Businesses are going green: Think Global, Act Local

When words can't explain the facts, a video can:

Charlotte Initiative "Go-To Green"

Think Global, Act Local

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Negotiating can save you extra money!

In other countries negotiating while purchasing good or services is expected and it is also a social custom. But believe it or not, doing this can save you extra money while shopping online.

Next time you are shopping online put the items you want in your cart and look for a chat or Live help button. Clicking on that button will open a live session with a customer representative. Mention that you have your cart full but that you have been comparison shopping - in most cases you have been looking around for the best deal- and that you would like to know if they have any special discounts. Initially the rep probably will say no, but as you continue to negotiate and tell them that you will have to get the items from the competitor, then the magic will begin and you probably will get a special code that you can use during checkout.

Shopping online can save money and time and if used wisely, the savings can grow significantly.

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Shopping in the Future

There is no doubt that the Internet is changing the habits of consumers. More people shop online instead of driving to the mall. It is a fact that online shopping is becoming a worldwide choice at a very rapid pace. People want to use their free time in some other ways instead of spending it getting the items they need on a monthly basis. It seems as if the days of driving to one place to buy electronics then heading to another store to buy clothing and spend the rest of a Saturday afternoon grocery shopping are coming to an end.


Purchasing products or services online is easier than ever and consumers can save extra money researching for similar items or comparing prices. Search engines such as Google help consumers find the product they want in a very simple an easy way. Plus it is very time consuming finding the store you need at a mall depending on how big or small it is and how long it takes you to find a parking spot.


In many occasions traditional stores have a limited stock or a smaller selection of products compared to the online store and prices can be lower just because the retailer ship items from a warehouse avoiding the high costs of having a store in a shopping mall.


As technology evolves, soon we will get to a point where we will be able to shop from our phones from mostly everywhere we go. At the same time, some shopping portals are evolving in order to attract more consumers and to keep up with the evolution of E-commerce. Before you know you might be shopping while you are at the park, at the beach or at your favorite restaurant!

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E-commerce Basics

E-commerce started when businesses started to exchange information and files with each other electronically. Today the Internet allows business-to-consumer transactions where people can buy goods and services online.

Due to the fact that the number of internet users as increased dramatically during the last decade, e-commerce has become a multibillion industry and is expected to grow even more during the following years. The US Census Bureau data, projects that e-commerce for 2010 in the United states will climb to over $152 billion, up 12.7 percent from last year.

So, what are the benefits of e-commerce for consumers? I will try to explain.

· The shopper can compare prices among different stores that have the same product instead of driving from store to store.

· Websites provide detailed product information and in many cases reviews from other choppers that bought the same products.

· Shopping online can help reduce our carbon footprint. The US Postal Service, along with shipping giants such as Fed Ex and UPS are making the rounds anyway, driving close to most American households every day, if not right past it.

· The consumer can find a wider variety of sizes, colors and online only products.

· Save time: when a consumer knows the product needed, it can take less than 5 minutes to order it and have it delivered between 7-10 business days Vs. driving to the store, find a place to park, walk to the store, search the item, make a line to pay, walk to the car and drive back home can take at least 30 minutes or more.

· Save money: Depending on the retailer, the consumer can get products or services that are free of State tax. Avoiding trips to the store reduces the gas consumption saving money (and helping the environment). Retailers frequently issue online coupons that can save the consumer something between 10-40% of the retail price.

· In many cases customers can pick up or return items to the land base store.

Most online retailers are looking for different ways to grow their businesses and increase sales. Affiliate Marketing is growing in popularity, where retailers allow other websites to create links that direct potential customers to their websites and in return they give the website a percentage of the amount of the purchase that was generated using this link creating a win-win situation for the retailer and for the owner of the website with the electronic link.

It is estimated that in 2010 over 162 million people research a specific product on the Internet. Many will head to the store to get it, but the percentage of research that will end up in a sale will increase dramatically during the following years.

