Why Social Commitment Is Great In Business
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Kate K.F from BornWild Adventures recently shared the strategies she followed to grow her business with a small marketing budget. Her How We Give page caught my eye, so I asked her why she demonstrates social commitment in that way, how she chose what causes to support, and how it has benefited her business. She’s returned today with her answers to those questions.
My passion to help wild animals was the reason why I started my adventure travel business. I loved to travel, dreaming of far away lands and wanting to explore the world to its fullest. However, starting my travel business was created from the desire to use adventure travel as a vehicle to support wild animal conservation.
6 years ago, I started to create my own adventures which included wildlife based trips, global adventures as well as giving a portion of my profits to help wild animal organizations too. To date, BornWild has helped over 20 wild animal projects and counting.
Aside from supporting conservation, I have two other conscious missions: Cutting down on single use plastic on all of our adventures and offering our travelers the opportunity to offset their carbon emissions when they fly with us.
From a business perspective, the world is becoming more proactive in traveling consciously and wanting to do good for the planet. More and more travelers are requesting eco-friendly, sustainable and conservation based trips and adventures. It’s a preference that has become hugely popular, which I think is really positive. I want to keep on that trajectory and enhance it.
Being socially committed not only gives your brand kudos and credibility but it helps people understand how dedicated you are to being compassionate about the planet and people within it. People buying your product feel good about purchasing with you and that they are contributing to a bigger change, and quite rightly so.
Here is how we incorporated conservation through our trips. We started by creating adventures in support of our chosen wild animal organizations. Our first adventure was our ‘Wild Route to Freedom Scottish trip’ where we supported the Whale and Dolphin Conservation. We had exclusive talks, events and experiences only available through them which was really unique for this adventure.
Our other big adventure is called the African Lion Safari, where we have developed one of the most extraordinary experiences that bridges Lion Conservation with adventure travel. It’s a groundbreaking adventure because it’s the only African Lion Safari on the market.
Social commitment has really benefited my business because it has created a positive tilt on what I offer. People feel good booking our trips but it also gives them an opportunity to learn and do more for wild animals with the resources, connections and support we offer during and after our adventures.
More than anything, It’s a chance to really make a positive change through my business and I embrace that with every opportunity.
Here are some tips if you would like to do it for your business:
- Get clear on which causes you are really passionate about.
- Figure out ways of working together with your chosen organization. (This could include something as simple as donating to them, but getting a mention in return. You might like to collaborate on an event together or a project and donate a certain percentage. Or maybe design an initiative for your business which has your brand name on it).
- Connect with the causes and remember to follow up a few times before moving onto the next.
- Make sure that if you are donating or supporting a charity, they support you in return and help get some more eyes on your business.
- Make sure you support credible organizations that actually do good and not just say they do.
Please share with me how you have demonstrated social commitment through your business.
Photo © Healing63 / depositphotos
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I’m challenged by this post. I completely agree that being socially conscious can be a huge asset to a business. In our profession, being environmentally-minded is critical, as a large part of what we do could result in items going into the trash. I’m thrilled to see the profession and its various participants coming up with creative solutions for reducing the ‘trash’ footprint.
As an example, last Friday the CT chapter of NAPO got together to help organize the Junkluggers Remix market in Stamford, CT. This store was born because much of what the Junkluggers were being called to haul away was not junk. It was still in good working order. Some pieces weren’t perfect, but maybe needed a bit of paint or a new knob. These items are now rescued, brought to the Remix market, and sold at a reasonable price to local buyers. All proceeds go to fund a charity called Mike’s Way, which benefits children fighting cancer. This feels great.
Now I can think of how to make this mindset more integral to my business.
Thanks for sharing about what you do!
Protecting the environment is definitely a good fit for organizers, whether working as a group or individually. I suspect that most organizers work that way, but not many mention it on their websites. I do think it could be a selling point – I chose a junk removal service because I knew they’d keep as much stuff out of the landfill as possible.
But it’s not the only option! I once worked with a client who donated a percentage of her income to animal welfare and announced it on her website. Some might think it’s got nothing to do with her business so why bother, but it is definitely a drawing card for fellow pet lovers, so it’s a great way to attract like-minded clients! The same is probably true for other causes as well.
Seana, I am so happy to read your comments so thank you for writing. I am with you on reducing our ‘trash’ footprint and if I can encourage our travellers to do the same then I’m happy to be creating a wave. We also offer people to offset their carbon emissions too which isn’t being offered by many travel companies so I hope we might be paving the way for other companies to do the same too.
