Reid

“Every business transaction is a challenge to see that both parties come out fairly.”

–  Adam Smith, 1759

We can make a difference by taking our sense of taste and social responsibility to the office each morning.

Small businesses have substantial influence in their community, and when they adopt practices like supporting Fair Trade that advance the quality of life for their patrons, communities, and the environment, it makes a huge difference.

Here are a few suggestions for adding Fair Trade in your workplace, starting around the coffee station:

Ensure that your office coffee machine is brewing Fair Trade coffee. Also, encourage your employer to supply Fair Trade cocoa and tea, as well as Fair Trade chocolates as a snack during meetings or as an employee reward.




Post signs in the office break room or kitchen, preferably above the coffee maker, letting your coworkers know that the beverages they are drinking are supporting small-scale farmers.




Many organizations working on Fair Trade provide fact sheets and resources on their website. You can order informational materials or download them from organizations such as the Fair Trade Resource Network or Transfair USA. Several offer material you can print out and give to coworkers (maybe with a piece of Fair Trade chocolate as an incentive).




Use your company newsletter or blog to promote Fair Trade.




Ask for corporate donations to Fair Trade organizations.




Ask the businesses you support during the workweek to sell Fair Trade products. Don’t be intimidated; business owners really do value consumer feedback.




Let your local merchants know you value the Fair Trade items they sell, and ask them to stock any you’d like to purchase.




Encourage your business to advocate for making your town a “Fair Trade Town” — a community that makes a commitment to supporting Fair Trade. Lead the way!




Exchange Fair Trade gifts with coworkers during the holidays.




Give the gift of Fair Trade to clients: Global Exchange, for example, has a Corporate Gift Program allowing you to buy socially conscious Fair Trade gifts.

The Fair Trade Certified™ label helps your office make better choices, with the assurance that the merchandise purchased is socially and environmentally conscious. As we become more aware of opportunities to use our influence in the marketplace, Fair Trade provides a path for both individuals and businesses to vote with their dollars and become a real force for good.

I enjoy dark, bold and intense coffees and Green Mountain Coffee’s Fair Trade Organic Sumatran Reserve Extra Bold is just about as perfect as it gets.  No cream, no sugar.  Just the deep, natural Indonesian mountain treat in its purest format.

For me, when I drink Fair Trade Certified™ coffees,  I know our coffee partners and farmers are getting a fair price.  This is better for them and their families - and is simply the right thing to do.  I like knowing my choice as a consumer makes a direct impact.

According to a TIME Magazine article, heating, air conditioning, and electricity for American businesses produce about 40% of our nation’s CO₂ emissions and account for around 70% of our power consumption. The following first steps will not only yield a greener office with a smaller carbon footprint, but also promote a happier workplace, and a healthier bottom line. These 10 are just a start. I'll share more in the coming months

1. Use Power Strips

“Phantom loads” occur when devices that appear turned off still draw electricity — such as appliances with digital clocks and electronics with instant-on capability. Office equipment can be bundled onto one power strip for easy switching off when not in use, but make sure the power strips are accessible and visible so everyone remembers to use them.

2. Kick the Bottled Water Habit

It is estimated that Americans toss out over 35 billion plastic water bottles annually, and workplaces are some of the largest sources of that plastic bottle trash. Consider using a water delivery service or buying a water filter for the kitchen faucet along with a supply of reusable cups.

3. Buy Recycled Paper

Opt for 100% recycled content paper, paper towels, and toilet paper. For printed sales and marketing brochures, investigate alternatives in post-consumer recycled paper. Luckily, many recycled paper vendors now sell high post-consumer content recycled products at prices comparable to traditional paper products.

4. Stop Stapling

Use reusable binder clips or paper clips to join pages, or buy a “stapleless” fastener to avoid buying staples altogether. You will keep tons of steel out of landfills.

5. Go Paperless

Employing a cloud-based project management system as much as possible allows team members access to key information resources, without the need for lots of printouts. Some examples of these systems include Jive, BaseCamp, Google Docs, and Wave.

6. Think Outside the Cubicle

Carpools and public transit benefit both the environment and the employees. Initiate some of these simple ideas if you are the business owner or suggest them to your boss:

• Suggest four-day work weeks or telecommuting. (Working fewer days per week or telecommuting can substantially reduce transportation and fuel expenses.)


• Ask your employer to offer carpool-matching plans connecting employees with co-workers who live nearby or on the same route to the office.


• Provide parking incentives such as prime parking spots for carpoolers.


• Encourage bicycling and walking to the office by conveniently locating bike racks near the workplace.


• Offer financial incentives for these options.

7. Use Laptops

ENERGY STAR qualified computers can use up to 90% less energy than desktop models so, whenever possible, ditch the desktops.

