The transition to start a “green business” or “eco-friendly” one, as it is often called, is not I had launched
one of Mississippi’s first health food stores. There was no Internet, no Google, no blogging, nothing.
I paid high rent in a mall across from the local university. The local townsfolk felt I might be
possessed to believe that natural products might be better than what could be bought at A & P Grocery.
(I am showing my age here).
Many years career changes later, I finally settled on e-commerce and cartooning. I found a way
to have my cartoon images printed on demand and drop-shipped. Sales were great from the start, as
I had already built a name with a non-commerce producing cartoon site. There was one problem. I wanted some of my items, particularly tshirts to be made from organic cotton. I knew that I was and am but one person, but when I read that regular cotton production accounts for 10% of the world’s insecticide pollution, I knew I had to do something.
I started my search in 2006 after opening the first of my stores. No luck. I made call after call.
I did manage to find some organic textile manufacturers, but they wanted me to order the product in bulk and resell it. That is not “my thing”. So I kept trying.
Suddenly this year, while reading various blogs on unique cartoon gifts and collectibles, I ran across a post stating the name of a print-on-demand firm that offered not only men’s and women’s organic
cotton tees, but also made with totally nontoxic dyes. This was a major concern to me. I had remembered when in the health food business, back when non-food organic items were rarely paid much attention, I had told an organic clothing salesperson that if they could promise me the dyes were nontoxic, I would give them a try. They were not, and I’ve since learned many organic and other so-called organic items are printed with toxic dyes.
Don’t get me wrong. I am not a fanatic. But many of my customers have a certain lifestyle. Just because it is organic, is not enough. It has to be healthy, and healthy means natural dyes. Just
this month, I found the firm, and finally, after a two year search, found the firm.
I launched the store this month and, true to form, those regular customers who had queried me so often about having “green merchandise” in the inventory are happy as can be, not to mention healthier. Our earth is fragile, and, often it seems easier to be ambivalent. But everyone can do a little something to make a difference. I by launching the store it has made my own approach toward the environment change (for the more positive). I try to wear the organics more often than not. I recycle. I associate
with a whole new network who are either own a green business or are transitioning towards one.
It is a very healthy and positive group of smart, savvy people with a good conscience and heart.
Rick London an entrepreneur and cartoonist, and founder of the Internet’s most popular offbeat cartoon, Londons Times. He just launched his first “green store” Rick London Organics http://www.ricklondonorganics.info which sells 100% organic cotton tees for men and women using totally non-toxic dyes. He also owns other stores such as Rick London Collection http://www.ricklondoncollection.com and his large megastore http://www.LTSuperstore.com