It can seem difficult for a small-business owner to create change in an entire industry, but that’s what Holly Barbo is hoping to do.

Barbo, who owns Barbo Furniture in Bellingham with her husband, Chris, has been wrestling with the idea of green business practices in the furniture industry. More often these days customers are asking about environmentally friendly business practices that produce furniture, and she’s been happy to answer questions. Chris Barbo makes many of the pieces of furniture, while they try hard to bring in quality, sustainable products to sell.

What she has found frustrating is how much false information is out there.

Barbo would constantly find examples of what people would think is green, but wasn’t durable, defeating the purpose. Why, for example, should people buy a piece of furniture that’s been made from recycled material if it breaks down after a couple of years and the customer has to throw it away and buy something new?

“There is so much misleading information that’s out there these days when it comes to what are green business practices,” Barbo said. “There has been a lot of focus on what a product is made from, but not whether it’s sustainable or how much energy it takes to make it.”

Barbo researched what works best, and began writing about it. Now she’s attracting national attention: She’s been asked to write a monthly column for a national trade publication, Home Furnishings Business, about what green and sustainable really means. She is also getting certified with the Sustainable Furniture Council.

“It’s exciting to be on the ground floor of an international movement,” Barbo said. “I don’t think the furniture industry has hit its stride when it comes to sustainability, but the discussion is getting started now.”

It’s great when a small-business owner’s voice starts to be heard on a national level. Of course, it takes plenty of extra effort to make it happen, but this issue is important to Barbo so she’s making time.

Barbo’s enthusiasm for looking beyond her own store is something that I’ve found distinguishes many successful small businesses. When I talk to someone who has started a new company, it’s striking how often the new business owner brings up something they want to accomplish that’s beyond the profit margin. Sure, they want to make some money, but usually they want to make a difference.

You see it in other local businesses that become well established in town.

Chuck and Dee Robinson could have spent all their energy just selling books, but the energy they put into a variety of local and national causes can be felt in Village Books, such as promoting independent book sellers, and customers recognize it.

Trudy Scherting started Moka Joe to brew a good cup of coffee; now she’s involved on a global level with fair-trade coffee beans.

It’s a passion that helps so many small businesses not only stick around, but flourish in Whatcom County.

Information from: www.bellinghamherald.com

This entry was posted on Monday, June 4th, 2007 at 12:09 pm and is filed under Furniture. Tags: Arts, energy, Furniture, Furniture Industry, Green, Money, products, Small, Works, . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.