4 Tips on Generating a Better ROI through Sustainability and Market Expansion

Julie Starr • August 18, 2022



Generating a better return on investment (ROI) is essential for the success of any business, regardless of its size or industry. However, developing a better ROI can be difficult, especially in today’s competitive marketplace. This blog post will provide four tips on how to generate a better ROI for your business and help you achieve success while keeping investors happy.

Focus on your core competencies

One way to generate a better ROI for your business is to focus on your core competencies. By focusing on the areas of your business that you’re most skilled at, you can produce higher-quality products or services and tap into new markets. This will not only help you generate more revenue but also improve your reputation and brand image, both of which are important factors in generating a better ROI.

By expanding into new markets and product lines, businesses can often find themselves stretched too thin, leading to subpar results across the board. However, by honing in on their core competencies and focus areas, businesses can create a well-oiled machine that generates a higher ROI.

Create a niche market

Another way to generate a better ROI for your business is to create a niche market. By catering to a specific group of people or companies, you can create a loyal customer base that is more likely to return and recommend your products or services. Creating a niche market can also help you charge premium prices for your products or services, as customers are often willing to pay more for items that are specifically tailored to their needs.

While it may seem counterintuitive, businesses that focus on creating a niche market actually have less competition than those who try to be everything to everyone. By narrowing your focus, you can create an offering that is truly unique and stands out from the crowd. This will not only help you attract new customers but also keep them coming back for more.

Save money by implementing sustainable processes

A third way to generate a better ROI for your business is to save money by implementing sustainable processes. For example, sustainable businesses are often able to reduce their operating costs by using recycled materials , investing in energy-efficient technologies, and implementing other green practices. This can free up more resources that can be reinvested into the business, resulting in a higher ROI.

In addition to saving money, sustainable businesses also benefit from improved brand image and customer loyalty. As more and more consumers become aware of the importance of sustainability, they’re increasingly likely to do business with companies that share their values. So by investing in sustainable practices, you can not only generate a better ROI but also improve your brand image and attract new customers.

Focus on GIPS compliance

A fourth way to generate a better ROI for your business is to focus on gips compliance . The Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS) are a set of ethical standards that aim to ensure the integrity of investment performance reporting. Adhering to these standards can help you attract and retain more clients, as they’ll have confidence in your ability to provide accurate and transparent reports.

In addition to attracting new clients, complying with GIPS can also help you improve your relationships with existing clients. By providing them with clear and concise reports that comply with international standards, you can build trust and foster transparency. This will not only improve your client relationships but also lead to improved retention rates and referrals.

Generating a better ROI for your business doesn’t have to be complicated. By following these four simple tips, you can improve your bottom line and create a more sustainable business. So what are you waiting for?

