I talk a lot about profit here on CMBA, and it’s because I think it’s a conversation we don’t have enough in the crafts community.
But since I don’t want you to think I’m all Gordon Gekko, today I want to talk about another deeply held business belief of mine:
That the pursuit of profit should never come at the expense of people.
Some of you may be familiar with the concept of the triple bottom line – people, planet, and profit.
It’s a growing movement in the business community, and one that fits in well with the craft ethos of small, sustainable businesses. It’s the idea that a business must constantly answer to three areas – people, the environment, and the traditional bottom line.
I think for many in the crafts, considering the environment alongside our business concerns comes almost as second nature. But how often do you think about the way your businesses treats people?
One of the most obvious ways to consider people first in your business is to always treat employees with respect and dignity. (In fact, a recent incident where this didn’t happen is what prompted me to write this post.)
But many of us craft business owners don’t have employees. So is it still possible to apply the people first principles to our businesses?
I believe the answer is a resounding yes. Even as an employee-less business, you are in a web of human beings, all of whom should be considered in the course of your business. So here are a few of my rules for putting people first:
1. Design and create with the end user in mind. So many people view their craft as an extension of their personal vision, and I think that’s important. But to truly be a people first business, you need to design and create products with the end user in mind. For starters, this means producing high quality products that aren’t going to fall apart or break easily. But beyond that, you should consider the end user throughout the design process. How can you design a product that will benefit your customer as much or more than the profit you’re making benefits you?
2. Never copy from or disparage your fellow makers. Your competitors deserve the same sort of respect as your customers. After all, we are all part of the same small community. This means never stealing ideas from other designers. It also means never bad mouthing your competitors in an attempt to persuade customers to buy from you instead. You can and should promote your products extensively, and feel confident in talking about what makes your products amazing. But you should refrain from doing so by badmouthing others.
3. Don’t choose processes or materials that are harmful to yourself or other people. When choosing processes or materials, avoid anything that requires someone to work in toxic or unsafe work conditions. A good example of this is metal plating. Many jewelers have pieces gold plated as an inexpensive alternative to pure gold. Yet, plating is a horribly toxic process involving a lot of chemicals. If you wouldn’t want your grandmother or your daughter working in an environment like that, you shouldn’t expect anyone else to either.
4. Treat yourself as your best employee. Putting people first in your business also means taking care of yourself. As solo business owners, we often subject ourselves to hours or conditions that we wouldn’t dream of (or be legally allowed to) asking someone else to do. Start thinking of yourself as your best employee (because you are) and treat yourself as you would them.
I believe that everyone in the crafts community should embrace the idea of pursuing profit. But when we pursue profit while also being mindful of the needs of others and the environment, we can create businesses that serve as a model for companies large and small.
So what do you think? How do you put people first in your business?