tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10292068.post-30127604976948165132008-05-08T13:35:00.002-05:002008-05-08T14:05:37.422-05:00Green marketing is the new "in" thing.<br /><br />Celebrities like Cameron Diaz and Leonardo di Caprio prefer to drive hybrid cars. HGTV channel is giving away a "green" home. Ikea has done away with the free plastic bags. Crate and Barrel is marketing ecofriendly furnitures. Name it -- from baby clothes to appliances to home furnishings to food -- "green" is the main thing.<br /><br />According to Good and Green <a href="http://www.goodandgreen.biz/">http://www.goodandgreen.biz/</a>, which sponsors the Green Marketing Conference, an increasing number of consumers are embracing green marketing:<br /><ul><li>In the US, the Green Marketplace is conservatively pegged at $250 million - and growing! </li><li>Over 66% of Americans believe "Doing well by doing good is a savvy business strategy."</li><li>Over the past five years the sales of organic and all natural products have increased 18% to 25% year over year. </li><li>30% of American consumers are willing to pay up to a 20% premium on clean, green products over non-sustainable alternatives ... and that number grows each year. </li></ul>So how can small businesses ride this growing crest of green marketing?<br /><br />According to Jacqueline Ottman, author of Green Marketing: Opportunity for Innovation , there are five <a href="http://www.greenmarketing.com/articles/The5SimpleRules.pdf">rules for green marketing </a>:<br /><ul><li>Customers should know and care about the environmental issues your products address </li><li>Make customers feel empowered that they can help address the environmental issues when they buy your products</li><li>Ensure credibility and legitimacy of your claims by being transparent </li><li>Reassure the buyer that your products work, in addition to being environmentally friendly</li><li>Given that environmentally-friendly products are often priced at a premium, consider whether your price range is something customers are still willing to pay</li></ul><p></p><a href="http://business.gov/guides/start/index.html">Business.gov </a>offers additional resources and information on how to start an eco-friendly business.PowerHomeBiz.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17804035004062295326noreply@blogger.com