October 20, 2021
GOING GREEN
A few weeks back, Eventive's Erne Murphy reached out, asking for tips on making small businesses greener. Eco-friendly business practices have become a hot topic. But itâs not a new concern.
The fight for environmental sustainability has been going on for decades. But in recent years, the work of environmental activists and scientists has really shined a light on the negative impacts of climate change.Â
Per NASA, we're looking at hotter temperatures, more natural disasters, and rising sea levels - just to name a few consequences. And the everyday consumer is starting to take notice.Â
Shipping company Sendle found that at least 75% of consumers consider sustainability an important issue to them personally. In fact, 71% said they would pay more for brands offering sustainable products and commit to reducing their carbon footprint.
As a result, this push for sustainability isn't just happening amongst consumers. Companies are starting to take on their environmental responsibility by pivoting toward more eco-friendly practices and getting transparent about where they're at.Â
For example, Nike's Move to Zero project promises to recycle 10x more products by 2025. And JetBlue is the first US airline to go carbon neutral for all domestic flights.
But for a small business with modest budgets, setting similar sustainable standards might seem intimidating. Luckily, there are small, cost-effective changes that can still make a big impact. Here are a few to get you started:Â
đ Find more tips on building a sustainable business.Â
THE WINNING PLAYBOOK
If thereâs one online influencer whoâs known for giving blunt business advice, itâs Gary Vaynerchuk â perhaps, better known as GaryVee.
GaryVee is a serial entrepreneur, serving as the Chairman of VaynerX and CEO of VaynerMedia. Heâs built his career recognizing whatâs up-and-coming in culture. And it all started in 1998 â when he pivoted his fatherâs liquor store into one of the worldâs premier alcohol e-commerce platforms.
And now, heâs also one of the most influential entrepreneurs on the planet. Currently, he has 3M+ subscribers on YouTube and 9M+ followers on Instagram.
A few weeks back, we sat down with GaryVee at Playbook 2021, this yearâs biggest event in small business, for a candid Q+A on what the most successful startups all have in common. And in typical GaryVee fashion, his answers were insightful, direct, and cutting edge.
WHEN OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS...
Starting a business is like flying a plane and trying to fix it at the same time. And on more than one occasion, Choozle nearly ran out of gas.
The Colorado-based ad tech company started out eight years ago as a digital media platform. Less than two years later, it saw an opportunity: to pivot into the programmatic ad space. And it did.
By defining a new category and laser-focusing on programmatic ad solutions for mid-market clients, Choozle was able to change course. And it's seen incredible growth and challenges ever since.
From 2015 to 2016, it grew by an astonishing 600%. Its small team had to juggle keeping pace with an explosion of clients while hiring and onboarding new team members at breakneck speed.
Now, with a headcount of 60 and another 20 new hires planned for this year alone, it's showing no signs of slowing down.
đ Hear the full story from Choozle's CEO.
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