What's New... A Catalog That's What!

Wow! It has been a crazy summer. I have gotten the files for our recent catalog off to the printer. I am excited to say that we have added so many Eco-Friendly products. From hangers, to floor fixtures, to retail packaging... it really is all there!

Now we wait for our stock to come in from all of the various manufacturers. The next step is to evaluate the needs of our customers and start determining the most efficient way to truck all of our items from all over the world, to us, producing the least amount of emissions. What a learning process!

Everyone at Barr Display is really on board! The apprehension was definitely there at first. When we started our recycling program... it started off slow. But now, I can barely keep the 50 gallon can empty. The phone calls from customers have started to trickle in and now the sales staff seems to understand that there are some strong green needs out there. We shall see.

I took great care in this recent catalog, that the Eco-products are easy to distinguish and that there is some information that explains the "green" of the product. I was amazed to find that many of our manufacturers that cannot produce a product from recycled materials are being Green in many other ways. Whether they have set standards for their manufacturing process or contributing to 1%FTP, they do something and that is what matters.

I hope that all of the retailers out there understand that it doesn't mean you have to re-build what you have. Actually, that is wasteful. Simply by implementing small changes in your business, you are doing something that is not only green, but responsible. If everyone takes one little step forward... imagine the change that would cause! And of course, those moving forward with a new business, being able to start clean and go green is a great way to go.

For Barr Display, this year I wanted to ensure that I could get as many green products into as many hands as possible. This still leaves the issue of the actual printed catalog. With as many copies as we print, we have to become more responsible than we have in the past. A printed catalog is a necessity in our business. Don't you like to look at a beautiful, full color catalog when you are spending your hard earned money? We have cleaned our lists, spent the extra money ensuring that every single catalog mailed is delivered. Reduced the weight of the paper. Changed the look and layout so that it is desirable to view... Now that the 2009 Catalog is finished... I start on the 2010 catalog. With that will come recycled content paper, an even cleaner list and we will also be adding a pdf version of the catalog to the website so you can opt out of a printed catalog if you would rather have it digital.

Either way, our next green step is to just keep moving forward. Continue refining our purchasing policies and look at everything as a whole. Continue to offer our customers the best green products possible.

Wow! What a busy summer it has been. It is so hard to believe that in less than a month, all of my crazy hard work will be out there for the world to see!

Oh... and want a fabulous look sustainable bamboo hanger... these babies are beautiful! (Damn I take good photos of inanimate objects!)