Is there a line?

I was wondering, is there a line in the environmental earth-friendly people friendly world? Where do we draw the line to both help people and help the earth? I know some folks think that the primary task is to save the planet, and thus we provide a home for people, which is definitely important. But, is there a time we should be putting people before the planet?

Try this, what cost should a person pay for being environmentally friendly? If you had a choice between buying a ream of paper at say, $2, or a ream of recycled paper at $5, which one would you buy? What if the recycled paper was produced in your country, which means jobs for local folks and the cheaper paper was imported, which means money going out of the local economy?

I just wonder, don't we all draw the line every time we shop based on price? Isn't that really what's happening when someone tells me they can buy lesser quality inks and toners on-line from outside the country?

Tech Guy

Ok, so here's a photo of Dave, the super tech. He does all the hard work. I can fill some of the cartridges, but most of what I do is handle the front counter. All the really complex stuff goes to him. He's the man!

Dave's a funny guy. He loves doing woodworking projects. In fact, his big focus for the past 12 years or so has been to make hand-made, old-fashioned toys. Most of them are really great, with lots of character and fun. He made my mother a chicken toy that lays an egg when you turn the chicken (or something like that) because she told him a story about how jealous she was of her sister for having a toy like that when they were kids. It takes him a bit of time to do the research, get the ideas nailed down, make the toy and then paint it. But it is totally worth it because when he's done, it's usually got a lot of personality--just like Dave!

Dave, thanks for all you do at the store. We couldn't keep the doors open without you!

With love,

Linda

Are there Generational Gaps in Environmental Concerns

Ok, so I was doing some studies on generational differences. You know, the Greatest Generation that Ever Lived, the Gen Xers, Boomers, Busters and all those other labels we like so much!

That got me to thinking about my business. Doesn't it seem like the younger people should be really hot all over the green work we provide with cartridge cleaning and refilling? I'd have thought that the younger, more passionate (read more energetic--oops, there's my age showing!) people would be all over this.

But what I find is that really it is the older people who are excited about the potential to save the earth and save some money. Now, I wonder, why is that?

welcome to greenies

Ok, so I own a Cartridge World franchise in the central valley in California. Lodi, to be exact. This is my experience of owning and running a green business in the heartland of the valley.

First question is usually, how (or why) did you get into this business. So, let me give you the brief answer: because it is an excellent business providing fabulous products to our customers at a fair price while being good to the environment. Basically, it is an all-around win-win situation.