An overview of one of the largest opportunities available to small and mid-sized businesses in 2011 to really differentiate from the marketplace and grow their business. Green is no longer a nice to have, it's become a must-have to compete successfully and win the best customers.

1. The Biggest Opportunity
SMBs Have Today
How Green Certification Can Help
Your BusinessThrive in Today’s Economy
www.gbb.org 1.866.979.1071

2. Let’s Talk About
The Current State of the Economy
Three Green Facts You Can’t
Afford to Ignore
Solutions for Your Success
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3. This IS NOT
Your Father’s Economy
www.gbb.org 1.866.979.1071

4. 16
14
12
% Growth
10
8
6
4
2
0
2020
1950
1960
1970
1990
2000
2010
1980
US Economy
Growth rates are at the lowest
levels since the Second World War
www.gbb.org 1.866.979.1071

5. SMBs are Getting Hit Hard
www.gbb.org 1.866.979.1071

6. 3 out of 4 New Small Businesses
Failed Between 2007 and 2009
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7. But there IS a Bright Side
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8. Remember That Declining
Economy We Talked About?
www.gbb.org 1.866.979.1071

9. 30
25
20
% Growth
15
10
5
0
1970
1960
1990
1950
2010
1980
2020
2000
US Economy US Green Economy
The Green Economy is Growing
10 Times Faster Than
the General Economy
www.gbb.org 1.866.979.1071

10. What (or Who) is Driving This
Phenomenal Growth?
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11. No, Not Her…
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12. Fact 1:
Green Has Gone
Mainstream
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13. Today 20% of
Consumers Are Green

14. By 2015, 60% Will Be Green

15. What You Should Know
About Green Consumers
60% Are Shopping as
Much Today as
Before the Recession
25% Are Shopping
MORE
80% Would Pay
Premiums of
Up to 20% for Green
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16. SMBs Can’t Afford to Ignore
These Consumers
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17. They Didn’t…
Green cleaner sales Sales of organic Organic products
revenues grew 229% apparel and home (food and non-food)
between 2005 and textile products grew grew 17.1% between
2009, doubling by 25% in 2009, to 2007 and 2008 to
revenues and tripling $4.3 billion $24.6 billion
market share
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18. Fact 2:
It’s Easier Than Ever to Go Green
www.gbb.org 1.866.979.1071

19. The Government
Loves Green
Tax incentives
Debt relief programs
Loan fee reductions and
eliminations
Higher guarantees
Expanded microloans
Secondary market incentives
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20. Green is EVERYWHERE
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21. Fact 3:
Going Green Will
Help You Save Money
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22. The average small business can
save over $2,500 per year per
employee by implementing green
measures around the office
www.gbb.org 1.866.979.1071

23. You Can Save*
$409 $166 $125 $178
per year by a year by
per year by per year by using
implementing a switching to CFLs
switching to the “hibernate”
filtered water paper reduction feature on your
policy computers
*Savings per employee based on average US small business of 10 employees
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24. Can Going Green Really
Attract More Customers?
Be Easy?
Save Money?
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25. Great Question!
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26. Here’s How You Get All Those
Green Consumers to Spend Their
Money with You….(ready?)
www.gbb.org 1.866.979.1071

27. Tell Them You’re Green
(Really, It works)
www.gbb.org 1.866.979.1071

28. Here’s a Lot of Numbers
80% of Americans believe third-party certifications play an important
role in the oversight of environmental messaging
55% of consumers look for labeling that indicates whether a product or
company has some amount of environmental sensitivity
71% actively look for a trust mark or privacy seal before doing online
business with a merchant
40% of shoppers desire more green information at the store level
28% say they want to see green information displayed prominently
24 % of consumers are verifying green claims by reading the packaging
17% of are turning to research, such as using the Internet
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29. Did You Get All That?
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30. All Those Numbers Mean That
Green Labels Make
Consumers Happy
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31. How Can You Tell
They’re Happy?
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32. When consumers are presented with
sustainability practices online, conversion
rates are several times higher than
traditional ecommerce conversion rates
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33. Consumers are twice as
likely to choose (and
pay a higher price for) a
green product/service
when they are able to
do a side-by-side
comparison with
similar, non-green
$3.99 $5.29 options
www.gbb.org 1.866.979.1071

34. Now that you’re ready to go
green – how will you do it?
www.gbb.org 1.866.979.1071

35. Solutions to Going Green
Do-It-Yourself
Consulting
Third-Party Certification
www.gbb.org 1.866.979.1071

36. How Do They Compare?
Do-It- Third-Party
Dare to Compare Yourself
Consulting
Certification
Cost $ $$$$ $$
Information Database
Onsite Support
Reporting
Independent Verification
Certification
Access to New Marketing Channels
www.gbb.org 1.866.979.1071

