Going Blonde/Going Green
Movie Star Drives Prius! Another headline confirms that "going green" is officially trendy. However, Jayne and Heidi, owners of Team Blonde, know that making a difference is no fad; for one's actions to be meaningful, there must be a commitment to a way of life.
As they built Team Blonde from the ground up, Jayne and Heidi faced an overwhelming number of decisions. A commitment to be environmentally responsible where they could guided everything from the build-out of their present space, to choosing the merchandise and even designing day to day operations. To see commitment manifested in practice, let's take a tour of Team Blonde with "The Blondes".
A beep signals the locking of the doors on one of their two Jetta diesel wagons. As they walk away from the car, Heidi, Jayne and Jazz detect the odor of restaurants as the exhaust lingers. This is due to the fuel, which they blend in their garage from used fryer oil obtained from two local establishments. They enter, and as they walk down the long Team Blonde spa corridor with its bamboo flooring, it's easy for them to remember the reconstructing of the space. Every usable 2X4, trim piece, shelf, door or hardware was saved and reused, including 15 lbs. of drywall screws! The walls were painted with low volatility, water-based paint, while furniture and displays are mostly reused and refurbished.
In the retail area of this hybrid business, one can find clothing made from bamboo fiber, as well as a host items made from recycled materials. These items, when purchased by the customer, are placed in packaging made from recycled paper or plastic. The list of employee duties, which includes a reminder to take out the recycling, is written on a sheet of paper, the other side of which has been used previously.
Lights in the spa area are kept to minimum due to the skylights, while L.E.D. lights are used wherever possible. Cleaning is achieved using environmentally friendly products, and hands and laundry are washed using soap made from byproducts of the bio-diesel making process. As they sit in used office chairs, which they reupholstered themselves, they discuss business plans, one of which is to begin research on a solar hot water unit for Team Blonde.
What Jayne and Heidi know is that we all can make a difference. It starts with a commitment and a conscious effort to do the little things that make up a green lifestyle, or even a green business style. This is the commitment of Team Blonde as they serve you, the customer—and the planet.
