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gifts & souvenirs Eco-Chic Greeting Cards & Gifts THE TREND in environmentally friendly goods is carrying over to greeting cards and gifts, and offers independent retailers an exciting opportunity for sales. Innovation and changing attitudes within the design and manufacturing industries means that this market offers greater choices and commercially viable price points. By including eco-friendly cards and gifts into their buying plans, retailers can help the environment, give their customers a feel-good reason to buy, and help strengthen the sector.
Environmentally friendly designs Originally cost-prohibitive for many businesses, a growing number of designers and manufacturers are utilizing recycled materials in design and production. Even the traditional gift of socks has been given an eco-friendly makeover. California-based Rock n Socks chose to produce stylish socks in the USA with yarns made from recycled materials. Designing its line
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April 2014 | INDEPENDENT RETAILER
by Charlotte Biggs
around regenerated cotton, Rock n Socks is able to use cotton scraps left over from the manufacture of clothes to produce this unique item. As the industry grows, smart retailers have a chance to research what the market offers, develop their own eco-philosophy, and appeal to environmentally aware customers. In addition to the growth in recycled goods, consumers have heightened interest in upcycled designs and supporting local manufacturers. By investigating and implementing any one of these trends, retailers can lead the way in eco-commerce. Along these lines, Wrecords by Monkey creates a unique gift collection from reclaimed vinyl records. The Brooklyn-based design studio makes handmade jewelry and gifts by upcycling a product that would otherwise have ended up in a landfill. These stylish gifts not only appeal to every generation of music-lovers, but also claim a low carbon footprint. Rock n Socks continued on page 46