Release Date: 9 September, 2005
Envirowise is working with retailers of all sizes, from the corner shop to the retail park, helping to turn resource efficiency into profitable practice. Here are some highlights from a range of projects we are currently running.
Easy gains with Easy Money
When we introduced the Easy Money scheme in 2003, small retailers found out just how much they might be able to save. Supported by the British Retail Consortium and launched by Alvin Hall, Easy Money helped smaller shops make bigger savings.
Now, Envirowise is determined to spread the word.
Waste may not be high on the agenda for small, independent retailers, but profit certainly is. Smaller stores can save 1% to 4% of turnover through reducing or eliminating waste in packaging, disposal, water use, warehousing, product returns and damaged goods.
Did you know? Waste in the retail sector costs an estimated £360 million/year.
GG365 Easy money: a self help guide for small retailers is an easy-to-use pack to help small retailers save money by reducing waste. With practical information on how to get started the pack also gives details of useful contacts, free publications and where to obtain grants to fund improvements.
Ring 0800 585794 for your copy or download it now.
Why not give a copy to your favourite independent, small store?
Complicated regulations can prove daunting for small retailers. How do you comply with the EU directives on Landfill and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment? What about the Climate Change Levy and the Environmental Protection Act 1990? Envirowise provides practice advice shop managers need to understand.
In store help
We realise that time is very precious to shop managers. So, we're not just going to be sending out lengthy guides from a distance in the hope they might be read. Instead, we offer a face-to-face approach. With half-day onsite visits*, involving a talk and walk with the retailer to identify areas where savings could be made, we'll be available on an ongoing basis as well.
Case in point
In Castle Douglas, one project united 12 quite separate operations ranging from a chip shop to a metal fabricator to a garden centre. A free visit to each business showed them how to make savings of nearly £10 000 a year and resulted in real environmental benefits.
Managed Shopping Centres
Envirowise is working with three managed shopping centres in England this autumn - so look out for us during your weekend outings, and shop to make a difference! Please come and support the stores that are working hard to cut waste and improve their environmental performance - there will be a range of promotional activities and events at participating outlets.
The Arndale Shopping Centre, Luton - 17th September 2005
- owned and managed by PruPIM
- 130 shops
- 13 major stores
- an indoor market
- 750,000 square feet
- 2300 parking spaces.
"The Arndale Centre welcomes the environmental support it received from Envirowise. We hope to use this to build on our current activities and reduce waste and costs even further for the benefit of both the centre and its resident retailers, and will look to extending this to PruPIM's other managed shopping centres across the UK." - Paul Bentham, Business Procedures Manager
High Chelmer, Chelmsford - 1st and 2nd October
- managed by LaSalle Investment Management (Coal Pension Properties Limited)
- 82 shops
- six storey office block
- 300,000 square feet
- tenants include Boots, HMV and the Post Office.
The Trafford Centre, Manchester - 8th and 9th October 2005
- 230 units
- major outlets and chain stores
- a £1.4 billion shopping and leisure destination
- 14 million square feet.
Bags of support
Working with the centres' management teams, Envirowise Advisors will provide;
- face to face, appropriate, time sensitive, tailored advice in store
- a drop-in advice service during the event
- publicity for participating outlets
- a supply of printed advice for managers to consider issues out of store hours
- incentives to encourage footfall such as free prize draws, Point of Sale material highlighting the store's environmental aspirations.
Many chain stores have environmental policies handed down from head office. This campaign is a great vehicle for delivering those policies. We are therefore liaising with head offices around the country to gain their support. These three shopping centres are only the beginning. Envirowise is currently in negotiation with several more. So why not shop to make a difference!
* Please note that different services are available in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales – please contact our Advice Line on 0800 585 794 for more information on whether you are eligible for a site visit.