These days, customers are increasingly considering green productions. If you want customers to take your business seriously and business partners to be interested in your product, they need to know you are not harming an already overtaxed environment.
Reusable bags present a good option for many. They are attractive, durable, endlessly customizable, and most importantly, they are eco-friendly. And reusable bags are a win for your business in another effective way: They do your marketing for you, often without you even knowing it. Would you be surprised to learn that custom printed bags receive an average of 5,938 impressions each throughout their lifetime? That is almost 6,000 people who see each bag your customers carry out of your store.
Big stuff.
A recent study shows that reusable bags may influence buyers’ behavior much more than you thought.
Reusable Bags Encourage Impulse Buys
According to a study published in the Journal of Marketing entitled BYOB: How Bringing Your Shopping Bags Leads to Treating Yourself and the Environment, consumer behavior differs significantly concerning the use of plastic bags.
As you might expect, having reusable bags on hand makes customers act more environmentally when it comes to their purchases: They seek out a greater degree of eco-friendly organic food.
This behavior is called ”licensing”. Uma Karmarkar of Harvard Business School said that When someone makes what they would consider a virtuous choice, such as bringing the reusable bag or buying organic food, it can also cause them to feel entitled to indulge in another area.
In other words, when shoppers have reusable bags in hand, they are significantly more likely to splurge. And that, we believe, can make it even easier for you to protect the environment.
A Win for the World
Reusable bags are an excellent way to fight global warming (because plastic and paper in landfills contribute to greenhouse gases) and reduce trash. In 2003, there were an estimated 500 billion to one trillion plastic bags heading to landfills every year, says National Geographic.
Reusable bags not only prevent the trash from going to landfills, but they also save cities lots of money. A 2013 National Center for Policy Analysis estimate, for instance, shows that San Francisco would save $900,000 a year if it did not have to collect and dispose of plastic bags, and 8.49 million if it did not have to deal with paper either.
Make the Splurge Green
How should you use it to your advantage and the environment? Well, we contend that you can catch shoppers in a splurging mood and direct them toward even more green actions.
How to Attract Shoppers When They are in a Buying Mood
Okay, so you know you want to help customers help the environment. You have got yours in a buying mood because they always come to your winery or brewery armed with their branded reusable bags and ready to carry home more of your excellent wares. What now? Here are a few ideas for setting up an eye-catching display:
#1 Keep Green Items in a Central Location
If you want shoppers to see everything you have to offer, grouping works well. That way, when they are already checking out a display, they can see everything else you have to offer.
#2 Place Displays Near High-Traffic Areas
It also helps to place your displays near where shoppers will be walking and standing. For example, in a tasting room, you might put them near the register, in the center of the room, or by the tasting stations.
#3 Clue Shoppers In
Consumers love doing the green thing, so why not tell them? If your products are reusable and sustainable, say so on display tags or signs. It will encourage the green-minded to do the right thing.
Next time you are wondering what else you can do to help the environment, consider offering even more reusable bag choices to encourage shoppers, as well as other environmentally-friendly wares. Every little bit helps.
