Coupons4LV.com  -  Tree Hugging Frugalitarian

 
Plastic bags are a major component in destroying our environment

This slide show from the Pocono Record demonstrates some of the atrocities that are created by plastic bags.

Although I have seen re-usable shopping bags available at many locations in PA, their implementation into society is far from par – more like double bogey. Other countries and many green cities on the West Coast are setting the example by banning the plastic bag altogether.

One challenge about the re-usable bag is the difficulty in remembering to bring them into the store. At times I find that I have left my cloth bags in the car or scooter after I start shopping. To prevent this from happening again I have started leaving the bags in a more conspicuous place to ease my forgetfulness. (Front seat, door pocket, or I suppose a purse for you ladies.)

Think about the American consumer’s typical shopping week: groceries, home store, department store, mall, take out, doggie bags, the list goes on and on. Keeping a few re-usable bags in your car/purse/scooter/bike bag etc. would eliminate a large quantity of your plastic bag consumption.

Rock-a-bye-Baby Kids in the Lehigh Valley has instituted a green initiative and offers a credit if you bring your own bag. I think this is a great idea and would love to see other local stores do the same.

Many times I will go into a store and the clerk is trained to give you a plastic bag almost no-matter what you have bought. Recently I was not paying attention and a single pack of gum was put in a bag - I had to fight back my “What are you on Mars?” look and tell them that they could save the bag for another.

A lot of times I see people walking with a bag they obtained from a fancy store and realize that they are proud to flaunt that they just charged way too much to their credit card. I just wish that they could have brought their own bag to save a tree or a gallon of oil and delayed the “look at me” joy till they wear the item in public.

I welcome the day when plastic bags are banned in the U.S.A. However, if you still must use them, make sure you recycle them into the containers that are at most large grocery stores.

So the next time your ready to leave your home, make sure you have a few re-usable bags on hand. The environment will thank you, not to mention decrease our dependency on foreign oil.  

Edible Arrangements, a franchiser that has two locations in the Lehigh Valley uses the latest technology to facilitate customer orders. Their online website takes the guess work out of what your arrangement will look like when it’s delivered. Orders are taken from anywhere in the world over the internet and delivered to recipients in a timely fashion.

Some comments received from friends to whom I had sent arrangements: “It was so beautiful that we thought they were flowers at first glance” and “the fruit was so fresh and tasty.”

Edible Arrangements has managed to capture market-share through offering a unique alternative to traditional flower gifts. You will find that the effect of the Edible Arrangement gift stays with recipient longer. Flowers come and go, but when one shares a good meal with another, a bond is formed that is long lasting. (Think of an old friend and I will bet you can remember where you ate and perhaps even what you ate 10 yrs ago or more.)

Other small business owners should take note at the ease of ordering on their website. If your small business isn’t getting a sizable percentage from e-commerce, then you are really missing the boat.

Locally owned franchises put money back into the community and are highly valued. Instead of ho-hum flowers, surprise someone at their next special occasion with an Edible Arrangement!

Compared to many northeastern regions, the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania offers a great opportunity for having an excellent standard of living. Among other things, housing is affordable, there are multiple colleges for arts and entertainment, the schools are good, and there is an abundance of good hospitals. Located in a sweet spot of PA, access to the region is easy from all sides. This strategic location is the main reason why it is a distribution hub for many national companies. I just checked the internet, and even in the recent economic times, local unemployment is still almost 1% below national unemployment rates. In the past few years, we have been a witness to the sustained growth of quality shopping and mid to upscale dining.

I have traveled all over the US and seen rampant vacancies in residential and commercial properties. If you take a drive around the Lehigh Valley, you see few empty buildings and homes. In my neighbor hood, there is only one home for sale. During a recent trip to Indiana, I noticed that ‘for sale’ and ‘foreclosure’ signs were as common as maple trees. Our local home values thankfully have not seen the huge plummet that other areas of the country have witnessed.

I think that we will continue to see the Lehigh Valley region flourish with more business opportunities. The Mayor of Allentown, Ed Pawlowski is doing a great job of bringing back the downtown. I drove down Hamilton Street last week, and noticed some large construction projects going on, and storefronts that had once been vacant --- occupied.  My prediction is that within 5-10 yrs time, we will witness the full gentrification of the various downtown neighborhoods.

The availability of un-smart phones is getting smaller. More and more activities have become integrated with the portable electronic device. Socializing, Networking, entertainment, sharing photos and video while traveling are some of the big benefits. Just think how long it would take for you to tell ALL of your friends in the early 90's hello. With apps like facebook and linked in, it is effortless. Just last week some old college friends updated their status from 12,000 ft while skiing,..and uploaded pics to boot!

Fast forward to 2011, print media is dying off at a fierce pace. Only those with digital dominance will last the test of time. Check out this blog on digital signage. Surfing a modern iphone, treo, centro, or blackberry enables you to take advantage of rich mobile multimedia experiences. This particular site in the hands of a smart phone owner becomes a veritable gold mine in mobile savings, with little more effort than saving a bookmark.

Get a listing on coupons4LV.com and watch the traffic increase at your business. Conventional print advertising is going the way of the dodo bird. Paper mailers are only contributing to our ever expanding pile of junkmail.

The kitchen cabinet or junk drawer would usually be full of coupons that I either didn’t use - or couldn’t find when needed. Eventually I would toss them all in the trash since most of them would have already expired. More trees killed, and more waste in the landfill.

Having an electronic presence is vital and also the most sure fire way to generate: new, referral based, and repeat business. With electronic advertising, your business will likely see a sizable increase in traffic.