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Living an eco-friendly life has become more important for many of us, including small business owners. In fact, a survey found that 9 out of 10 small-business owners want to recycle, while around three in four have switched to more environmentally friendly products in the past 12 months.
Although both practices are a positive step in the right direction, there is one practice that some retailers might be forgetting about: upcycling. And it is more beneficial to the environment—as well as your bottom line!
What is Upcycling?
According to UpcycleThat.com, upcycling is “the act of taking something no longer in use and giving it a second life and new function. In doing so, the finished product often becomes more practical, valuable, and beautiful than what it previously was.”
You can really upcycle almost anything, including clothing, plastic bags, plastic containers, furniture, leather scraps, and metals. Some of the biggest benefits of upcycling are:
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- Upcycling creates less waste
- Minimal use of energy and natural resources
- Doesn’t contribute to environmental pollution
- It unleashes your creative side
- It reduces manufacturing costs
The Benefits of Upcycling in Retail Displays
In addition to being an eco-friendly option, there are other benefits to upcycling retail displays. It can…
Cut Costs: Finding new purposes for your displays will prevent you from having to purchase new ones.
Boost Creativity: Figuring out how to upcycle your retail displays will force you to think outside of the box. You’ll be able to come up with some creative display options and layouts that customers have probably never seen before.
Customer Approval: Speaking of customers, data shows that 81 percent of people prefer to buy from sustainable sellers. Showing off your store’s commitment to the environment can go a long way in attracting customers.
Tips for finding used fixtures
Check Online: Sites like Freecycle and even Facebook Marketplace can be great resources to find fixtures that people want to sell for cheap or give away entirely.
Visit Liquidation Sales: When a storefront goes out of business, they often sell their fixtures along with the rest of their inventory.
Contact your Local Chamber: Get in touch with your local Chamber of Commerce. They might know about businesses that are downsizing or shutting down.
Place Signage in Your Store: Let the community know that you’re looking for used fixtures by placing signage in your window and near your registers. You can also put a call out for items on your social media pages.
Upcycled Display Ideas
Transform an Old Cabinet: Take a cabinet or bookcase and freshen it up by placing peel-and-stick wallpaper on the back of each shelf.
Create a Wood Table: Wooden pallets can be painted any color, attached on to metal casters, and used as a table to showcase a variety of merchandise.
Wow with Wooden Barrels: Wooden barrels can serve so many purposes. From holding large assortments of flowers at a nursery to creatively displayed accessories in a clothing store, they offer beautiful storage solutions and a rustic touch to any location. They can be hard to find, though, but shopPOPdisplays has a selection that will surely work for you.
Stack Some Wooden Crates: Position wooden crates both vertically and horizontally to create a unique design and then secure it with large binder clips.
Fill Mason Jars: Place small impulse buys in Mason jars near the register. They’re clear so it will be easy for customers to spot the merchandise.