For this month’s team journal, we asked some of our team members to share a life story about a purchasing or client experience where the brand’s values stuck out to them, resonated with them and ultimately drew them in to make a decision. As consumers, we are usually motivated to act for reasons deeper than just seeing an email, post, or ad. With the flurry of information being sent out into the world daily, people are now longing to connect to something deeper than just a product or service. They want to connect to a belief system. So here are some of our stories with interacting with such brands who draw us in with heart and purpose, not just product. 

A brand that I really admire is Shinola. While the admiring is mostly from afar, ( many of their items are way out of my price range ), I do own a couple of their incredible journals. (Seriously, if you’re a lover of journals, go buy one right now!) When I learned the story behind what they do, I became a bigger fan and have been even more proud to purchase from them. They are a brand rooted in strong values. Their goal is to bring manufacturing jobs back to Detroit, Michigan. Their website says it best – “We know there’s not just history in Detroit—there is a future. It’s why we are here. Making an investment in skill at scale. Creating a community that thrives through excellence of craft and pride of work. In a world that’s rushing, we stand for something different. We believe our lives can be crafted just like our products, with intention. It’s about making time for the things that make you happy. It’s about investing in the things that are important. It’s about working with people who care the same amount, because it’s not what you do, it’s how you do it.” I think that’s just wonderful.
-Lindsay, Project Manager

Recently I had lunch at CoreLife Eatery. Their values of being able to eat ‘real’ food in a convenient way was very enticing to me — it influenced me to purchase a meal there instead of eating at a number of other fast casual restaurants. They’re clear in their marketing messages about what they care about: hearty food free of GMO’s, hormones, and artificial junk — which aligns with the type of food I want to eat.
-Jena, Art Director

A positive purchasing experience I often think of was from an online jewelry company – GLDN. The brand originally caught my eye on instagram and stood out to me because of their unique, minimalistic designs and hand-crafted quality.  Yet, even more so how transparent they are as a business, they often even give a glimpse into the actual creators of the jewelry and their process of how the jewelry is designed and crafted. GLDN states “We value integrity for how product is made and business is run. We’re thoughtful about every detail of what we do”. I believe GDLN truly demonstrates just that – leaving me feel confident it’s a business I can trust and support!
-Julia, Content Designer

I worked as a buyer/merchandiser of a curated retail store in Downtown Lancaster for a few years. The company believed firmly in not just selling a product, but also a lifestyle.  Making sure each item in their store enhanced and accessorized a life of quality over quantity, thoughtfulness and exploration. They also cared about having a space that reflected and enhanced their brand.  Because their values were clear from the beginning and aligned so closely with my own personal values, it made it easier to find and purchase products made by companies with similar passions. Getting to merchandise the space was icing on the cake!
-Betsy, Space Designer

Can we all just take a moment and talk about Chip and Jo. They won us over in the early days of Fixer Upper and they just keep on winning us over as they have become a household name across the United States. Even in the midst of growth, Magnolia and its two founders, Chip and JoJo, have remained down to earth and totally awesome. You can tell that they have a true desire to see families thrive and communities change. Their value for family, community, and generosity is threaded through their entire business with a whole lot of fun thrown in as well. We feel it on their Insta, through their products sold at Target, and of course if we are lucky enough – at the Silos as well. So I will just be over here fan-girling. It’s fine, I’m fine.
-Hailey, Brand Strategist

---

We hope you enjoyed hearing from our team and getting to know us a little better! Comment below to let us know what you’d love to hear from us for future journals!