The picture of every U.S. neighborhood may be painted differently, but they all have one thing in common: whether made up of city blocks, country roads, or suburban sprawl, small businesses make a difference throughout their communities, every day.
New Yorkers continue to live in a state whose growth and success are driven by our small business community. According to recent estimates, 98% of the state’s businesses are categorized as “small” (less than 100 employees), with nearly 40% of NY’s workforce employed by over 495,000 of such enterprises.
Simply put, these small businesses are a vital part of making a better New York for the millions who call it home. They’re partners in improving our way of life and enhancing what we can do—especially when we work together.
In my role with PaintCare, I’ve seen impressive results when small businesses join forces with a community-service initiative aimed at helping residents recycle and reduce waste. Since PaintCare’s New York State launch in May 2022, over 200 neighborhood hardware stores and paint retailers have played a leadership role in helping to recover nearly three million gallons of unwanted paint from residents and businesses.
And because these small businesses are such willing partners, more than 95% of New York households now live within 15 miles of a PaintCare drop-off site, making it incredibly convenient for anyone to keep leftover household paint, stain and varnish out of landfills, aid ongoing sustainability efforts, and help recover the next million gallons of leftover paint.
Despite the momentum across the state, there’s still more to do—and more that partnerships with small businesses can help us achieve. For New York paint retailers and neighborhood hardware stores not yet participating in our paint collection efforts, but who may be curious about how partnering could benefit their business and their community, consider the following:
- Supporting sustainability – Recent studies suggest that a majority of regional small businesses throughout the Northeast have adopted some form of sustainability initiative in the last three years; and in a recent survey commissioned by QuickBooks, 95% of U.S. small business owners believe environmental sustainability is important to the future of the economy. This means that pursuing sustainability measures by partnering with an e-waste reduction program like PaintCare isn’t just a trend; it’s good business.
- Cost-effective collaboration – Partnering with PaintCare costs retailers nothing. It’s an industry-led, fully funded program that enables businesses to provide a value-added service to both current and potential customers. Retailers receive staff training, product pickup service, supplies, and consumer educational materials from PaintCare, providing everything they need to best aid their clientele—and further demonstrate their commitment to customer service.
- Standing for community – Through their work and engagement with customers on a community level, local retailers’ business operations are woven into the fabric of their neighborhoods. When they give back through environmental stewardship—like conserving resources, convenient recycling, or keeping excess paint out of landfills—they become community leaders, quietly powering sustainability with their actions and interactions.
- Building a bond – Sustainability initiatives can bolster brand image, build consumer loyalty for participating paint retailers, and boost sales and foot traffic from those eager to support a business that cares. Consumers want to stand with the purveyors they patronize, especially within their communities. Encouraging paint reuse and recycling empowers a neighborhood business to show that environmental concern is part of who they are—and can elicit allegiance from consumers of the same mindset.
For paint retailers across the state, making a big impact on the environmental wellbeing of their communities has never been easier. Partnering with PaintCare supports sustainability efforts in every community; and by working together, we can make our always colorful New York cleaner than it’s ever been.
(For retailers interested in becoming a PaintCare drop-off site, click here.)