Stock eco-friendly goods

There are many ways retail-store owners can help reduce the environmental footprints of their businesses, but a really proactive one is to make a conscious effort to purchase sustainable merchandise.

Buying products made from renewable resources, such as bamboo, is a good example. Everything from earrings to (super soft!) clothing can be fashioned out of this fast-growing plant. Stocking goods constructed from recycled items is another eco-friendly option. Some designers specialize in rehabbing perfectly good used T-shirts with cool screenprints, for instance.

Another environmentally friendly way to go is to keep things really local by purchasing merchandise from local artisans. Not only will this help support the local economy, but it will also cut down on the fossil fuels that would ordinarily be used to ship the goods.