Why we're a 1% for the Planet member
By Geana Sieburger |
These last few years have been a hell of a ride and sometimes things don't seem to be getting any better. The weight of challenge after challenge is still unearthing real and sometimes overdue questions. I know I'm not alone. Most of us are tired and some of us are straight up worried about our futures.
That's why I have a sticky note with the words "a life worth living" stuck to my computer. It stares back at me everyday and I get to wonder "what does that mean anyway?" Then another part of me answers, "ah yes, that's what I'm building." I imagine myself old, lying on my death bed, feeling satisfied not only because I lived a happy life, but because I was part of something larger than myself.
As an immigrant whose family did not have an easy time settling into this country, creating change has been necessary to ending cycles of trauma. This is why GDS is becoming a 1% for the Planet member. We need the optimism and the healing now, not 6 months from now. We need to know that our redistributions are having an impact on issues of justice.
July every year is a great point of reflection for me. It's the month when I was born and when GDS was formed. This month we celebrate our 7th year in business. July now will also be a time to celebrate our 1% for the Planet membership.
This deep desire for change propels me to keep making things better from improving our products to the way we redistribute a percentage of sales to finding ways to help my customers slow the F down through all of this chaos.
This business wasn't born from an MBA or investors so you get to see me change my mind, make mistakes, and eventually make better decisions as I learn. I like to think that this is what it means for a business to be human.
"A life worth living" to me means living in alignment with my values and being proud of my growth as an individual and business owner. GDS has already come so far. We've committed to sourcing from origin, and created a product carried at nearly 60 locations across the United States, Canada, and Europe, but there are more steps to this journey. Becoming a 1% for the Planet member is part of my commitment and the evolution of GDS.
This is a step beyond 3% for Justice, which was a redistribution from our online sales only, not the entire business. Now, not only is GDS in deeper alignment with its values, wholesale customers get to be part of our redistributions as well.
If you love what we're up to and want to celebrate with us, here are 3 things you can do today:
1. Share about the work we do and the products we make. Share a post, tag us in your next IG reel, or just tell someone about us. You vouching for us to your friends and family means the world to us!
2. Shop! Yes! Your dollars go directly towards the sustainability of a good business, our entire supply chain, and the 1% for the Planet organizations we support.
3. Sign up for our newsletter and shop our sales and special offers that are promoted every month to newsletter subscribers only.
Just know we're always here to support and hear you out. Every customer and member of this community––if you've purchased from us yet or not––is beyond important to us. Thanks for being on this journey with us!