In any case, you seem to have a good mindset for your business and wish you every success 🙂 Thank you again for dropping by!
I think you’ve hit on how our passions can not only drive our businesses, but keep us motivated beyond the business realm.
A huge part of my organizing and productivity practice is working with clients to help them live more authentic, happier lives; too often, people are living for expectations that others (or that they believe others) have for them, and I’m a bit of a permission slip for them to stop keeping up with the Joneses and over-buying, and stop doing everything for everyone else at the risk of losing their center, their sanity, or their soul. Dovetailing with that has always been my encouragement that clients donate what they don’t use (rather than seeking to sell and wait, often forever, to find the perfect selling opportunity), and donating to domestic violence shelters is my main focus. If clients have a preferred non-profit, that’s great, but if not, I feel like helping them let go of what’s weighing them down in a way that it lets other women (and their children) get out of violence-induced poverty, is a win for everyone. This has given me the opportunity to get to know management of these shelters and the related government agencies, have opportunities to speak wth the volunteers, who sometimes (delightfully) embrace my downsizing/decluttering mantras and sometimes even hire me.
Your tips are exactly what we need to have a bigger (and more efficient) approach to keeping our hearts in our commitment choices.
Julie, I learned something new about you today!
Julie, wow what a thoroughly interesting and insightful comment! Thank you so much for reading and writing in. I am SO with you and totally believe that less is more, and so many people have it ingrained within themselves that ‘keeping up with the joneses’ is what gives them meaning and kudos in life when really its the immaterial things that give us the most joy and meaning. I like how direct you are.
You should write an article!! I would definitely give it a read!
I wish you every success with your ventures Julie and please stop by again 🙂
I have been thinking about this a lot lately. I would love to add the element of charity into my business, and I would love to offer services to those who are disabled or who are struggling with illness. Thank you for this article. It gives me something to think about!
Hey Jana, great to read your comment! I think that would be an absolutely AWESOME thing to offer and not many people are offering this so I would totally go for it! I think it would be SO rewarding. Go for it!! 🙂
Social commitment is a big part of my business and life. I don’t publicize it as much as I could. Teaching recycling and donating to my clients helps to keep items out of the landfill. Teaching my clients that online shopping items that are returned are not reshelved but put in the garbage I hope will help them to reevaluate their purchasing. Helping clients see the advantage of owning less is important to me. My sister and dad started the first metal recycling depot in Waterloo probably in Ontario and now look it is everywhere. Recycling has been in my blood since I was little. Whatever your social commitment is, it makes the world a better place.
That’s really interesting, Julie! I’ll never forget how excited I was to receive my first blue box. 🙂
Julie, you are doing such a wonderful job! Keep going! Your work is very admirable 🙂 Thank you for commenting! Seriously impressive!!
Right now my biggest social commitment is facilitating a support group, so I really don’t promote my business with or through it (other than to post the information for those who might attend). That said, I do think I could consider another way to support a cause and connect it to what I do. There are SO many organizations in need, so the biggest challenge is to hone in on which ones mean the most to me. A great challenge for me to consider.
And, now I’m really intrigued by your adventure travel! Great post.
That’s a great thing you are doing! And I agree, there are so many worthy causes that it’s hard to choose one to support.
Sara, thank you SO much for stopping by and reading as well as commenting 🙂
Absolutely fabulous what you are doing and of course, you don’t need to shout it from the rooftops. You work speaks for itself 🙂
Definitely hone in on what you really feel passionate about – this will make all the difference. Yes! Please stop by and see if you would like to join me on one of my adventures. I bet we would have plenty to talk about 🙂
This post and all of the comments are inspiring. I love how Kate created her business around her passion for traveling and helping wild animals. Her clients share a similar passion and get enjoy the feel good bonus when they engage in her services and tours. I also love how Kate integrates her mission in all aspects of marketing and decision-making. It’s a win-win all around. Doing, feeling, and providing good for yourself, others, and the larger world.
It’s great, isn’t it? I know I will choose a business that’s committed to the environment, or mental health, or another issue dear to my heart, over one that doesn’t (or at least not publicly).
Linda, thank you for such lovely comments 🙂 I honestly can say, that making an impact to wild animals is what keeps my fire burning. Its a real passion of mine and I hope to do so much more than what I’m doing currently. If I can encourage others to do the same and cause a ripple effect then my work is well and truly done. Its not so easy to make an impact as money talks but if you keep building, every little helps. Your comments today, really made me smile Linda – thank you 🙂 I hope ill get to meet you on one of my adventures!