5 Everyday Items That Can Quietly Boost Your Brand

By Julie Starr • July 17, 2025
The best branding doesn’t always come from big campaigns or expensive graphics. Sometimes it’s the smaller stuff that leaves the biggest impression. Things people actually use, touch, or carry with them. That’s where your brand can quietly make its mark without needing to shout about it. If you’re only focusing on social media and business cards, you’re leaving a lot on the table. Here are five overlooked ways to get your name out there that feel natural, useful, and more personal. Thank-you slips If you’re already sending out orders, there’s no reason not to include a short thank-you slip. You can easily get these made through any decent online print shop , and they’re usually pretty cheap to run off in small batches. Just a simple note that says thanks, maybe with a reminder to follow you online or a cheeky discount code for next time. It’s quick, thoughtful, and makes the whole order feel more finished. Customers notice that kind of detail, especially when everything else they buy online comes with zero personality. You don’t need a complicated design either. Just something clean with your logo, a message that sounds like you, and maybe a social handle. The point is to give them a reason to come back or remember your name without it feeling forced. Branded zip pouches If you sell physical products, offer services, or run events, small zip pouches are surprisingly effective. Think of the kind you’d use for stationery, receipts, or travel bits. You can get your brand printed on the side and hand them out with purchases or include them in welcome packs. People keep them because they’re actually useful. They get tossed in handbags, school bags, or glove boxes and your logo just keeps turning up. Cleaning cloths for glasses or screens This one works brilliantly if you’re in tech, health, beauty, or anything involving screens or eyewear. A simple microfibre cloth with your branding on it can go a long way. Everyone needs one. Whether they use it for glasses, a phone screen, or their laptop, it’s something they hang onto. It’s not the kind of thing people throw away, and that means your name sticks around too. Receipt envelopes You might already use little envelopes to hand over receipts or business cards. Branding those envelopes is a small change that makes a big difference. Instead of someone getting a scruffy bit of paper in a plain sleeve, they’re handed something that feels a bit more finished. You can even add a message inside. Doesn’t need to be anything dramatic. A simple “thanks for visiting” or “see you next time” is enough to add a personal touch. Wet wipes or mini hand gels If your business is in hospitality, food, or anything hands-on, branded wet wipes or pocket-sized hand gels are surprisingly popular. People actually use them, especially at festivals, food stalls, pop-ups, or kids’ events. They end up in handbags or cars and stick around longer than you think. They don’t scream “marketing” either. They’re practical, and when done right, they make your business feel thoughtful. That’s what good branding does, it shows you’ve thought ahead.

How Student-Led ‘Energy Audits’ Are Cutting School Costs (and Lighting the Way Forward)

By Julie Starr • July 14, 2025
What happens when students stop waiting for adults to fix things and start conducting their own energy audits? Money gets saved. The lights get switched off. Data gets analyzed. And a quiet revolution in sustainability begins—inside schools that once overlooked their own inefficiencies. Across the globe, student-led energy audits are proving that change doesn't always need to come from a policy shift or a major capital budget. Sometimes, it begins with a clipboard, a spreadsheet, and a group of curious minds asking: Why are the hallway lights on at noon when sunlight floods the building? The Energy Detectives These audits aren’t science fair projects. They’re rigorous investigations, often done in collaboration with facilities staff, local environmental nonprofits, or even engineering mentors. Students go from classroom to classroom measuring electricity usage, checking for phantom loads , and identifying where heat is escaping in winter or air conditioning is leaking in summer. One high school in Ontario saved over $12,000 a year after its Grade 11 physics students ran an energy audit and suggested simple changes—LED upgrades, motion sensors in bathrooms, and smarter heating schedules. They didn’t just propose ideas. They pitched them with spreadsheets, thermal images, and payback timelines. It worked. Learning That Pays Off—Literally Unlike textbook learning, these audits blend real-world math, environmental science, economics, and persuasive communication. Students aren’t just learning about sustainability. They’re doing it. And the savings add up. From dimming overlit hallways to reprogramming HVAC systems that run all weekend for empty buildings, students are surfacing blind spots that administrators often overlook. In some districts, their findings are influencing energy policy. Elsewhere, the audits have inspired school boards to hire sustainability coordinators—often alumni of the student programs themselves. There’s something poetic about a school funding new books or laptops from money saved by students who found out the vending machines didn’t need to be plugged in 24/7. Why This Matters More Than Ever With education budgets tightening and utility costs rising, every dollar saved is a dollar that can go back into classrooms. And here’s where it gets interesting from a family finance perspective, too. If you’re a parent setting aside money for post-secondary savings, every bit of school efficiency helps. Fewer energy costs might mean more programming, better STEM facilities, or even bursaries. That raises a broader point: when families save for their children’s future, they often look into RESPs (Registered Education Savings Plans). And many wonder—is a RESP deduction available on my taxes? While contributions themselves aren’t deductible, the gains grow tax-free, and students often pay little to no tax when they withdraw the funds during school. A Movement Worth Replicating These audits aren’t just an exercise in environmentalism. They’re leadership labs. Students learn how to spot inefficiencies, speak up in board meetings, and make a business case for change. They don’t just flip switches—they shift mindsets. And they carry these habits into adulthood. The result? A generation growing up not only with climate anxiety, but also with tools to tackle it.