Impressions - April 2024 - 25

will bring you the next big project.
Apart from running their respective businesses, business owners have
a platform that can be employed in small and large ways for good. Th is
platform gives the business a voice that can be used for those who do
not have one. With that type of platform comes a heavy responsibility.
Th roughout her 10-plus years in business, Badger has learned that
you never know the impact your platform is going to have. " You don't
always know exactly what the payoff is. If I'm talking to a new customer
who came in as a result of our community involvement, I have no way
of knowing that unless they tell me. And the person standing in front
of me may have been referred by someone I had contact with. Th ere
is a ripple eff ect, and the one thing I know is there's always a payoff . "
" Th ere are benefi ts to doing it, " agrees Marshall Atkinson, Atkinson
Consulting (atkinsontshirt.com), Tempe, Arizona. " First off , this is
how you meet people. It's also good to understand what's going on.
By being involved in a community, you learn about things that are
happening and discover ways you can contribute.
" It may sound cliche, but the more you give, the more you get. If
you are active in a local cause, that affi nity helps you build a better
relationship with customers because they see you as an empathic,
caring company. "
Atkinson says that it's not wise to communicate that all you or
your business cares about is the community's money. People typically
want to be seen as people and not as a relationship that is based solely
on transactions. A great principle to base a business on is " the most
human company wins. "
" I look at it as the more you put into your community, the more
you get out of it, " says Tom Rauen, president, 1-800-TSHIRTS.com
(1800tshirts.com), Dubuque, Iowa. " You want to build your network
and align with others who are also giving back. People who are passionate
about the same things. "
" Th at's going to create something stronger than a one-off customer
who doesn't know who you are behind the business. It's helping the
people who are supporting your customers. We try to do everything
we can to be active and support our community. We know it's going
to help it fl ourish and make it a better place to live
and do things, " he concludes.
As a business owner, you either get it or
you don't.
It's important to give back for
the sake of giving back. Photo by
New Africa - stock.adobe.com
Badger notes that it's important to recognize the ways these eff orts
can benefi t your business; however, don't let that be the only reason
you do it. Sometimes it's okay if it's just for the sake of doing good
and spreading love and light. Th e results can not only be substantial
but can be immeasurable as well.
For example, Badger recalls sitting in a meeting of her small-business
group discussing the annual Halloween " Spook the Loop " event
where employees dress up in costumes and hand out candy. A member
had vocalized their concerns with spending $120 on candy and never
getting anything out of it. Badger
immediately responded with " Well,
we love to dress up around here, and
sometimes you do something for the
good of your community, not because
it's going to reap some reward. "
April 2024
P.25
Art by artbesouro - stock.adobe.com
http://www.atkinsontshirt.com http://stock.adobe.com http://www.1-800-TSHIRTS.com http://www.1800tshirts.com http://stock.adobe.com
Impressions - April 2024

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