8. Give the Gift of Green
Whether you are buying a special gift for a client or a present for an office baby shower, try to buy environmentally friendly or Fair Trade items to show that you care about your customers and co-workers as well as the planet.

9. Offer Organic Coffee & Tea

This is our favorite. Ask your office manager to stock organic or Fair Trade coffee for the break room. Ask your co-workers to bring in their favorite coffee mug or water glass and get some mugs (preferably with your company logo) for visiting clients to eliminate disposable cup waste.

10. Track and Celebrate Your Success

Last but not least, post explanations of what you’re doing and how much you’ve accomplished near each “greened space” — and include how the changes make sense environmentally and financially. People tend to respond more favorably when they know the reason behind a decision and feel they are included in the effort rather than having it imposed top-down. Share these and any other green office tips you find with your office mates and consider electing a “Sustainability Manager” to oversee recycling, energy usage, and research more green office alternatives.

Business Coffee Express would like to take the time to commemorate Administrative Professionals Day^® not just because it is usually the office managers, secretaries, and administrative assistants who are in charge of ordering our coffees and selecting their office's Keurig® single-cup brewer, but because at Green Mountain Coffee, as in most workplaces, they are the backbone of the organization (and some of our favorite people, too).

Since 1952, the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) has honored office workers by sponsoring Administrative Professionals Week (April 24-30
this year). Outside of employee birthdays and major holidays, it is one of the largest workplace observances.   The event is now celebrated worldwide, bringing together millions of people for community events, educational seminars and individual corporate activities recognizing support staff.

For the 2011 celebration, the theme is, "This year, celebrate all office professionals." The recession has hit everyone in the office and forced all of us to pull together and work harder, so the IAAP encourages us to recognize the hard work and sacrifice from everyone and celebrate all Office Pros.

According to the IAAP, administrative professionals are one of the largest segments of the office workforce. Here are some fast facts:

More than 4.2 million administrative assistants and secretaries, along with 1.4 million supervisors of office and administrative support workers, were employed in the United States in 2006 (U.S. Department of Labor).




A total of 476,000 administrative professionals are employed in Canada, including 365,670 secretaries, 26,390 executive assistants and 84,140 clerical supervisors (Statistics Canada).




More than 255,000 administrative assistant and secretarial positions will be added in the U.S. between 2004 and 2014, representing growth of 6.2%. More than 438,000 office supervisor positions will be added. (U.S. Department of Labor)

So, here's to you, Office Pros, we at Business Coffee Express and Green Mountain Coffee raise our mugs to you all week, but especially today!  Cheers!

March is a big month for celebrating at Business Coffee Express.  Mardi Gras, St. Patrick's Day and, most importantly, our 1st birthday.

It seems like only yesterday we were born, but now we're running around just like one-year old breaking the copier, loading food into the manager's printer and demanding that every office in America have great coffee.

So, in honor of our first birthday Business Coffee Express is celebrating with  20% off your entire order (minimum of $100). This offer cannot be combined with any other offers or Office EXPRESS discounts. Sale ends 3/31/11.) Also, don't forget to stock up on Hot Apple Cider while supplies last - once it's gone, it's gone until next fall.

Hmmm, St. Paddy's Day, our March 17th birthday, "Green" Mountain Coffee? We're sensing a pattern….

TOP TEN OFFICE GIFTS

#10 Small Revelation Travel Mug $2.95

We here at Business Coffee Express are often asked, "What is the best way to take my Green Mountain Coffee wakeboarding?" The answer is this cute little 12-oz. Revelation Travel Mug with a spill-proof, screw-on lid. It features a beautiful scene of the Vermont Green Mountains, and is the perfect size to grab and go whether you are free soloing, sky surfing, or even wakeboarding.  At this price you should buy one for everyone in the office!

#9 Logo Backpacker Thermos $19.95

The sleek, slender shape looks like you after the holidays, thanks to all the wakeboarding you've been doing! This compact, no-leak Thermos®, made by Nissan™ is so stylish it might just put mugs and tumblers out of style. Features an easy-to-open, spring loaded lid. Completely leak proof perfect for backpacks and travel. Double Insulation means your coffee stays hot for hours.

#8 Stoneware Logo Mug $14.95

Perfect for the boss who needs to be reminded on a daily basis that every office deserves great coffee! Each is individually hand-thrown by American master potters. Slight color and size variations showcase the unique properties of each one-of-a-kind mug. Solid and sizable, each of these mugs can stand on its own, but two make a nice pair.

#7 Bodum Milk Frother $19.95

The next time someone in your office tells you not to get worked up into such a lather, say "Why Not?" and show them this! This easy-to-use, battery-powered frother is perfect for foamy milk for your coffee without the hassle of an espresso machine. You will probably decide to keep it for yourself so buy two.

