As a preface to this blog, do not do what we have done. DO NOT go as long as we have between blog posts if you have a company blog. We screwed up and have been too busy to post over the last couple of weeks and we apologize. That being said, we take you back to your regularly scheduled programming.
What exactly is “it”? An endless string of nouns can replace that one simple little word. Yet, for a business, large or small, what does it mean?
As a business owner and operator, my version of “it” is the total package of:
1. Recognizing AND acting on social responsibilities.
2. Treating employees with respect and the freedom to help their company thrive.
3. Providing a reliably good product 100% of the time and taking responsibility for any products (or services) distributed that didn’t meet the customers’ standards.
4. Make a profit.
5. Use creativity as a driving force.
Here’s the beginning of our week long tribute to companies we admire, starting with #1.
Monday’s company
Sweet Leaf Tea:
First of all, they started off in Beaumont, TX (my home town), brewing tea from pillow cases, which is a great story. They’ve graduated to Austin and recently secured $18 million in investments from a private equity firm for some expansion projects. Most of their marketing budget goes to grass roots marketing (sampling the tea at community events and music festivals) rather than taking the traditional route down the path of tv, radio, and print ads. This approach has been successful because the tea is actually good, so rather than telling their target how they have an awesome product, they're “takin it to the streets” to EMERGE them in the deliciousness that is Sweet Leaf Tea. Another thing- they actually brew the tea and use pure cane sugar as opposed to high fructose corn syrup, tea flavoring and tea concentrate.
Some charities they’ve been involved in include: Big Brothers and Sisters of Central Texas, AIDS Services, Susan G. Komen Foundation, Caritas and the Lance Armstrong Foundation. They've also recently donated $20,000 worth of products to The Early Show's (on CBS) Facing Hunger: Feeding America food drive. Their donation was equal to or more than a lot of HUGE, publicly traded food/beverage companies' donations. That's something to be commended.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Companies that "Get it"
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3 comments:
Not knowing anything about Sweet Leaf Tea, other than what has been posted here, I speculate that the company has an outstanding work environment/culture. Without that element, a business will find difficult row to plow in accomplishing 1, 3, 4, and 5. Looking at the often published "best places to work" lists, you'll find many of these other criteria addressed solidly.
Threats to companies like Sweet Leaf would be a sellout or going public scenario. Once you go public, I feel that charities, etc raise some ethical questions. (Why are you using my invested money to spend it on charity? Make profit!) Then again, it is arguable that the social responsibility will increase profits via good will, etc.
Once again speculating with little information, I'm guessing that the founders of Sweet Leaf are probably in it for the long haul and not building the business simply as future sale.
That's what I'm hoping at least...that there is no sellout in the future. Another tea company, Honest Tea, just sold 40% their business to Coca Cola. They had a philosophy similar to Sweet Leaf's (they were more organically centered, free trade pricing, etc.), with their owner as the "poster boy" amongst the natural food movement. This sellout is a huge blow to their future, in my eyes. However, they'll be able to increase their profile with the backing of Coca Cola. It's a mixed bag either way. Sacrifice quality for exposure? My personal opinion is that sometimes smaller is better for business.
Kudos to Sweet Leaf Tea and like minded entrepreneurs.
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