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May
13, 2003
DECOR
DIRECT'S SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES
Sarasota, Florida - Decor Direct has always strived to be an
environmentally conscious company, but its staff has been resourceful in
coming up with new ways to conserve. Decor Direct is turning to
digital and online resources to publish written documents. In doing so,
the international trading company is working to improve customer
satisfaction as well as save time, money and trees.
With more of its customers having access to email, the company is finding
that its ability to update customers electronically saves mailing time and
expense. The benefit of this shift is not only seen in dollars and cents,
but also in reduced demand for paper -- and trees -- and less waste. As a
result of this shift from paper to electronic communication, this fiscal
year Decor Direct projects it will save thousands of dollars on printing
and postage expenses.
Like many other Decor Direct initiatives, this one was created by
listening to staff and customers. Not only has Decor Direct's electronic
communication and documentation saved trees, but it has also streamlined
information. Customers can choose which e-communications to receive
depending on their interests. For instance, they can choose to
receive targeted email regarding Decor Direct's decorating classes,
wholesale accounts, and special charity events like this month's Arts
& Crafts Fair on May 18th.
Customers also benefit from easy to access information detailing product
updates. Decor Direct is currently converting the publishing of its
product catalogs from print to electronic format. Compact discs
allow more personalized content to its wholesale customers based on their
specific business needs.
"Most of our customers still request hard copies of our catalogs and
newsletters but we're seeing the shift over to electronic media as
businesses and consumers get used to relying on e-publications," says
Karen Love, Manager of Decor Direct's Sarasota operations.
The program is continuing to develop: the company recently launched an
email customer survey program which gives customers the opportunity to
suggest improvements in the company's operations and procedures with just
a few clicks of their keyboard.
“It's exciting to get instant feedback. In one instance, we were
able to implement a customer's suggestion in a matter of hours from the
initial launch of the electronic survey, rather than the days it would
take for a mailed questionnaire to make its' full cycle,” notes Ms.
Love.
Internal communications have benefited as well. When employee handbooks
were recently updated, Decor Direct made the manuals available
electronically rather that handing out copies totaling hundreds of pages.
Now, a dedicated terminal in the staff room gives access to human
resources materials, and deployment on the Web is slated next.
The company has also made its hiring process green by offering its
application materials online. In its April recruiting efforts, the
Sarasota team noticed it was printing dozens of career information sheets
and applications each day. They identified the issue, and implemented a
new initiative to transition Decor Direct's hiring materials and
information to electronic form. Potential staff members could learn in
detail about the company's career opportunities and benefits online at
Decor Direct's career page. Then, this pre-qualified pool of interested
candidates accessed an application online and emailed it in, depleting
neither paper nor fuel resources. Available positions were filled more
quickly and efficiently than ever before.
“As an international trading company, we're perfectly positioned to take
advantage of the conservation benefits that electronic communications
offer, and we're finding already that the positive effects can be
significant," says Love, “so we're on the hunt for more ways to be
green."
For more information about Decor Direct, please call Celeste Gruenstein at
(941) 365-5757 or go to www.decordirect.net. |
