8- Resources for the Next Social-Entrepreneur
A Social-Entrepreneur, you said?
Widely used in 90’s, today, the term Social-Entrepreneur has taken on a new global outreach, as need to be sustainable and be ecologically conscious becomes more vital. There may be slight variations to the term, such as Ecopreneur, although the focus is always about positive change- socially, environmentally or both. Putting people and the environment over profits.
No longer is the idea a distant thought of yesterday, more so, evolving out of necessity. An Eco-friendly business model provides great opportunities for today’s future business owners. These ideas are challenging traditional for-profit business strategies, where thinking “outside the box” takes on a whole new perspective.
Ecopreneurs create green business models that focus on being environmentally sound, or socially enriching for the greater good. They seek out to help struggling countries provide vital resources or assist with medical needs. The ecopreneur’s mission </mark>statement, above all, <mark>reflects the desire make a difference.
Some of the most successful social entrepreneurship endeavors, Toms or Rubymoon all have one thing in common- quality, sustainable & passion. Lately, “inclusivity” is also increasing in visibility for these brands. They have carved a niche out of their industry, targeting consumers who passionately care about the global impact on goods and services. The focus- not only to create quality goods or provide sustainable resources, but also benefit ones in need worldwide.
Social Responsibility- Flipping the Script
This completely flips the paradigm of the conventional business model that look to drive profits that may sometimes blind corporate greed. The greed comes at a cost. The savings come from Walmart or Taco Bell, unfortunately, most of us are subject to the greed. The devastation of factory farming, deforestation, commercial fishing and all the companies in between, contribute to an unhealthy consumption of our finite resources. Luckily, there is a movement of green thinkers, movers and shakers that are defying the business status quo and reshaping the ideology of corporate social responsibility.
What do you do when you have an interest in building a business and a passion for saving the planet?
You become an Social-Entrepreneur! Running your own eco-friendly business can be exciting, and by marketing your company with the help of Seal Media, you’ll be able to start building up your customer base. We’ve collected informative resources to guide any new ecopreneur.
Legal and Administrative Tasks
You have got a lot of work to do before you can officially open your business. Here are a few administrative and legal obligations you should take care of first.
- Draw up a business plan with all of the details about your environmentally friendly products or services.
- Research how to register an LLC in California, thereby qualifying for tax deductions and keep your personal assets protected.
- Will you need additional funds to get your company off the ground? Secure capital through crowdfunding, grants, or small business loans.
Eco & Social-Entrepreneur Operations
How can you make sure that your business doesn’t have a harmful impact on the environment? These resources are packed with suggestions.
- Make sure that your marketing strategy speaks to your company’s values, so much that you can attract eco-conscious consumers.
- If you plan to sell physical products, package them with recyclable or compostable materials.
- Encourage your employees and customers to adopt zero-waste habits and continue seeking out ways to lower your company’s overall waste.
Connect With Your Community
If you want to make a difference, you need to reach out to your community. These tips will help you connect with like-minded people in your area.
- Work with a local environmental nonprofit to make a positive impact. Invite locals to fun, educational events and podcasts, in person or online!
- Make an effort to network with other entrepreneurs who run environmentally-friendly businesses to learn from them!
Hit the Ground Running
By starting a sustainable business, you can start working towards the changes you want to see in the world. It’s entirely possible to make a profit while managing an eco-friendly company. And with these resources, you’ll have all the information you need to begin.
Ready to start promoting your new sustainable business? Work with Seal Media to get your message out! Seal Media helps eco-entrepreneur brands align with their precise audience by establishing a brand identity and creating content that takes your brand to the next level. A boutique agency, they do all their heavy lifting in-house, concept design, production, post, graphics, etc. Their goal is to deliver solutions and be a trusted digital marketing resource to get to where you are going. Submit an inquiry today. Call 949-355-3764 or Schedule a Meeting:
Anderson Seal is an award-winning filmmaker & business owner since 2007. A graduate of Cal State University Long Beach, community advocate, father, & husband.
Contributing Writer: Joyce Wilson of teacherspark.org
