“Everyone wins with this program. The customer becomes even more environmentally conscious. The retailer enables the customer to do so and, in so doing, builds a stronger bond with her. And our world becomes environmentally healthier.”
-Brian Woolf, Retail Strategy Center, 8/31/08
Reusable Bags
One of the hottest subjects in the grocery industry is how to increase the use of reusable bags. EcoUnit has the solution - and not only will it motivate your customers to dramatically increase their use of reusable bags, it will save you money in the process.
Retailers utilize the EcoUnit program to motivate their customers to take eco-friendly actions that are profitable to the retailer, such as use of reusable bags or purchase of organics and other green products. Customers earn EcoUnit credits when they take these actions, and they redeem their credits for eco-friendly rewards such as tree planting and support of local environmental causes. As customers earn their way towards these environmental rewards, it serves as a continual reminder to use their reusable bags. Participants can form groups - schools, companies, and others in the community - and compete against one another to earn the most EcoUnit credits. Over time consumer behaviors change and new habits form - habits that will make you, your customers, and the environment proud.
The EcoUnit program has proven to increase reusable bag rates dramatically in only a few months. Of equal importance to the retailer, EcoUnit participants have been shown to spend more - up to 4 times more - than average grocery consumers. In addition, the EcoUnit program is complementary to disposable bag taxes and fees, making it an excellent choice for grocers who want to get ahead of legislative action and reward their customers for doing the right thing.
Product Promotions
It is known that “green consumers” spend more at the grocery store – typically 3 times more than the average consumer – but how can we identify and target them? How can we assure that the green consumer will do their green shopping at our grocery store? Utilizing the same platform and currency as the reusable bag program, the EcoUnit solution identifies and targets the green consumer at the grocery store, allowing the retailer to profit from this growing purchase demographic.
EcoUnit credits are used to motivate purchase of organics, locally grown produce, and other environmentally-preferable packaged goods. Through partnerships with local environmental organizations, your customer can redeem their credits to support their choice of environmental causes. Ultimately, by tying the eco-conscious consumer’s shopping behavior to an environmental cause, the retailer builds an emotional connection with the customer that results in increased trip frequency and larger basket sizes.
Key Attributes of the EcoUnit Program
Profitable
• EcoUnit credits are priced so that simple programs – e.g. motivating use of reusable bags - result in a cost savings to the retailer
• EcoUnit credits can be used to motivate purchase of high-margin products, allowing the retailer to increase revenues and retain more margin
Build Loyalty
• Each qualifying transaction shows the retailer’s logo and program name within the customer’s account
• Each transaction adds to the ever-growing value of the customer’s eco-account: the more they shop, the more they earn, the more connected they are to you
• Capture customer data including email address and mobile number
Flexible
• Works as a standalone program or as an add-on to existing loyalty programs
• Retailer can utilize the currency in their own unique and differentiated ways, including the flexibility to develop retailer-specific rewards
• Back-end points accrual and redemption system - with no additional resources required from retailer
For more information, drop us a note at sales@ecounit.com.
