OSP Launches Green Eco-Friendly Line
Posted by Tom McDougall, OSP Sales Account Manager
I am PUMPED to hear more and more people becoming interested and involved in “Going Green.” It’s interesting what is happening now in the Green movement. I was writing an informal article the other day talking about how the green movement is not new. In fact, people have been environmental extremists for centuries now. The only reason it is finally grabbing hold now is because of effective marketing: Social engineering at it’s finest. I made reference to an old classic:
“In 1961 Audrie Hepburn starred in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The American public fell in love with her, and more importantly, her little black dress. The movie has come and gone over four decades ago, yet designers continue to sell more and more little black dresses. Why? Because the American public was shown how sexy it was. Imagine she was wearing a little orange dress. How different might cocktail hours be today? …(later in the article)… Going Green is not something new. Finally though, it has become sexy to do it. Green is not only the new black – it’s the new little black dress.”
Personally, it’s too bad that people didn’t wise up sooner about sustainability. Fortunately, it has become profitable, finally, to be more green and be more conscious of one’s footprint. And therein lies the reason why people like me have a job!
Who should go green first? Property management companies, or the marketing sector around them? Right now, it’s kind of happening together. So many properties are trying to be sustainable – because it’s profitable, and because the public wants to live in more sustainable buildings. It doesn’t do much good though to be a green building if people don’t know about it. Promoting and marketing the heck out of Going Green is a MUST for properties in order to capitalize on their socially and environmentally (and probably profitability) conscious efforts.
That’s where I come in.
Selling Green promotional products is fantastic. Not only do I feel good about doing it, but people feel good about buying it, and, at the end of the day… it IS good. Here at OSP I’ve been able to really begin to seek out and find those vendors who are making green products and looking desperately for a market to sell them to. Two decades ago they would have been deemed tree huggers and hippies, and now, their innovators! All the more power to them. We’ve been able to help property management companies utilize these products to really promote their green messages. Things like:
- Organic seed paper. What the heck is that you might ask? It’s fully recycled and biodegradable material infused with your choice of seeds: Lilacs, wildflowers, basil, chili peppers, whatever. Then that is made into all different kinds of stock: bookmarks, post cards, coasters, wine bags, ornaments, boxes, journals, etc. All of which we can put the property logo on. Once the product is used, say for instance they give out a bunch of holiday ornaments in the shape of a house… the ornament, instead of being thrown away, it is PLANTED! The ornament fully bio-degrades into the soil and grows whatever the seeds were. Now, not only has the property management company been environmentally friendly… but they’ve created a plant in the clients home that will be there for months or even years to come to remind them! Talk about long term branding!
- Fair trade chocolate. Fully customizable chocolate bars produced only through fair trade practices. So many chocolate companies utilize horrible methods for obtaining their coca, fair trade is really the only way to go.
- Recycled materials: We have journal books, sling bags, messenger totes, pens and pencils, all made from 50% up to 100% recycled materials. Property management companies can utilize these for corporate outreach, move-ins, lease renewals, whatever.
- Organic cottons: We can do T-shirts, organic totes, etc. One cool product is organic cotton market bags. Instead of getting three or four plastic bags every time you go to the grocery store… use the same ones. We have a product that is four awesome shopping bags that fit into one – great for the urban apartment building and the person who doesn’t do all their shopping at Costco.
For more info on our entire Green Eco-Friendly line of products, you can check out the latest and greatest options at http://www.onsalepromos.com/categories/Green+Eco-Friendly+Items
I’ve only been working on this for a couple of months now – but I can tell you for sure: It’s becoming a huge hit!
Sorry for the slightly long-winded email. This truly is my passion – so when I get the chance to talk about… I do. I’d be happy to share some more of my thoughts about it if you want to hear them. Feel free to email me directly at tmcdougall@onsalepromos.com.
