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There Are Savings in Those Green Ideas
04/24/09
College campuses tend to be environmentally friendly places. That can be good news for college stores looking to cut costs during these difficult economic times.
Len Vlahos, chief programming officer of the American Booksellers Association, told attendees at his Surviving Tough Times educational session at CAMEX 2009 that green retailing can reduce costs and create good will at the same time.
All stores need is a plan.
"I presume green issues are huge on campus, and that faculty and students are pushing you that way already," Vlahos said. "But it's not simply an environmental issue. It is a dollar-and-cents issue. It's a way to save money."
One of the most cost-effective ideas requires simply asking customers if they need (rather than want) a bag when their sale is complete. The one-word change to "Do you need a bag?" makes a huge difference, according to Vlahos.
"We've had dozens of our ABA members tell us when they switched the question, the amount of bags used drops by a factor of five," he said. "Switching that simple phrase can have an enormous impact on the numbers of bags you use."
The turn of a phrase may be the simplest suggestion, but it's not the only one. Vlahos listed a number of ways to save that are not only quick, but inexpensive and easy.
Replacing light bulbs with energy-conserving alternatives is one method to conserve. Another is to install power strips for electronic equipment since, according to Vlahos, there are estimates that parasitic electric losses comprise more than 10% of home energy bills. Stores normally have even more electronics left on, making the power strip with an "on/off" switch a solution.
"There are some things that need to stay on, but there's a lot of stuff that probably doesn't," Vlahos said, pointing to items such as printers and computer monitors. "And, obviously, installing lights with fluorescents, the savings are significance."
He also suggested simple fixes like reducing water use with tap aerators, fixing dripping faucets, and turning off lights when not in use. It can reduce water use by up to 25% per year and save up to 10% a year in heating and cooling bills.
Then there's the Olive Test.
"Several years ago, a flight attendant for a major airline noticed when she served salads in first class, the olives were always uneaten," Vlahos said. "She told her boss, who told her boss, who told her boss, who told her boss who said, 'Why are we serving olives?' They cut out the olives and saved something like $40,000 to $50,000 per year by not putting this one olive in salads for first class."
Vlahos said Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena, CA, took this idea and adapted it. The store challenged its staff to find cost-saving tips and offered a vacation day when an employee's idea was used.
"The idea is that there are a lot of eyes in your stores that see ways to save money that maybe you don't see, and the employees love it," Vlahos said. "It costs the stores nothing but the productivity for one day, and could end up saving a lot of money. A lot of the ideas have centered around environmental issues and it's been very successful."
An added bonus is the good will created by such measures. Students and faculty often demand green initiatives, so this is an opportunity to create some good public relations.
—Dan Angelo
Sound Off!
Joan Misiak, Alpena Community College Bookstore (misiakj@alpenacc.edu) 4/24/2009 10:34:37 AM
We order (250) recycled, woven bags for each book rush....one to a customer. Students comment that they love them & do re-use them!
Sound Off!
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