What’s The Buzz?
Do you think interest in and demand for eco-responsible and "green" items will wane? Is it a trend or here to stay?
Here’s what PPMN members are saying:
“I think it’s a trend!”
Theresa Szramek
Warwick Publishing
“I think they are here to stay as long as the product truly is an eco product and the client is willing to pay the extra amount of money for them!”
Kendra Kirks McDougal, MAS
Goldman Promotions an affliate of Lee Wayne
“At Humphrey, we have made the judgment that GREEN is not a fad, and that it is here to stay. Take a look at retail phenomena such as Burt’s Bees (recently sold to Clorox for $931 million), GNC and Wild Oats. bhe recycling aspect is not nearly as strong, in our mind, as the all natural and organic movement, and there is a good deal of interest in Biodegradable materials.
“That said, the actual demand curve and the apparent demand curve are two different things, and, as usual, the actual curve lags the expectations built into the apparent market demand.”
Mel Ellis
HumphreyLine, Inc.
“Having had the opportunity to visit some of our promotional professional “cousins” in both Australia and Europe over the past year, from what noticed we are only just beginning what will be a very large green movement, inside and outside of our industry.
For anyone that has the chance to attend Becky Blair’s presentation on “Selling Green Can Make You More Green” at Promotions East, it will be well worth your time to get even more insight into both what “green” is all about and how to capitalize on it via our industry.
“Almost 10 years ago, I managed the program development for the first online store for the Earth Day Network, and the products we had available were very slim. Today, when one uses one of our industry search tools, more than 150,000 items will be found as ‘green, or eco-friendly.’”
Mark Shinn, MAS
Incentives West
“I believe that eco-friendly product trends are here to stay. Although I personally do not agree with the global warming theory, I think everyone is considering how we can protect our environment by recycling. It makes people believe they are doing something good.
“Carson Specialties was a ‘green’ manufacturer before it was cool.”
Rochele King
Carson Specialties
“It my hope that is not a trend and it will be here to stay. People need to be more aware and care about our environment. I had lunch yesterday with a developer that builds and creates green houses. They want to buy USB’s so they give out 99 percent less paper. I thought was a great idea.”
Stephen C. Greenberger, MAS
Promotional Associates, Inc.
“It is not a trend, fad or phase. The new reality is we are destroying our planet. Thanks to Al Gore both the people and the government are waking up (slowly) to the real desperate need to start saving the planet from ourselves. The demand is high for eco-friendly products and will only increase over the years. Right now two things need to happen: we need more earth friendly product options and prices must come down. Once this happens then it will become the norm. I hope our industry is scrutinizing and creating standards for products to be labeled ‘green.’ I have seen a few items touted as ‘green’ lately that make say… huh, really? Supplier marketing departments are enthusiastically capitalizing on the green issue but need to be careful not to mislead buyers.
“I do believe caring about our earth is here to stay and smart suppliers will start getting more options out there for distributors to sell.”
Kelli Henderson
Zippy Dogs.com
“I feel the green trend is here to stay – what the final result of it is, is unknown. As more products become available and there is more understanding of the level of eco-friendly products that are available, I think there will be more demand on the products.”
Eric Johnson, MAS
Halls & Company (div of Identification Services, Inc)
“It is here to stay. Our Industry needs to start first by looking (at) how we can produce and use less catalogs and take the first step there!!
Fran Ford
Ford-Howsmon, LLC
“It’s probably a trend. Until people take the issue seriously they will not spend the money as these items are usually more expensive.”
Dale Miller
Corproate Promotions, Inc.
“Here, here, Kelli. I agree with you. I, too, have seen some of the items that our suppliers are marketing as “earth friendly” and really question their motives. We are not stupid and neither are our customers--especially here in Seattle.”
Elise Lindborg
ZippyDogs.com
“So the question of the day is "Will the green trend keep on keeping on" or is it a fad like fake convertible tops on cars? My answer is one based on a conversation with some supplier friends recently. Author Tom Friedman, who wrote The World is Flat did a recent lecture on the MIT OPEN University a place where anyone can enroll in classes given by MIT professors on about any topic, free. During the lecture Friedman notes that in Europe and Asia, compact fluorescent lights and recycled paper are 'eaten at breakfast.' On the other half of the globe, ‘green’ or environmental issues are no longer a hot topic but rather the expectation.
"In the U.S., Friedman goes on to say, we are having green parties and green focused and all of these warm and fuzzy, touchy-feely notions of how individuals and corporations like BP and GE are ‘going green’ and that there is going to be a ‘green revolution.’ The truth, he goes on to say, is that currently, the ‘Green Revolution’ is not that at all but is a ‘green party as nobody is currently getting hurt in our pseudo green revolution and during a revolution, someone gets hurt.’