The amount of money saved and the convenience of receiving items that either a business or a household use on a monthly basis right at the door are one of the main reasons why e-commerce is growing at a very rapid pace.

So go ahead and explore the world wide web, you soon will discover that online shopping goes beyond airline tickets and hotel reservations. Have fun and save more!!

A Dolar Saved is a Minute Saved

It seems like every day people have less time to enjoy a movie, a peaceful weekend with the family, reading a book or playing with the kids. Time seems not to be enough to do all the chores needed to maintain our lifestyles.

We spend hours shopping for the items that we need daily: makeup, toiletries, cleaning products, books, toys, presents for birthday parties, office supplies, fragrances, clothing and so much more. Weekends have turned into excursions to the stores. Kids spend hours at stores like Costco, Walmart, Target or huge shopping malls instead of riding a scooter or playing ball at the park. Parents come back exhausted after the trip to the store with a 3 and 5 year old kids.

But thankfully, the Internet has made for some of us that have learned how to take advantage of it our lives less complicated. We have recovered our lives and our time, at the same time that we have discovered that we can cut our monthly expenses tremendously.

I can get the same Skechers, Stride Rites or Steven Maddens delivered to my door. I can have razor blades, toothpaste, toilet paper, diapers, wipes, snacks, spices, herbs, detergent, cleaning supplies delivered to my door. I can get the same toys I had planned as a gift or for my kids delivered to my door. I can get the food for my pets and other supplies delivered to my home as well as items I know I need every month. Many times I don't pay State tax and the shipping is free! Think of the money saved on gas when you stop driving around the city in order to get what you need it is a lot! I can say that I have reduced my gas expenses at least by half and I am reducing my carbon footprint too!

It takes me 5 minutes to get food for my pets. Maybe 10 to get school supplies for my girls. It takes be about 15 to get all the cleaning and beauty supplies and the best part is that it only takes me about 30 minutes in and out to the grocery store just to get perishables, fruits and veggies.

If you live in an apartment, think about the time saved going up and down the elevator to get your needs.
If you have small children think about how unhappy they are after 30 minutes at the store and how miserable is your shopping experience.

I have discovered that using online coupons I can save 10 or 20% sometimes even more.I add to that the cash back i receive for using a site that links me to 2000 retailers, many of them are eco-friendly.

I have registered my email with many retailers and I receive amazing discounts and I take advantage of them. And the best part is that online shopping is just at the beginning of what it will be the way to shop in a few years.

I have been introduced to a wide variety of green products that are mmuch better for my family, and obviously better for our planet and they all get to my front door! And did you know that as long as you ask ground shipping, online shopping is a greener way to get your items since shipping trucks already have their routes and many run on electricity?

So here I want to share some discount coupons with you so you can sit and relax, have a glass of wine while you get your monthly items and enjoy the time saved with the ones you love.

• Fossil - Free Shipping on orders of $100 or more
• Discount School Supplies - 30% on Arts and Crafts
• Victoria's Secret - Get 8 Secret garden body care items for $35 with code GARDEN35
• Bath & Body Works - $3 shipping on any order of $50 or more with code SHIP3
• Kipling - 20% off your purchase with code SPRING20
• Express - $15 OFF your purchase of $60 or more with code 4199
• FamousFootwear - BOGO + 15% OFF your purchase with code BUNNY15
• Target - $5 Off your purchase of $50 or more with code TC5W31BE
• Vitalicious (nutritious muffins) - 15% OFF Ester Chocolate Pack with code EEPQ4QTYQ
• Cost Plus World Market - Illy Coffee only at $9.99
• ULTA Beauty - Free Shipping on orders of $25 or more code 51160 - Or 20% off One item with code 49202
• Banana Republic - Mystery coupon: Get 15%, 20%, 30% or 50% on your purchase with code BHC16BYQNPK6
• Northern Tool + Equipment - Free Shipping on thousands of items for a limited time

GO SHOPPING - FIND ALL THESE RETAILERS AND MORE HERE