Tips To Increase Foot Traffic And Sales For Your Sustainable Business

Julie Starr • August 11, 2022



Sustainability is a hot topic in the business world today. Consumers are more interested than ever in buying products and services from environmentally friendly and socially responsible companies. If you own a sustainable business, it is essential to take steps to increase foot traffic and sales. The following blog post will discuss some tips to help you achieve this goal!

#1 Make Sure Your Sustainable Business Is Visible To Consumers

If you want to increase foot traffic and sales for your sustainable business, it is essential to make your business visible to consumers. There are several ways to do this, such as advertising in environmentally friendly publications, participating in green trade shows, and using social media to promote your sustainable products and services.

Having a strong online presence for your sustainable business is also essential. Ensure that your website is optimized for search engines and that your online content is informative and engaging. Additionally, consider using pay-per-click advertising to attract more visitors to your website.

Finally, don’t forget the power of word-of-mouth marketing! Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews on popular consumer review websites and to tell their friends and family about your sustainable business.

By taking steps to increase the visibility of your sustainable business, you’ll be well on your way to increasing foot traffic and sales.

#2 Make Your Sustainable Business Stand Out From The Crowd

To make your sustainable business stand out, you must ensure that it is visible and easily accessible to potential customers. One way to do this is to create an eye-catching storefront that will grab the attention of passersby. This can be done by using bright colors, interesting signage, and attractive displays. Another way to increase visibility is to locate your business in a high-traffic area near a popular retail store or public transportation stop.

In addition to increasing visibility, you must ensure that your sustainable business is easy to access. This means having a clear and concise website that provides potential customers with all the information they need about your products or services. It should also be easy for them to find your contact information and make a purchase. You risk losing potential customers if your sustainable business is not easily accessible.

To further advertise the business effectively, think about the marketing materials you have at conferences and events. From Table branded covers to inflatable tents, can all be useful in helping to attract people to the stand when competing with many other businesses at the same time. 

#3 Offer Incentives To Customers Who Shop At Your Sustainable Business

One great way to increase foot traffic and sales at your sustainable business is to offer incentives to customers. This could be in the form of a discount , freebie, or even just a simple thank you for shopping with you. Customers love feeling appreciated, which is a great way to show them that you value their business. Plus, it’s a great way to build brand loyalty among your customer base.

Another incentive you could offer is something called “cash back.” Cash back simply means that the customer gets a certain percentage of their purchase price back in the form of cash (or credit) when they shop with you. This is an excellent way to encourage people to shop with you again in the future, as they know they’ll be getting some of their money back.

Finally, you could also offer a loyalty program for your sustainable business. This is where customers can earn points for every purchase they make and then redeem those points for discounts or freebies down the line. Loyalty programs are great for keeping customers coming back, and they’re also a great way to build word-of-mouth marketing for your business.

#4 Get An ATM At Your Business

If you are a sustainable business, getting an ATM can help increase foot traffic. This will allow customers to have easier access to cash, which can be used to make purchases at your business. Additionally, when you own an atm it can help boost sales, as customers may be more likely to make impulse purchases when they have cash.

If you are interested in getting an ATM for your business, you should keep a few things in mind. First, ensure that the machine’s location is visible and easily accessible to customers. Second, ensure that the machine is well-lit and secure so that customers feel safe using it. Finally, be sure to promote the availability of the ATM so that customers are aware that it exists and know how to find it.

#5 Make Use Of Technology

In today’s world, technology is a powerful tool that can be used to increase foot traffic and sales. Use social media to connect with potential customers and promote your sustainable business. Use online tools such as Google Analytics to track your website traffic and see where your customers are coming from. Make sure to have a strong online presence so potential customers can easily find you.

Technology can also be used in-store to increase sales. For example, many sustainable businesses use tablet devices or iPads to showcase their products. Customers can browse through product information, photos, and videos on these devices, making it more likely for them to purchase. You can also use technology to run promotions or offer discounts that will entice customers to visit your store.

#6 Ensure Your Business Is Family-Friendly

If you want to increase foot traffic and sales at your sustainable business, it’s essential to make sure that your business is family-friendly. This means having a clean and safe environment, offering products or services that appeal to families, and providing amenities that families will appreciate. For example, you could have a kids’ play area in your store or offer baby-changing facilities for parents. You could also host special events or promotions that are geared towards families.

Making your sustainable business family-friendly is a great way to attract more customers and boost sales. Families are always looking for new places to shop, and if they feel welcome at your business, they’ll be more likely to come back again in the future.

In conclusion, there are many things you can do to increase foot traffic and sales at your sustainable business. By offering incentives, using technology, and making your business family-friendly, you’ll be able to attract more customers and boost your bottom line. So put these tips into action and watch your sustainable business thrive.

 

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.