The online webinars for the GREENleaders Certified Sustainability Training Course will take place on January 6th through February 10th every Friday from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EST. The course consists of six seminars which provide comprehensive training to designers, retailers, manufacturers, reps, and other professionals.
Unit 1 – The Case For Sustainability: Provides a grounding in the environmental issues related to home furnishings, including climate change, indoor air quality, toxic waste, and water conservation. Source documents are public records such as the U.N. IPCC 5th Assessment Report and the U.S. EPA, translated from technical jargon into easily understood concepts with common references, all explicitly linked to the furnishings industry.
Unit 2 – The Mind of the Consumer: Based on SFC’s own research among consumers who have purchased home furnishings recently, content provides insight into their current thinking – including preferred terminology, hot button issues, level of concerns, purchase interest, price sensitivity, and perceived obstacles. Learn why consumers do what they do, and what you need to know to be effective with your marketing and sales efforts.
Unit 3 – Sourcing Green Products I: Detailed descriptions of the differences between available options in the components that go into home furnishings, including certified wood, rapid renewables, commercial harvests, bio-hybrids and recycled/recyclable content. Learn what to look for, what to avoid, and how each option relates to resource conservation and other environmental concerns.
Unit 4 – Sourcing Green Products-II: More on materials and components, with a focus on reduction of energy use and avoidance of toxic inputs. Discussion covers low VOC finishes, vegetable-tanned leathers and organic textiles. Learn to make educated recommendations on these other important elements in a commercial space or in the home.
Unit 5 – Designing Green Interiors: Recommendations on ways of reducing expense and environmental footprint in residential spaces and commercial operations, with many tips and tricks for lighting and cooling, with exact methods of calculating cost and carbon savings, as well as best choices in recycling, and affixed materials like wall paint, window treatments, flooring, and carpeting.
Unit 6 – Selling Green Solutions: Answers the questions most commonly asked by customers, in simple and compelling ways. What’s the difference between green and sustainable? Who’s interested, and when will they start asking for it? How much are they willing to pay? What does it say about your regular products? Why should you buy now, and can it make a difference? Learn how to initiate, advance and close a green sale among ordinary customers.
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