Sharon Rowe Bags Her Success…

While most of us were indicating whether we wanted "paper or plastic," Sharon Rowe was dreaming of the day we would all vote for a more environmentally friendly option.

Rowe, a Connex supporter, introduced her reusable shopping bag concept in 1990 at the Earth Day Festival in New York City and, to her surprise; she sold out her inventory in less than four hours. For years, she catered to the natural foods markets, growing methodically and then in 2007, Eco-Bags was featured on Oprah followed by a profile in Time magazine in 2008—exposure Rowe says catapulted her business to the next level.

As the reusable bag market pioneer, Rowe believes that success comes down to connecting to something larger and going for it with relentless determination. And as she's found that giving something back to the community and the environment doesn't take away from the bottom line—it adds to it.

"There is a huge swell right now in business to focus on a triple bottom line: people, planet, profits," Rowe says. "The sustainability piece is huge, but it's engaging because it's not just about making or driving revenue. It's really about participating, and promoting change. Don't be afraid to step into that space, and make the world better."

Connex: Thanks for participating in our "Get Inspired" program Sharon.
Sharon Rowe: Well I think it's actually a great idea because Connex is all about connecting people and really businesses are about connecting people to ideas through products and through services.

Connex: So, what motivated you to start your business?
Sharon Rowe: I had just had my son, Julian. I think when you're a new mom you are really attuned to your immediate environment. I started noticing all the different plastic bags that were stuck in the trees, the river and in the park. That's where it all started. It was just me noticing that I was creating too much trash; I didn't want to be personally responsible for creating all that trash.

Connex: And what about the plastic bags blowing up on your car windshield while you're driving?
Sharon Rowe: Exactly. All those experiences add up and they're negative. Who wants to see a plastic bag on the beach or the highway?

Connex: Agreed. So when you were starting your business what was the biggest challenge that you had?
Sharon Rowe: Well, when I started the business the biggest challenge was that nobody got the concept. People would say, "why should I bring my own bag to the store when they give me the other ones for free? " See, nobody was really thinking about the backend cost of producing something that's wasteful and that then needs to be cleaned up afterward.

Connex: And using an eco-friendly bag is a very visual way to let people know that you supporting the environment.
Sharon Rowe: Right--or that you are thinking about it. But there's also a challenge with a lot of the inexpensive reusable bags that are on the market--the non-woven bags. They're just a fancier form of today's plastic bags except they just last a little bit longer.

Connex: Great point. That really gets you thinking.
Sharon Rowe: Making smart choices like reusable bags doesn't take away from your bottom line, it adds to it. And a lot of people are not taking that lightly because the sustainability piece is huge. And I think we're seeing it more and more. There are so many people who want to be in it.

Connex: So Sharon, what has been your greatest reward, as an industry leader, if you had to pick one?
Sharon Rowe: That would be that it's really taking root and we see that all these seeds that were planted are really starting to mature. We know for a fact that some of our canvas bags have been out in the market and are still being used almost 20 years later, though I can't say for sure what they look like (laughs).

The other great reward would be that while the company was really small for a really long time. It was small when my children were small so I was able to have a business and be connected to it on concept and values and not have to compromise my time with my children at all.

Connex: Sharon, what's your biggest green tip, of course, other than using your products?
Sharon Rowe: (Laughs) You know what's even better when it comes to that? Just don't even take a bag. Why do you need to take a little plastic bag to carry a bottle of pain reliever home?

My tip would be for everybody to really attempt to not use or purchase anything with excessive packaging. Choose to reuse and choose products that you don't have to create any waste with. Try it. It's actually quite difficult. When I go shopping for clothes, I look at that tags on the clothes to see where the goods are made. I stay informed about labor practices and what not around the world. I stay in touch with how my spending choices will alter the landscape. I'm making that choice and I understand that other people are making choices too. We are a consumer culture so everything we do can drive social change.

Connex: Good advice. So Sharon, based on your experience if someone wanted to start her own business, what advice would give her?
Sharon Rowe: Well, I'd say just go for it. You know, if it's a business that they're really connected to with their hearts and their minds and their values. But they also have to be smart about it. Line up all the normal business tools. Like, you know, your banker and your space and whatever, but yeah just go for it. Why not? You have to understand that it can be a very long road until you are profitable. I mean there are cycles in business and I think the key is to stay focused. Stay positive and that can be really challenging.

Connex: Thanks Sharon!