We find ourselves – this week – in full-scale Licensing Expo planning mode while staring down the second Bank Holiday in a row, gearing up for a right Royal party and putting the next issue of the Products of Change magazine – the Summer Sustainability Edit – together somewhere in-between.
Still, it’s the industry that keeps us going and, truth be told, we’re still feeling the highs from a wonderful show of strength and spirit this Earth Day, Week, and Month in celebration of the fantastic work being carried out, across the sectors, in the pursuit of sustainability.
Don’t miss your chance to shout about your journey with sustainable development – however far along you are – by getting in touch with editor Rob with your news and updates. The Products of Change magazine is here to tell your stories and bring this fearless tribe of business pioneers together and raise a voice for a better future of business.
(You can also support the magazine in this effort by dropping the enigmatic Rob Willis and Ian Hyder a line any time… they’re always happy to take a call).
But doing things better, that’s what’s worth celebrating. And it’s been another inspiring week for seeing this in action. We were kindly invited by Products of Change member and certified B Corp, talking Tables to attend the third Talking Together in partnership with the Gift Association discussion this week, this time to explore the impact of B Corp with an esteemed panel of speakers, including Louisa Mordaunt, founder of I Love My Job; Charlotte Bingham-Wallis, co-founder of Belo Bags; Louise Welsby, managing director of Buy-From; and Daniel Fagan, director of supply chain Talking Tables.
The session was hosted by Clare Harris, founder of Talking Tables who has, from inception of the gift and partyware business, been an advocate for using business as a force for good. Through her leadership, and the dedication to the ESG strategy of the business and its role in the community and across its stakeholder network, Talking Tables achieved an impressive score of 87.5 when it landed its B Corp accreditation last year.
The discussion itself was wonderfully lively, but just as impressive is the community that thrives in the gifting sector around the ethos of better business to people and the planet. Heads were nodding furiously when Louise Welsby spoke passionately on the topic of purpose, putting it wonderfully succinctly when she said: “If you haven’t got a ‘why’ that drives your business forward, what’s the point?”
It’s the sentiment that Products of Change holds at its core. Successful businesses make money. But what is the endgame? To make more? What does perpetual growth mean if the business doesn’t leave the wider, positive impact – upon people, its stakeholders, and upon the planet? Isn’t that the mark of true success?
We are lucky in our industries that we are surrounded by leaders, individuals, and brands that know their ‘why’. Whether that’s to inspire and educate, empower and motivate, or simply to comfort and enrich the lives of their audiences, their partners, and their stakeholder communities. It’s what makes the strive to help this industry transition and advance on its journey of sustainable development such a compelling one.
Taking the chance to shout about the wonderful work business can do, have a watch of this special video we made with Spring and Autumn Fair organisers, Hyve Group to chat with a few of the UK businesses really driving positive change.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS7XGUI0X4k[/embedyt]
Plans are afoot for delivering another Products of Change showcase at Licensing Expo next month where we will have a booth placed at C142. Take note of the stand number because we’re planning on hosting a series of roundtable discussions as well as product showcases from the brands and manufacturers driving positive change throughout the course of the show. We’re particularly looking forward to Licensing Expo’s Day of Purpose.
For anyone wondering how they can be involved in the POC content at Licensing Expo, simply drop us a line.
The LEGO Group’s Sine Møller will be leading the discussion online when Products of Change’s next Toy Workstream takes place at 4.00pm on Tuesday, 9th May. The focus of the meeting will be on plastics and the recycled plastics infrastructure. POC members can register to attend by clicking here.
Following this, Rich Brassett, co-founder of Long Live King will join us for a special presentation on how to reduce the carbon emissions of your website and digital assets. The Digital Impact session will be taking place at 4.00pm on Thursday, 11th May. Members can register for this session here.
Well, with that there’s little left to say other than have a wonderful Coronation weekend, and massive kudos to everyone taking up arms on Monday to get stuck into some charity work.