#6 Lake Champlain Chocolates Organic Truffles $22.95

Lake Champlain truffles— on the list because it's made in VT of course, and because they are the best Truffles I've ever had. Sorry Belgium, but cheer up, GMCR will probably never make a $25 raspberry beer aged in oak. Lake Champlain Chocolates has reached new heights with this collection of 15 all-natural, preservative-free truffles. Includes Ethiopian Coffee, Honey Fig, Ginger Lemon, Aztec, Mango, and Vanilla.

#5 Better World Gift Bag $59.95

Isn't dreaming of a better world what the Holidays are all about? Our exquisite chocolates, cocoa, coffees and tea help actually make it happen— plus they taste amazing. Includes 7 fabulous products contributing to a better world and a reusable shopping tote.

#4 Organic Breakfast Crate $37.95

Why a Crate? Because "Crate" just sounds cool, and who wouldn’t rather have a "crate" of something they love rather than just a box? Besides, it doubles as an "In" box. Filled with Fair Trade Organic coffee and Cocoa and Organic pancake mix and maple syrup, all from Vermont.

#3 K-Cup Ultimate Gift Basket $44.95

C'mon, "Ultimate" is right there in the name, of course it has to be in the top 10! The perfect gift if their office already enjoys a Keurig® Brewer. If not, get them one of those too! Our K-Cup Gift Basket gives you great coffee right away, and wonderful sustenance for the rest of the day. Includes 24 Green Mountain Coffee Sampler K-Cups.

#2 The Ultimate Office Gift Basket $49.95

Is it possible for two Green Mountain Coffee gifts to be called "Ultimate" at the same time? Yes, it's a holiday miracle! Packed full of delicious treats, and there’s more than enough to share. Brew up a pot of Breakfast Blend or French Roast while everyone in the office digs in to sweet granola, delicate shortbread, maple candy, or chocolate indulgences. It’ll be the most memorable Holiday coffee break ever!

#1 Keurig Office Pro Coffee Brewer $129.95

Not only the greatest invention in the history of humankind, but perhaps the greatest gift since frankincense and myrrh. (Gold is still hard to beat.) Even small offices deserve great coffee and the B145 Office Pro delivers. Designed for offices with 15 or fewer people, its small footprint makes it a perfect fit for conference rooms, board rooms and reception areas. Guaranteed to ward off office revolts, palace coups, passive-aggressive behavior and Monday sick days. They should rename it "Ultimate."

We have some great news about our popular iced teas and coffees; our End of Summer sale is here!  Until October 4th, 2010 receive $3.00 off all Brew Over Ice K-Cups.

From French Vanilla to Sweet Berry Lime Green Tea, all iced K-cups are now $3.00 off .

For our small business customers looking for coffee for your office, please click below for $3.00 off BusinessCoffeeExpress.com!

As you are certainly aware, good coffee is vital to a happy workplace!  Coffee jump starts the day and fuels creativity - no matter how many people you have on staff.

With this in mind, we're proud to announce the launch of our newest family of sites; www.BusinessCoffeeExpress.com!

For small offices and business of 20 or fewer, Business Coffee Express is your source for K-Cup Portion Packs & Keurig Brewers.  From our 1-click Starter Kits or our new coffee club discount program "Office EXPRESS," Business Coffee Express has everything you need to outfit your small business or office.  By joining Office EXPRESS we'll automatically deliver your coffee on a schedule you choose.  Plus, if you sign up today you'll save $2.50 per box of K-Cups and 10% everything else including brewers!

And, if you have any feedback about the site (good or bad!) I'd love to hear from  you.

Now that the trees have shed their leaves, up here in Vermont we really start thinking about snow – and lots of it!  With this in mind, we’re pleased to announce that we’re adding a little “win” into your winter!

Visit your nearest convenience store that serves Green Mountain Coffee and earn discounts on ski lift tickets, daily prizes and enter to win a grand prize of a $2500 Vermont Ski Weekend!  While you're there, get an entry code and visit our Rewards Site to rack up virtual 'cups.'

• Earn 10 cups and you'll get $15 OFF a lift ticket at one of the 14 participating Ski Vermont resort locations.


• Plus, every entry is another chance to win the grand prize ski vacation and lift tickets, or a Rossignol Raider bag, courtesy of Ski Vermont.

Visit one of the 2000 convenience stores that are participating in the Green Mountain Coffee Rewards program.

For more information, please visit our Green Mountain Coffee Rewards site.   Good luck and happy skiing!

