As business and community leaders, we often grapple with the delicate balance between commercial success and meaningful community engagement.
Life is constant change: One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced was preserving our authenticity while growing as a brand. Allow yourself and your brand to breathe and grow; things change and you’re allowed to too.
Make friends: Engaging with the community goes beyond our storefront. It’s about building relationships, hosting local events and giving back. True success lies in shared prosperity, where your growth directly benefits the community.
Keep it clean: Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword for branding; it’s a moral imperative. Embrace sustainability not as an obligation but as an opportunity to make a positive impact.
Collaborate: In addition to our many local small-business, nonprofit and municipal program collaborations, we have created and continued our international collaborative “Made By Collection,” where we work with artists to make fun and interesting pieces of work. Collaboration is not a zero-sum game; it’s a multiplier of creativity and success.
Invest: Investing in our team, offering internships and encouraging side projects have enriched our work environment and brought fresh perspectives into the business. Nurturing talent within your organization is an investment in the future of your community.
It is essential to create a world where businesses thrive and are not judged just by profit but in purpose, where community and commerce can coexist harmoniously.