A billion plastic bags a day. That’s how many bags Americans were throwing away in 2005 when Lisa D. Foster first switched to reusable bags. The impacts of all those bags on our environment and our taxes kept her up at night. It was wrong. Morally wrong. She believed that if American shoppers knew what she knew, they would switch to reusable bags too. So, she did what any good English teacher would do. She took the facts about bags and turned them into a story. Over the next 12 years, that story transformed Lisa into the Bag Lady, an eco-entrepreneur on a mission to save the world one reusable bag at a time. Because she was driven by purpose, she did a lot of things right. She sold a quarter of a million reusable bags her first year, 2 million her second year, and 8 million her third year. Each reusable bag had the potential to replace a thousand single-use bags, collectively eliminating billions of plastic bags. Lisa also did a lot of things wrong. One out of ten startups fail, and odds are worse for people like her with no business experience or training. In the end, she built a thriving company, disrupted the plastic bag industry and changed the way America shops. It was a wild ride.
Bag Lady is a great read for someone starting a business with a purpose. The book contains interesting personal anecdotes, sound business advice and leaves readers with useful knowledge and enhanced confidence to step out on their own in a meaningful pursuit. - Kenneth Cole, Designer and Social Activist
Lisa Foster's book 'Bag Lady' is a master class for all who wish to make a difference in the world. As she recounts her journey from English teacher to eco-entrepreneur, the reader will be inspired by her courage, persistence and values--all necessary to the process of positive change. Readers will also get an instructive look at the management skills one has to master to successfully grow an enterprise. And, finally Lisa's honest account of successes, setbacks and lessons learned are invaluable gifts to guide all who seek change whether it be in building a business or transitioning a life. This story is both timely and essential as the world awakens to the transformational benefits female owned businesses offer society. - Bob Rosenberg, 35 year CEO of Dunkin' Donuts and author of Around the Corner to Around the World.
If you want to make a difference in the world but aren't sure how, grab this insightful book. From the first eye-opening pages about the harms of plastic bags, to inspiring stories about finding the confidence to build a climate-friendly business, Bag Lady is a compelling read. With charm and candor, Lisa Foster spells out the important personal and business lessons that helped her overcome impossible odds and succeed. - Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Harvard Business School professor and award-winning author of Confidence and Think Outside the Building
Today, there is endless opportunity to join the movement for sustainability, and BAG LADY shows you the way! The story of one woman's quest to do good leads her in an unforeseen direction that eventually kick starts a movement! Read how an eye opening moment of clarity was marshalled into a passion that ultimately made a huge difference on our climate crisis and our plastic pollution problem. - Laurie David, Producer, environmental advocate, and author of, Imagine It: A Handbook for a Happier Planet