This post is a bit past due but what can I say; we've been busy here at World Bean HQ!  Many of us were fortunate enough to attend our National Sales Meeting last month which was held in beautiful Colorado Springs, CO.  Although it was a week of work, learning, sharing, teaching, and tasting, we also had the opportunity to give back to the surrounding community and have a little fun at the same time.

On May 20th, over 50 Green Mountain Coffee, Keurig and Tully's employees volunteered for El Paso County Public Service-Parks Division. We did some heavy lifting, fence building, trail building, water bar building, digging, and seeding to rebuild hiking and mountain bike trails in the C Springs area.  After sitting through "many" PowerPoint presentations, the physical activity, not to mention the team building, was a welcome distraction.

Since 1993, GMCR has paid what we call "Cafe Time" for employees who want to volunteer for nonprofit and community-based organizations, up to 52 hours per year.  In fact, a lot of us bean-heads will be helping on two upcoming projects locally; the Winooski River Clean Up and a Habitat for Humanity day.

Okay, okay, I know...terrible picture but I took it with my mobile device in my Colonnade hotel room in Boston, MA.  I was so excited to see the Keurig Mini Brewer (Black B30) located next to the flat screen that I couldn't pass up the photo op!

The next morning I woke up early to get some work done and it was nice to make a cup of good coffee for a change rather than brave the usual watered down substitute one typically finds when traveling.

Perfect for on the go, a life-saver in college dorms or your weekend get-away, the B30 packs Keurig brewing technology into a convenient, take-it-everywhere size.  And, when you order this handy brewer we'll include a free variety pack of 10 K-Cups and free shipping!

I'm  actually about to hop another plane today to South Carolina and after calling the hotel where I'll be staying, I'm making sure to pack my personal Keurig Mini (I have a red one) with my favorite Green Mountain Coffee K-Cups!  (It's worth the look security gives me when I send my bag through the X-ray!)

Click here to watch a video demonstration of the Keurig Mini Brewer.

**  If you are a hotel, inn, or B&B and would like more information on our Keurig Mini Brewer, please give us a call today: (888) 350-KCUP

Is your water supply the best it can be or does it taste a bit like chlorine or some other "undesirable?"  If so, then the Keurig Water Filter Starter Kit is a must-have for your Keurig Brewer.

Great coffee begins with great beans, but it’s still about 98% water. The starter kit includes everything you need to start filtering the water in your Keurig Brewer. The Keurig Water Filter comes with two charcoal filter cartridges and when you use the filter in the water reservoir of your Keurig Brewer you are certain to have fresh, delicious, taint-free tasting coffee.

In addition, we also have replacement filters that come in packs of six which is enough for one full year of deliciously clean water. These can be used in Keurig Water Filters for Keurig Single-Cup Brewers.

Please visit gmcr.com today to read more about our K-Cups, single brewers and new Keurig Water Filter system.

 That's right; free K-Cups® for life!*

Can you imagine?  Hot Coca, French Vanilla,  Hazelnut, Dark Magic, Newman's Special Blend...all  yours!  Now is your chance to make that dream a reality! Enter the Perfect Cup Sweepstakes NOW for your chance to win.

While you are there, be sure to take our fun Trivia Challenge to test your wits and play the instant win game for the chance to win your very own Keurig® Platinum B70 Single-Cup Brewer or a FREE box of K-Cups®!

Register today --->

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Fine Print:

To play and for official rules, visit www.WinFreeKcups.com.
* Coffee for Life will be awarded in the form of a Keurig^® Platinum B70 Single-Cup Brewer, a twelve(12) month Signature Green Mountain Coffee K-Cup Tour (including shipping and handling), and $4,000 as a check in the name of the winner.

Here's the scenario; you've got this great new OfficePRO™ Brewing System that appears to be a complete hit.  You've noticed more smiles in the office, a more vibrant workplace, and you've even been nominated to receive "Boss of the Year" award!  However; deeper exploration turns up a dark secret - not everyone in your office enjoys coffee!  What to do?

Assuming there must be a solution for this K-Cup conundrum, you run to your terminal, type www.BusinessCoffeeExpress into your browser (why don't you have this bookmarked yet?) and click on your Office EXPRESS account.  After a quick scan of K-Cup flavors, you exclaim, "YES! There is a solution: their new Cafe Escapes!"

Adding one box each of Cafe Escapes Dark Chocolate Hot Cocoa and Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa to your next order, your grin widens - you are a shoo-in for the Boss of the Year award.  And, you just saved $2.50 per box and received free shipping.

Be sure to try out our new Cafe Escapes on your next Cafe EXPRESS order and let me know what your office thinks.  We are also going to be launching three new Escape flavors soon;  Cafe Mocha, Chai Latte and French Vanilla Cafe-au-Lait.

From small offices to large corporations we have an office coffee brewer to meet your needs.  Be sure to sign up today!