The countdown has begun! Small business Week (November 26th - December 4th) is in approximately three weeks! We are showcasing four downtown businesses who prioritize sustainability. First on the list, NU2U and NU2U Sports run by owners Rob and Chelsea and their 22 employees. With over 13,000 consignment contracts created since their 2004 opening both stores have certainly had an impact in the community. NU2U is a thrift store that allows the public to consign clothes, or give their clothes to the store for a determined price with the ability to earn half of the ticket price if the clothing is bought; clothes are also often donated to the store. NU2U sports follows the same model except with a strong focus on sporting goods.
Why is shopping locally sustainable?
There are many benefits to shopping locally that not only involves supporting local owners, but the environment as well. In terms of economic sustainability, keeping money within the economy supports local tax bases as well as the surrounding businesses. Statistically, “for every $1,000,000 in sales, independent retail stores generate $450,000 in local economic activity, compared to just $170,000 for chains” (Mitchell).
Not only do big corporations’ cycle less money per sale into the local economy, but they also produce greater amounts of carbon emissions. Comparing NU2U’s consignment model to big thrift companies demonstrates multiple aspects of environmental consciousness differences. Larger thrift companies such as Goodwill produce excess clothing that ends up in landfills which contributes to waste energy emissions such as carbon dioxide, a harmful greenhouse gas. Instead of being shipped to landfills, NU2U donates portions of their clothing to non-profits in town, the Clothing Cottage, and other youth organizations. These efforts ultimately mitigate the amount of carbon emissions associated with clothing excess, an example of atmospheric sustainability. With 13 million tons of clothing reaching the end of their life cycle per year, recycling clothing is an important method for environmental preservation (Environmental Protection Agency).
“~9.1 million tons of clothing and footwear were landfilled in 2018”
To avoid the landfill, recycling, consigning, or donating clothes is the way to go. NU2U specifically, incentivizes a greener system by allowing consigners to profit off recycling their own clothes. Due to NU2U’s methodology when handling clothing excess, their store reduces the carbon footprint of all 6 to 10 thousand pieces cycled into the store each week. Ultimately, economic, and atmospheric sustainability are just two of many environmentally focused benefits to shopping local and supporting downtown businesses.
“We decided to do this business in part because of its sustainable business model. We enjoy being a part of that community that cares for our environment and planet”
Shopping at a thrift store and consigning one’s clothes are two simple ways to incorporate more sustainable practices in life. So, don’t wait til small business Saturday to show your support for local businesses. Remember, every time you shop locally you are also shopping green!
Citations:
Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Nondurable Goods: Product-Specific Data. EPA. Retrieved October 25, 2021, from https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/nondurable-goods-product-specific-data#ClothingandFootwear.
Mitchell, S. (2020, November 17). Key studies: Why independent matters. Institute for Local Self-Reliance. Retrieved October 25, 2021, from https://ilsr.org/key-studies-why-local-matters/.