It's Not Easy Being Green

The Muppets star Kermit the Frog made the song "It's Not Easy Being Green" a familiar tune to many. He sang about the being the color green, not about recycled or ecologically friendly products. But the title of the song does fit today's ecological awareness. If you or your customers want to be as Green as possible, it isn't always
easy.

Even with the rising consciousness of the American public to being environmentally responsible, and more and more vendors changing their products to having organic, natural, or recycled ingredients or components, there is always a dilemma. If you buy a car that gets high mileage on a gallon of gas, you are still polluting the air when you drive it. So there's a tradeoff in many instances.

I think one of the more important questions about going Green is to ask how much trouble consumers will go to to be Green. Buying a reusable grocery or shopping bag is one thing, and food products carry labels saying they are organic or natural or whatever verbiage the law allows, but will consumers make a product purchase decision based on how a company has cut its pollution, or has biodegradeable components, or is using recycled parts? Unless the final product can in some way convey a degree of eco-friendliness, I don't think the vast majority of consumers are going to go too far out of their way to make a Greener choice. It's too much trouble and most people feel they are too busy to work hard at it.

With many of the gift shows now having a Green section or display by exhibitors of Green products, your job of tapping into eco-awareness is a little easier, which, if you do it right, makes the consumer's job of being eco-friendly easier, too.

If Green products are important to you and your customers, make a Green section in your shop and really inform shoppers that it is there and what it is all about.

This is also a possibility for generating some news coverage in your local media, especially your newspaper. Host a Green event in your store to launch the section. Serve green tea.

Most consumers would choose to be more eco-friendly if they could, but
you have to make it easy for them.

A patriotic version of Green that we are seeing more of these days is a trend toward interest in products Made in America. Just as people want to protect the environment, they are also wanting to support American manufacturers and feel they are sometimes better served and protected by products made at home. And a "Made in America" section for your store might also spur sales and generate some local publicity.

In our June issue we went red, white, blue, and green, and brought you articles that took a look at both Green products and products made in America that you can consider for your store. If you missed reading them, go back and take another look at your June Giftware News.

John Saxtan, Editor-in-Chief

Giftware News eWeekly August 7, 2008

Boston Gift Show Sold to Urban Expositions
The Boston Gift Show, run by GLM, a dmg world media business, has been acquired by Urban Expositions, effective immediately. A Georgia-based firm, Urban Expositions owns, manages, and produces trade events for the gift, souvenir, resort merchandise, fabric, sourcing, textiles, and sewn products technology industries. The Boston Gift Show will expand Urban Expositions' roster of regional gift shows, which currently serves markets in Florida, Maryland, Nevada, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia.

"This agreement furthers our partnership with Urban Expositions, which began in 2002," commented Alan Steel, executive vice president, dmg world media. "Their nearly 15-year history within the industry represents trade show management expertise, in-depth knowledge of the gift industry, and a proven track record of superior customer service - all of which will be of great benefit to our New England constituents."

The next edition of the Show will run March 28-31, 2009, at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.

Giftcraft To Launch Betty Boop Collection
Giftcraft Ltd., designer and marketer of gifts, garden, and home décor products, will be launching a new Betty Boop licensed line, available for shipment to retailers in the 4th quarter of 2008. Giftcraft's Betty Boop product launch will include Garden Girlfriends, a line of garden décor and accessories, as well as tabletop pieces, fashion umbrellas, stationery, ornaments, message plaques, magnets, and other general gift items. A premiere collectibles series will also debut, featuring the icon in a number of dimensional designs, including new figurines.

"We are thrilled to be a part of the worldwide Betty Boop phenomenon – a licensed name that has been a part of our culture for more than 75 years," said Trevor Cohen, CEO of Giftcraft.

more eWeekly....