Another Everyday, Creative Way to Save

I just read about a small cafe in Tunkhannock, Pa., that has figured out a neat way to save money—for the business and the customer—and save the environment. If customers bring in their own coffee cup, they can save $1 on all coffee drinks (and 50 cents on tea). It makes her specialty coffee drinks a little more affordable these days, it appeals to Mother Earth, and it saves her business time and money—each paper coffee cup costs 40 cents and she no longer has to keep track of ordering disposable cups as frequently.
This idea, which I read about on the WSJ's Independent Street blog, won't work for every business out there, but it's a good example of the myriad creative ways small business owners are able to help customers through this economic downturn without breaking the bank.
Take some time this week to figure out how your business can join the ranks of those small businesses that are trying to ease the pain for customers and encourage spending. If you're lucky, you'll find a way to save your customers—and yourself—a little money.