Author: Laura Kozien
Subject: Green Business Advice: Catching up with 'g' Green Design Center
| By Cailey Ryckman We recently caught up with Nicole Goldman, Founder and President of 'g' Green Design Center, to talk about her unique green business! What does your company offer? Is a green business sustainable? Is there a demand for your products? 'g' Green Design Center is a green-building design center and retail showroom providing a full range of materials from flooring to renewable energy to build or remodel residences and small commercial facilities. Yes, a green business is sustainable – at least we believe so and are proving this through our success at our flagship showroom on Cape Cod, and with the expansion of our business to new franchise locations–presently one in Norwell, MA, and one opening in Toronto Canada this fall. We have seen the demand for our products grow tremendously since we opened three years ago. What was once the hope and dream for a homeowner seeking green building materials, has flourished to become a resource that homeowners and businesses can rely on for well-researched, quality, reliable green products. Who are your clients? How has your client demographic changed in recent years? Our clients are homeowners who are building new or remodeling, builders, architects, contractors and small businesses. I think the client demographic has broadened to include certainly builders who were previously skeptical of changes in building techniques, homeowners who were under the impression that green materials would be more expensive or out of their price range which they are not, and the general public who has embraced their part in considering the materials they use, reuse, ingest, throw away or recycle. What do you think the current perception of "green" is? Is it just a fad or is it here to stay? "Green" has really come into its own. Everyone wants to understand the concepts better and to participate to some degree. The underlying truth is that "green" is not a fad and not something that we need to learn to understand. "Green" is really just smart. It's about being smart about your choices, about using only what you need, being careful about how you use materials, and dispose of things. All of the recent issues with climate change, oil spills, food contamination, etc. reminds us that we have to be responsible for how we use the environment around us, or we will not have it available for us to enjoy. We have to change our interaction with environment – the macro view and the micro view (in our own homes). People are coming to understand their part. What advice would you give to other green businesses? Work within a proven business mode— absolutely. Do not give it all away because we are guilty for how much damage has already been done, or to gain initial acceptance. A business has to make money to survive. If you are providing a necessary service or product with a focus on assisting your customers, and in the green economy thereby helping to contribute to some of the answers, then you should be proud of your work. Believe in yourself and never give up. |
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