Why Green? Does it really matter?

It is a very comprehensive course. You will find it illuminating. Easy ideas to implement immediately.

You betcha Michelle. I will see you there! Once you stop learning... you die ;)))

I believe you absolutely have to go green if you want to continue to evolve and grow. Not all consumers will require it, but some of your more progressive and connected customers definitely will require it. Just like they are buying grass cloth wallpaper, low flow toiler and low VOC paint for their home renovations, they are going to require green materials in staging as well. It will help them drive home the point that they have spent the time and energy to fill their home with responsible and sustainable materials.

The green movement probably has regional pockets of strength at this point, but it is moving across the country and will eventually hit the mass market. Since your best staging clients are probably higher end property owners anyway, the likelihood of their interest in green materials is likely going to be much higher.

If you would ever like to conduct research to quantitatively confirm consumer's interest in green staging our firm would love to help you with it. We not only work in the real estate sector. We also work with organic food and alternative energy companies so we see the ever-increasing interest in consumer responsibility for reducing their carbon footprint.

Good luck with your evolution!

Mariyn Wilson

founding Partner

WAV Group

Good for you!  This is a course I plan to take this year as well.  I've done one "green" staging job and it was really a lot of work to find affordable "green" products!  Looking forward to hearing what you think of the course!

Hi Margaret, I found that if you attend green product expos it drastically cuts down the amount of time it takes to find the products that you need to do Staging in a green way. You can also subscribe to green websites that promote green products which helps immensely.  We live in area that buys into the green ideas being promoted in the local media and puts them into practice, one small step at a time. Green Staging is still a very small market here. I introduce it on every consultation. Sometimes all I can convince the clients to use is low VOC paint, sometimes no VOC carpet. I use props and accessories made from bamboo quite a lot. That could be sheets, vases, or area rugs.

Staging is in and of itself an ideal green business. I reuse my rental inventory saving comsumption of new products on every job. I buy chandeliers from the local second hand shop when requried and the look is right.

Hope some of these ideas help you in your path to being a green Stager. :)

Michelle and Joe~ 

I noticed that you pointed out..." ...foster solid business relationships and be a champion of standards in home staging.  Going green will help us achieve this. " I totally agree with your sentiment! And thanks for sharing it.