BATH — When customers enter the newest Island Treasure Toys location at 182 Front St. in Bath, they are entranced by its signature bright yellow-and-blue walls, a sea of toys, games and play tables. What may go unnoticed is the bright, clean light emanating from 28 new energy-efficient LED bulbs throughout the store.

“For retailers, lighting is what I call an ‘intangible’ — customers don’t usually pay much attention to the kind of bulbs you use,” Anita Demetropolous, co-owner of Island Treasure Toys, said in a news release. “But it sure makes a big difference in product display, setting, and the warmth and sense of place — all of which are conducive to a customer’s buying experience and the desire to linger. And, of course, we hope that equates to sales.”

Anita and co-owner Jim Demetropolous have been in the toy business for more than 11 years, and have always had a mind for sustainability and smart business practices. With hundreds of toys delivered each month and packed in boxes with recyclable plastic air cushions, lots of material gets actively recycled, and employees daily sort recycled materials.

This year, with the help of Efficiency Maine business incentives, Anita and Jim decided to convert all of their showroom bulbs to energyefficient LED bulbs. This conversion in both the Freeport and Bath stores will save an estimated 50,000 kilowatt hours in electrical usage each year, or more than $6,500 annually. They expect to reduce their electric usage by 80 percent.

“As small business owners, we have to reduce our operating costs as much as possible, and an 80 percent reduction in energy costs is a really big deal,” said Jim. “Factor in that these savings will be realized year after year, and that significantly impacts our bottom line.”

Efficiency Maine operates the state’s energy-efficiency programs for businesses and homeowners through a combination of technical assistance, cost-sharing, training, education and awareness programs. Efficiency Maine offers incentives for businesses to replace inefficient lighting with LED and other energy-efficient alternatives.

LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, are small light sources that become illuminated by the movement of electrons through a semiconductor material.

According to the Energy Star website, commercial LED light fixtures use at least 75 percent less energy and last 10 to 50 times longer than incandescent lighting.

Qualified fixtures produce low heat and provide optimal precision lighting for commercial applications. Furthermore, LEDs reduce maintenance costs.

Consumers are increasingly demanding that businesses and vendors make responsible and environmentally sound practices part of their business models. “We owe it to our customers, and especially tomorrow’s children,” said Anita.

Jim and Anita opened their original Island Treasure Toys storefront on Main Street in Yarmouth in 2001 and later relocated to 805 Route 1 next to Pat’s Pizza. In May of 2011, they opened a second location at 20 Bow St. in Freeport. Expanding their business has been an adventure, and one that is part science, part art, and part gamble — not unlike some of their best-selling games.

“The strategy of business expansion is tricky — you can’t grow too fast, and at the same time, you want to seize an opportunity to grow when it presents itself,” said Anita.

Bath store manager PD Wappler said he’s excited to be running a store in a family-friendly community like Bath, with his store located next to so many thriving Front Street businesses.

“Having a local option to buy quality toys at a small specialty shop like Island Treasure Toys is refreshing for consumers who don’t always want a big-box warehouse feel,” said Wappler. “People want a comfortable, cheerful place to shop, get personal attention, and testdrive the latest and greatest toys. What’s there not to like about that?”

Island Treasure Toys recently held its grand opening celebration in Bath.

For more information on Island Treasure Toys, visit www.islandtreasuretoys.com or call 846-6565 (Freeport 865- 7007, Bath 442-7600).

For more information about Efficiency Maine and LED Business Program incentives, visit www.efficiencymaine.com.

¦ THIS YEAR, with the help of Efficiency Maine business incentives, Anita and Jim Demetropolous of Island Treasure Toys decided to convert all of their showroom bulbs to energy-efficient LED bulbs. The conversion in both the Freeport and Bath stores will save an estimated 50,000 kilowatt hours in electrical usage each year, or more than $6,500 annually. They expect to reduce their electric usage by 80 percent.

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