Toronto Plastic Bag Ban Reprieve

Retailers in the Toronto area, and all of Ontario, can breathe a temporary sigh of relief as Toronto announced a reverse of the bag ban decision on November 28, 2012. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2012/11/28/toronto-plastic-bag-ban-vote-councillors.html

Without this eleventh hour decision, it was expected a By-Law would be passed and, effective January1, 2013, retailer would no longer be able to provide single-use plastic bags to customers.  Other than the loss of work in the plastics industry (a huge issue in itself), there was another concern - how could retailers be expected to find, purchase and implement non-plastic bags within one month?

I feared mass panic as retailers flooded suppliers with requests for paper bags or reusable bag alternatives.  It could easily have meant a bag shortage as suppliers worked to meet high demands for alternative products!

But, the issue is far from over.  Several years back, Toronto ordered all businesses to charge their customer five cents per plastic bag. The businesses kept the money and, in essence, it made larger retailers money by reducing their packaging costs. An additional side effect to the Toronto bag charge was that most major retailers (Metro, Shoppers, Loblaws) started charging for bags. As this bag charge went directly into the pockets of the businesses, I do not see any major business voluntarily eliminating the charge.

The issue of environmental damage also still exists.  Single-use plastic bags cause a lot of pollution and do not decompose for many, many years. Plastic is a problem.

On the other hand, switching to paper bags has its own issues:

• Paper bags are more expensive for retailers to purchase. A single plastic poly bag (9 x 12) costs about 5 cents versus a single 8 x 10 paper (kraft) bag with handles at 25 cents or more. [Note these costs are based on small quantities purchased] The cost of paper bags is significantly higher.
• Paper bags use more energy to produce.  Yes, studies have shown that paper bag production has its own environmental issues.
• Paper bags take up more room for storage.  A box of 250 paper bags takes a minimum of 5 times as much space as a box of 500 plastic bags.

Personally, I prefer the look of paper but it is not always effective for certain purchases and the cost plus storage is preventative.

Reusable bags are another great option but only work when the customer remembers to bring them.  Reusable bags are not great for POS or spur of the moment purchases.  There are also e coli concerns  that have arose from a lack of bag care - please wash your bags regularly!


As Toronto and other communities re-examine plastic bag use, I hope they will look at the type of plastic bags they are considering banning.  Plastic bags come in many styles and thicknesses and I know many of us will reuse thicker bags for garbage bin liners, diaper buckets, school lunches, lining snow boots and more! What I suggest, is that council look at a minimum bag thickness.

We have all visited grocery stores where the bags are so thin that they break before you get to the car. It is inevitable that these bags will have at least one hole in the bottom by the time you unpack them.  This type of bag is truly single-use.  Let's ban those bags and go back to the thick plastic bags that can be reused instead.

Toronto Plastic Bag Ban

In January, 2013, Toronto plans to officially launch a full ban on single use plastic bags. This means that retailers will no longer be able to provide customers with plastic carry-out bags for food, clothing or other product purchases.  Plastic bags will NOT be available for a five cent fee.  As of January, 2013, if Toronto council has its way, retailers will only be able to provide reusable bags (likely at a purchase cost) or paper bags.  In fact, offering a plastic bag could result in a fine for the retailer.  Consumers can also choose to use their own bags or reusable containers.

According to the City of Toronto, the plastic bags in question are as follows:

 http://www.toronto.ca/garbage/pdf/plastic_bag_consultation_presentation.pdf

"Single-Use Plastic Carryout (Shopping) Bag

A bag made of plastic film, designed to carry customer purchases from a retail business establishment but does not include: 

A. Bags used by customers inside retail business establishments to package bulk items such as fruit, vegetables, nuts, grains, candy, or small hardware items such as nails and bolts;

B. Bags used to contain or wrap frozen foods, meat or fish, flowers or potted plants, whether pre-packaged or not;

C. Bags used to protect prepared foods or bakery goods;

D. Bags provided by pharmacists to contain prescription drugs;

E. Newspaper bags;

F. Door-hanger bags;

G. Laundry-dry cleaning bags; or

H. Bags sold in packages containing multiple bags intended for such uses as garbage, pet waste, yard waste, recycling, or household organics" 

While we do need to reduce our use of single-use plastic bags, replacing these bags with paper bags may not be the answer.  Paper bags require more processing (costing more electricity and creating more pollution) and are more expensive to make.  Paper bags are also considerably more expensive for the retailer to purchase thus you may find extra mark-ups on product to offset higher costs.  

Reusable bags are also a great option to replace plastic bags.  Often, consumers can collect reusable bags at trade shows, events or by purchasing from a local retailer.  But, care must be taken to ensure these bags are kept clean.  Regular washing is mandatory for reusable bags, particular when used for groceries.  Another issue with reusable bags is the simple fact that we may forget them.  Many people simply forget to put the bags back in their vehicle, or forget to take them into the store.  How many of you have ran into a store for one item only to come out with a bagful?

The Toronto bag ban will be an interesting battle to watch.  The draft bylaw will be considered for enactment on November 27 or 28th, 2012. What happens at that point is still unknown as there will have to be some leniency and time for retailers to use up remaining bag stock and purchase new stock.  It can take weeks to have new paper and reusable bags custom printed with logos and/or manufactured.

We strongly advise Toronto area clients to consider your options now and wait til the end of November before placing any large plastic bag orders.

Winter, outerwear and your business

Ever been to a meeting or event where there was nowhere to hang your coat?  Chances are you either:

A. Kept wearing it
or
B. Carried it over your arm.
or
C. Dropped the coat in a heap on the floor or on a table.

Is this the best way to look after your outerwear?  Does your arm ache from carrying around the coat?  Is it awkward to look at displays or talk to people because you are carrying a burden?

