Published: July 11, 2008 09:26 pm      

Edmond businesswoman: Brown bag it for the earth

EDMOND — Brown is the new green. At least that’s the case with Emilie Rider’s Brown To Earth Bag Co., which took off in February and has yet to show signs of slowing.

The Edmondite’s company was created in hopes of providing people an outlet for aiding the environment.

“She was really enthusiastic about her product, and we know it’s the current thing and the right thing to do,” said Jinger Harris, store manager for Serendipity Market, where Rider first took her bags. “We just felt like she had a good product, and it’s very affordable.”

The idea started about a year ago when Rider’s sister, Valerie Suttee of Virginia, returned from Australia, where she noticed almost all stores expect customers to provide their own bags. Suttee wound up with a collection of reusable bags in Australia and brought back her new habit to the states.

“My sister and I decided that the world needs these bags,” Rider said.

The sisters wanted to create an alternative for paper and plastic bags, which can be harmful to the environment.

Made from 100-percent nonwoven polypropylene fabric, Rider’s product is washable and durable, lasting for up to 600 or more uses. About the size of the average brown paper bag, a Brown To Earth bag costs about $1, depending on the retailer.

“I’d love people to use Brown To Earth bags, but more importantly they should be using any reusable bag they can get their hands on,” Rider said.

Rider said this habit is an obstacle for Americans because they’re simply not accustomed to using reusable bags when shopping. Related statistics are listed on her Web site, www.browntoearthbagco.com.

At first the sisters targeted grocery stores and chains but soon realized the bags have multiple uses.

“Anything that we do to conserve our resources will benefit any place,” Harris said. “Everyone needs to be carrying these.”

Businesses in Edmond that carry Rider’s bags include Serendipity Market, Best of Books, Crest Foods and Williams Discount Foods. Several locations across the state also have invested in her product.

Rider said bag orders can be customized, which creates an advertising opportunity for companies that want to publicize their name and logo.

“A lot of people in other industries have recognized the benefit of these bags, so we’ve sold a lot of custom bags to people other than grocers,” Rider said.

Jeff Fulks, company manager and direct store delivery buyer for Crest Foods, said Brown To Earth bags are a win-win situation because both the customer and retailer save money.

“They’ve been outstanding as far as sales go,” Fulks said. “We’ve sold thousands of them. It’s helping us, and it’s got to be helping the environment. We’re behind it 100 percent.”

khill@edmondsun.com |

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