more than smaller, though possibly more substantive, reports, it does not investigate if the quality ofreporting also coincides with report length.
Spada also found that companies in more carbon-intense areas do notc ommunicate as much as companies in lower-carbon areas or companies that are more in the public eye.
Sectors that affect consumers tend to devote more writing toe nvironmental issues than companies with lower public awareness, such as those in metals and other industrial areas.
Utilities and oil and gas companies, though, exhibit a better spread and depth of reporting, Spada says, than companies that face higher regulations or are less known to the public.
Admitting the variety of reporting methods and ways companies present sustainability information presents many limitations, communications consultancy Spada hopes its white paper, Environmental Reporting: Trends in FTSE 100 Sustainability Reports, spurs further research and discussion on sustainability reporting.
"Now is the time to develop a more rigorous consensus on how theseissues should be communicated and appraised in the public domain,"writes Spada managing director Gavin Ingham Brooke and research consultant Ana Catalano in the report.
Spada looked at reports from companies listed in the U.K.'s FTSE 100, examining terms and themes used and the report lengths.
Many corporations do not define important and frequently-used termssuch as sustainability, clean energy and zero carbon.
In the case ofsustainability, 79 companies use that word, but only two define whatsustainability means to them in the first instance.
By using a standard word count as a baseline for how long a page is,Spada calculated that the average report from FTSE 100 companies is 21pages.
Those companies that have won Business in the Community Top 100 awards averaged 25 pages, winners of Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations averaged 26 pages and Carbon Disclosure Project Leaders averaged 30 pages.
For every 10-page increase in a sustainability report, the odds of acompany winning an award increase 30 percent. However, Spada admitsthat its findings do not mean the length of a report is the sole causeof a company winning an award.
Although Spada questions that heftyreports might be seen as meaning more than smaller, though possibly more substantive, reports, it does not investigate if the quality ofreporting also coincides with report length.
Spada also found that companies in more carbon-intense areas do notc ommunicate as much as companies in lower-carbon areas or companies that are more in the public eye.
Sectors that affect consumers tend to devote more writing toe nvironmental issues than companies with lower public awareness, such as those in metals and other industrial areas.
Utilities and oil and gas companies, though, exhibit a better spread and depth of reporting, Spada says, than companies that face higher regulations or are less known to the public.
Analysts Advise Proceeding With Caution
Industry analysts say cutting costs and managing conservatively are more imperative than ever.
“Right now this is survival mode for everyone,” said Allan Ellinger, senior managing partner of Marketing Management Group.
“While you can’t always control your sales, you should always be able to control your expenses. Every business leader needs to manage his expense structure, and every line item within it, on a daily basis.
You should be going into next year with a sales plan that is extraordinarily conservative, and an expense structure that brings your overhead down so you can maintain your margins and guarantee you can get through the year unscathed and ready...
“Right now this is survival mode for everyone,” said Allan Ellinger, senior managing partner of Marketing Management Group.
“While you can’t always control your sales, you should always be able to control your expenses. Every business leader needs to manage his expense structure, and every line item within it, on a daily basis.
You should be going into next year with a sales plan that is extraordinarily conservative, and an expense structure that brings your overhead down so you can maintain your margins and guarantee you can get through the year unscathed and ready...
Thursday, November 20, 2008
One Percent For the Planet Store
Support the One Percent For The Planet Store by buying environmentally cool products.
The best part about this hat, is another one percent for the planet member makes it. Kind of like the circle of life, kind of...
Visit One Percent For the Planet to find how you can become a member/donate.
Be Environmentally Cool
Head Local
Green Local
The best part about this hat, is another one percent for the planet member makes it. Kind of like the circle of life, kind of...
Visit One Percent For the Planet to find how you can become a member/donate.
Be Environmentally Cool
Head Local
Green Local
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