Businesses hosting meetings, events or trade shows can easily solve this issue by using collapsible rolling racks.  At an approximate cost of $100.00 (for a decent commercial strength), a business can take apart and store the rack when not in use.  Even better, why not share the rack with another company to keep costs even lower.  Having a place to put your coat is not only convenient, it also indicated that the business is thinking of your needs.

Help make your customers' and business partners' experience with your meeting or event more positive by providing this simple courtesy.  Overall, being relieved of the burden of carrying an over-sized overcoat will allow your clients and associates to enjoy the event at a much higher level.

I know I am always grateful for a place to hang my coat.

Supporting Small Business & Local Community

It is very important to Shawn and I that we support other small businesses and our local community. When you support each other, you build a stronger foundation and are more effective and productive!  We don't look at other businesses as competition but rather as potential partners, suppliers or places to refer people to.

What better way to celebrate your anniversary than to do so with another small business? We invited Pete & Meredith Skinner of PC Service On Site to join us as they were celebrating their first year of operation in the Barrie area after moving from the GTA. PC Service On Site looks after your tech needs, at your location thus they do not have a physical office.

To further our commitment of supporting local business, lunch featured Pulled Pork sandwiches covered in Crazy Bitch BBQ Sauce and cupcakes from Cheeky Treats!  We also wanted to add a special touch to our event and decided to make it a charity lunch with all lunch donations going to the Barrie Women & Children's Shelter and non-perishable food donations going to the Barrie Food Bank.  In 2 hours, we raised $225.00 and over 70 lbs of food!

I also had a crazy idea!  What if we helped promote Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, a major fundraiser for the Women & Children's Shelter, by having the men try on shoes and then dance Gangnam Style?
See the results below!

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes takes place October 14, 2012 at Heritage Park in Barrie.  The walk, triathlete and obstacle course start at noon but be there by 11am for shoe fitting.

Cool Temps and Your Garage!

The temperatures are falling and winter will soon be here.  Many of us have already started to put away the summer patio furniture, garden accessories and more.  Now its time to put the bikes, golf and other warm-weather sports equipment away as well.  With winter, comes hockey season, and with hockey season, comes skates, helmets and other equipment.  Overall, winter means one jam-packed garage!

So imagine if your garage could look like this:

or like this:

One method to combat the clutter is garage organization.  A series of special slatwall fixtures, designed for a variety of purposes, will help you organize and declutter.  You will even have room to move in a one-car garage!  The hockey sports organizer allows storage of skates with a basket for helmets above.  The golf organizer will allow you to put away the clubs.

If you are looking for a nice way to finish your garage and organize it at the same time, drop by our showroom at 166 Saunders Road, Unit 8, Barrie.  You can also see more at www.totalgaragesystems.com

Also ask about the remote control garage door bug screens!

Celebrating Small Business

As an entrepreneur, I make it a goal to support others in a similar situation.  I also make it a point to support my community.  Often, these two goals coincide with each other as supporting local business will benefit your community.

Recently, while chatting with another small business, we realized that we were both celebrating our first anniversaries - mine as a full-time storefront and theirs as a new business in Barrie.  As this company (PC Service On Site) did not have a physical location, I suggested they join us and celebrate together.  Thus, the event has been booked and on October 11, 2012, we will both celebrate our first anniversaries.

To add to our lunch-time event, we have decided to include hot sandwiches with all proceeds going to the Barrie Women & Children's Shelter. In addition, in support of their upcoming Walk a Mile in Her Shoes on October 14, we have invited male participants to test-drive their favorite heels.  There may even be some extra entertainment (stay tuned to see if we pull it off!).  This is just one way we, as small business owners, can support our community.

In small business, the first year of business is vital.  Many businesses fail right out of the starting gate; others fail by the six month mark.  As you talk with entrepreneurs, you will realize that many businesses have a rocky first year and the important thing is to keep adapting and push through.

If you are an entrepreneur, think about how you can help small businesses in your community. Make it a point to offer some advice or encouragement to another entrepreneur, or join forces to accomplish a mutual goal.

Small Business Week is October 15 - 19.  Get out and meet your local business owners!

Events:

October 17 - Barrie Chamber of Commerce Business After 5 - Barrie Food Bank
October 18 - Ask the Experts at Barrie City Hall Rotunda
October 19 - Speed Networking

Visit www.barriechamber.com or www.barriebusinesscentre.ca for more information on the above events or contact me at Rebecca@simcoenorth.ca and I will update you!

Business After 5 - July 18, 2012

Recently, we hosted the Barrie Chamber of Commerce Business After 5 at our office at 166 Saunders Rd., Unit 8, Barrie.  It was quite a crush with well over 110 people in attendance!  I wish I had pictures but the camera was left behind!  Stay tuned for the August Snap as there are bound to be pictures in it.

Thank you to all who visited and an extra thank you to Buffalo Wild Wing for providing hot wings throughout the night!

One common response from many of our guests was "I didn't know you do this." It is an ongoing issue for us to find exactly how to best market the company as we truly do a wide variety of things ranging from store fixtures, promotional materials, packaging, printing, garage systems and more.  Overall, all of our products and services go together to make us a "one-stop shop" when setting up or promoting your business.

We can help businesses in a variety of ways:

• Business cards
• Storefront signs, vinyl lettering for windows or walls
• Vehicle lettering or graphics
• Banners, promotional displays or stands
• Pamphlets, brochures, stickers, labels
• T shirts and other promotional items
• Wall systems for product displays
• New store set-up and design
• Packaging for goods including bags, tissue paper, boxes & ribbon

Please drop in to see us soon.  Regardless of whether you need our services, we like to meet and get to know the people in our local community so that we may refer people looking for products or services we do not provide.

Rebecca and Shawn Palmer