Lisa D. Foster - Bag Lady: How I Started a Business for a Greener World and Changed the Way America Shops

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

If you want to make a difference in the world but arent 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 womans quest to do good leads her in an unforeseen direction that eventually kickstarts 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 of An Inconvenient Truth, environmental advocate, and author of Imagine It: A Handbook for a Happier Planet

Bag Lady is an inspiring read that makes you want to find out what happens next. Lisa Foster offers a compelling personal exploration of imagination, growth, hardship, and triumph that will resonate with every entrepreneur. More importantly, she demonstrates how a social entrepreneur who commits to a larger purpose can literally change our world for the better.

Tom Bowman, founder of Bowman Change, Inc., and author of What If Solving the Climate Crisis Is Simple?

Lisa Fosters 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 valuesall 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, Lisas 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 femaleowned businesses offer society.

Bob Rosenberg, 35-year CEO of Dunkin Donuts and author of Around the Corner to Around the World

You must read this book. It takes you on the remarkable journey of an amazing eco-entrepreneur whos committed to changing the way we shop. The valuable and practical tools and tips Lisa Foster shares will help any business leader launch and run a business thats committed to making the world a better place.

Jeffrey Hollender, co-founder and CEO, American Sustainable Business Network; co-founder and former CEO, Seventh Generation; Adjunct Professor, Stern School of Business

Written with warmth and verve, Bag Lady is a marvelous tribute to entrepreneurships power to change the world. In telling the story of 1 Bag at a Time, Lisa Foster shows the gift, so rare among business leaders, of conveying wisdom without platitudes and guidance without jargon. This is a book to inspire innovators and idealists alike.

Joseph E. Aoun, President, Northeastern University

Cheers to Bag Lady! It is a clear and poetic testament to what one person can do, and it is also a very clear and prosaic testament to the glories and challenges of starting a business. Following the simple idea that one person can change the world, Lisa started 1 Bag at a Time. As a result, my grandchildren will not have to see nearly as many plastic bags wrapped around fences, drifting into the ocean, slowly decomposing into the dangerous molecules of plastic that are so toxic to our world. This book is resonant with Lisas pride in her progress and with her scrupulous self-admissions of her failures. It will be inspiring to anyone who has an idea for a business and even more so if that idea has a goal within it of leaving this world a better place. And that is, without a doubt, exactly what Lisa Foster has done.

Mary Steenburgen, American actress, comedian, singer, and songwriter

How I Started a Business for a Greener World and Changed the Way America Shops

First published by Changemakers Books, 2022

Changemakers Books is an imprint of John Hunt Publishing Ltd., No. 3 East Street,

Alresford, Hampshire SO24 9EE, UK

www.johnhuntpublishing.com

www.changemakers-books.com

For distributor details and how to order please visit the Ordering section on our website.

Lisa D. Foster 2022

ISBN: 978 1 80341 166 8

978 1 80341 167 5 978 1 80341 166 8 (ebook)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021952711

All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical articles or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publishers.

The rights of Lisa D. Foster as author have been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Design: Matthew Greenfield

UK: Printed and bound by CPI Group (UK) Ltd, Croydon, CR0 4YY

Printed in North America by CPI GPS partners

We operate a distinctive and ethical publishing philosophy in all areas of our business, from our global network of authors to production and worldwide distribution.

For Gary, Daryn, and Kaylaalways.

Just do one thing.

I know its customary to put your family last, but Gary, Daryn, and Kayla are always first for me. Alex, you too. Your belief in me has empowered me to go far beyond where I thought I could go.

Many thanks to my entire UpIsland Book Group who were the first to encourage me to dream my impossible dream: Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Cheryl Batzer, Joanne Ashe, Donna Weisman, Mary Steenburgen, Leone Webster, Gerri Sweder, Nina Fialkow, and everyone else who cheered me on and urged me to take the first leap.

I would not be where I am without the support of my many friends from Marthas Vineyard, including Laurie David who told me powerfully to just do one thing, Michael Norkus who showed me how to start, Linda Koren who was an early customer, Bob Rosenberg who made me feel like a pro, Bill Hake who helped me with business planning, Steve Bernier who took a chance on me when I was starting out, Simon Shapiro who introduced me to Ace, and the mystery customer who sent my bags across the US in 2007 and started a trend in cities far and wide. Thanks too in memoriam to Guy Webster whose beautiful photos helped my customers envision the beauty of a reusable lifestyle.

I owe a lot of my success to the many people who encouraged me along the way: Jeffrey Hollender who first sponsored a badge for me at Expo West and later introduced me to Verit, Tom Hudnut who introduced me to Ralphs, Karly Katona who took up the cause of reusable bags at LA County, David Fialkow who was always ready to connect me to anyone who could be of help, and many people from Northeastern University who championed my achievements and empowered me, including Patty Flint, Tami Baringer, Diane MacGillivray, and Joseph Aoun.