Interesting how vinyl has shown up in retail news lately — from record albums to designer handbags. And it shows how enterprising retailers can turn vinyl into green.

Vinyl albums never really went away, but their presence certainly shrunk once CDs hit the scene, followed by MP3 and other digital audio formats. But purists seem to love the sound made by needle hitting vinyl. This CNN story shows how the Fred Meyer department store chain made the most of an ordering error. It received vinyl records instead of CDs for a particular album. Someone decided to try selling the vinyl versions and bam, they flew off the shelves. Now the chain will start offering vinyl at all its locations that carry music – a “sound” business decision, I must say.

Then vinyl turned to green for two Connecticut women — in more ways than one. When they learned that old billboards are full of recyclable vinyl, they started snapping it up. Then they found a way to get the vinyl cleaned with recyclable water before slicing it up to make designer purses, clutches, belts and handbags. This article from the Connecticut Business News Journal tells how the women go to great lengths to make the company even greener with locally grown cotton lining the products’ interior, shipping them in recycled packaging and printing most marketing materials on recycled paper.

They also have a great website at www.gg2g.com and slogans like “LOOK HOT WHILE SAVING THE PLANET: Accessories that are in keeping with a reuse & recycle philosophy.” The company has grown so fast that they’re looking for a larger location for manufacturing plus retail.

These stories are really about retailers who saw seized opportunities that others might overlook. Keep an eye out for your own “vinyl moment.” It could put you on track for a greener retail landscape — especially at the POS.