"He says that in order to catch the environmental strides that our friends across the globe (are making) we need to change the name of ‘green,” and it should no longer be sissy or crunchy or progressive; he says we need to think of green as ‘The new Red White and Blue.’ Change your thoughts, feelings and leaders and we will see what a real ‘green revolution’ looks like.
“This said, I feel Friedman has something here. He is simply saying that we need for green to not be a fad or a thing but rather a new paradigm, soon to be the expectation as it is in Europe and is becoming in Asia. If we don't embrace the environmental revolution and change the way we thinking, we will burn out, smoke out and dry out the earth faster than even Al Gore says we will. If you ask me, green is a fad right now but once we get the oil man out of the White House, I think you are going to see green as the new standard for the old red, white and blue USA.
Kevin J. Flynn, CAS
TBK Promotions, Inc.
“I see this as a trend that should be hot for a few years, like the recycled paper craze during the ‘70s, but I think this one will have more meaning. I believe the awareness to protect and preserve our natural resources combined with our current the economic situation will change all of us for the better.
“Not only corporate trends to be green (watch out for green washing) but as everyday consumers we are all thinking twice about what we do.
“In the long run, this will be something we won’t talk about as it will be our new way of life.”
Bruce J. Felber, MAS
Felber & Felber Marketing
“I think the trend for eco products is here to stay. It may evolve into better products that are even more environmentally savvy but it will not go away. With the earth’s resources being used up at a record pace it will only make sense to offset virgin materials with sustainable or recycled options. As the number of eco-friendly products increase so will the demand for eco-friendly raw materials which should result in even lower raw material prices and additional sources to purchase them from. The better pricing would fuel even more product creation and sales. One of the biggest drawbacks to eco-friendly products has been their additional cost when compared to regular items. This may not be the case in the future.”
Maribeth Sandford, CAS
BAG MAKERS Inc.
“Just as clients are concerned with proper imprints, unleaded
products, and everything adding to quality of life, we don't believe this is a trend about to go away. Green products, recycled processes and new ways of saving our environment will tend to become a greater trend just like competition tends to be. It's here to stay.
“It may take another generation to realize the difference in full
application and assessment of what it can mean to business as a whole. Price will not be affected once knowledge of the attributes becomes the norm."
Genevieve L. Ford, MAS
Idea Factory
“Unfortunately, history suggests that this will be another fad but I would love to be proven wrong. They say politicians rely on the short memory of the public for their continued success; it seems similar with popular marketing where fads are recycled as new marketing ideas. You know…’what’s hot’” Ecology a fad? I refer you to the “Keep America Beautiful” environmental organization (founded in 1953) and their commercial featuring Iron Eyes Cody as the crying Indian from the early ‘70s. Google it, the commercial is still available to download.
“Still, some old children of the ancient times (‘60s) will continue to stress efficient manufacturing because it makes sense and not because it is new or a fad. They will feature the closed loop water treatment system in their manufacturing as a highlight of a plant tour or show you catch basins built into the landscape where rain water runoff from the parking lot is strained before it hits the wetlands.
"However, like most consumers, we will then shop for the least expensive items possible without thinking carefully about the working conditions or environmental responsibility of the company that made them. Kermit the Frog was right when he said, “It isn’t easy being green.” If someone thinks this fad will last until the next Expo, they should introduce the next hot promotional item, the “pet rock.” Don’t laugh, it is perfect. Made of 100 percent recycled materials and it is 100 percent recyclable. Heck, “EQP? No sweat.
“I will be pleased to be proven incorrect, it will not be the first time and I expect not the last.”
Ken Zieska
Wendell’s, Inc.
“I do believe green products are here to stay so long as the movement remains a strong topic in the mass media. When the topic stays front-and-center, end users will continue to drive the need for such items.
Christopher Duffy, MAS
BAG MAKERS, INC.
“I absolutely think the interest in green items will increase, not only because some employers/employees are trying to become more environmentally conscious individually, but because it is very good business. People invest in green companies, look for green products, why wouldn't they be drawn to companies that advertise they are going green? There are customers that seek out green companies to do business with right now, and that number is growing. Companies who attempt to become green, however small their changes, and then advertise such, will gain business. Therefore, when looking for giveaways, incentives, rewards, etc, green promo items will become more and more attractive.”
Laura E. Rhode
What a Party! Promotions
“Although I believe we would all like to be more ‘green’ and eco-conscious, many times the price tag for these items is higher. In an economy that is struggling, our clients might choose to be less eco-friendly when their budgets call for it. The best solution would be that our suppliers just make the change to only offer eco-conscious products so that it becomes all our clients order. But, reality will most likely be that this is a trend that won't last due to the added costs involved for suppliers and end users.”
Dawn Gould
Cedric Spring & Associates