37. GBB Offers the Best In Class
Third-Party Certification
www.gbb.org 1.866.979.1071

38. Our Process is Easy
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4
Industry A Program Step-by-Step Membership
Specific Tailored to Guidance Seal That
Online Your Business Displays Your
Assessment Green Efforts
www.gbb.org 1.866.979.1071

39. Our Seal Adds Value
The Marketing Benefits of Going Green Are Only
Realized with a Trusted Seal
www.gbb.org 1.866.979.1071

40. We Give Your Message
Broader Reach
Reach More Green Consumers Through
GBB’s Social Networks
www.gbb.org 1.866.979.1071

41. We Help You Get Recognized
Our National Media Coverage Highlights
Our Program AND Our Members
www.gbb.org 1.866.979.1071

42. We Give You
New Marketing Channels
Get in front of the consumers who are looking for
green products and services through GBB’s
strategic marketing partnerships
www.gbb.org 1.866.979.1071

43. We Offer Tools and Support
Our Exclusive Member Marketing Kit Is
Full of SEO Tips, Promotion Ideas,
and Social Media How-To’s
www.gbb.org 1.866.979.1071

44. We Offer Onsite Assistance
GBB’s national network
of eco-consultants
explain and help
implement initiatives for
certification and confirm
ongoing eligibility.
www.gbb.org 1.866.979.1071

45. Our Program Offers a Big Return
We’ve identified 450+
green initiatives
that will save you
thousands of
dollars every year.
www.gbb.org 1.866.979.1071

46. And, We Really Know Green
We are a thought leader in green business
www.gbb.org 1.866.979.1071

47. The Chinese Say “The Best Time
to Plant a Tree Was 20 Years Ago,
the Second Best Time is Now.”
www.gbb.org 1.866.979.1071

48. You Can’t Afford to Wait
www.gbb.org 1.866.979.1071

49. Go Green Today
1-866-979-1071
contact@greencityprogram.com
www.GreenCityProgram.com
www.gbb.org 1.866.979.1071

50. Resources
Economist, October 9, 2010, “How to Grow: A Special Report on the World Economy”
FastCompany.com, October 2010 “NOW October: Forecast”
http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/4572430
British Columbia’s Green economy: Building a Strong Low-Carbon Future, Feb 2010, Globe Foundation.
http://www.franchisedirect.com/information/greenfranchisebusinesses/greenfranchiseindustry/207/987/
British Columbia’s Green economy: Building a Strong Low-Carbon Future, Feb 2010, Globe Foundation
http://www.businessgreen.com/business-green/news/2271049/report-business-spending
http://www.businessgreen.com/business-green/news/2271049/report-business-spending
http://greeneconomypost.com/de-risking-sustainability-wellness-the-tea-party-11153.htm)
http://www.sustainablelifemedia.com/content/story/brands/sales_in_organics_soar_over_17_percent_despite+Recession
http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/08/24/jackson.rogers.green.jobs/index.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/01/AR2010010101196.html
http://articles.latimes.com/2009/nov/15/business/fi-cover-greenjobs15
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Why-Consumer-Spending-Went-cnbc-3850027279.html?x=0
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-17/michigan-september-consumer-sentiment-index-unexpectedly-decreases-to-66-6.html
http://www.emarketergreen.com/blog/index.php/green-purchase-recession/
Joesph Marra, director of marketing at Natural Marketing Institute
http://www.lohas-asia.org/about-us/
http://www.marketing-insider.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=42:lohas-marketplace&catid=4:lohas&Itemid+49
http://www.marketing-insider.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=41&Itemid=48
http://www.marketing-insider.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=41&Itemid=48
http://www.slideshare.net/stevekann/bridgewater-lohas-fund
http://www.globe-net.com/articles/2010/june/22/motivating-mainstream-consumers-to-make-sustainable-choices.aspx?sub=14
http://www.bbmg.com/ccr_order/
http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2010/10/01/3-ways-improve-your-retail-bottom-line-
sustainability?page=0%2C1&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A%20greenbiz/business-
operations%20%28Business%20Operations%20%7C%20GreenBiz.com%29#ixzz12H3F2Pwb
http://www.emarketergreen.com/blog/index.php/green-purchase-recession/
http://www.globe-net.com/articles/2010/june/22/motivating-mainstream-consumers-to-make-sustainable-choices.aspx?sub=14
http://greeneconomypost.com/sb10-consumer-attitudes-eco-moms-10535.htm
http://www.slideshare.net/stevekann/bridgewater-lohas-fund
http://www.clearworks.net/files/Consumer%20and%20SMB%20Green%20Research_web.pdf
://www.coneinc.com/content1136
http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=12805&page=9
http://www.environmentallyfriendlyhotels.com/eco-label.html
http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=12805&page=9
http://www.adgregate.com/press/pr-20100419-Adgregate-Markets-TRUSTe.html
Parikh, P. 2003. Harnessing Consumer Power: Using Certification Systems to Promote Good Governance. Washington, DC: Environmental Law Institute.