At Toad&Co, we believe that good products are nothing without good intentions.
Travel is a big inspiration for us, so one of our proudest moments came early, in 1997, when we established a social venture partnership with Search, Inc., a community-based nonprofit providing high-quality services and support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Chicago metro area. As part of this partnership, we created Search for Adventure, which provides first-time adventure experiences for people with developmental disabilities.
As we grew throughout the next two decades, we continued to do the right thing. This meant partnering with other companies and innovators focused on doing good things, giving back, making planet-friendly clothing, and practicing what we preach by volunteering.
Like any adventure worth writing home about, ours hasn’t been without challenges.
We’re certainly not perfect! But we do value progress.
And we’ve learned a lot along the way! Here are five takeaways – of many lessons learned – on how to make your business a “good doing” one:
Give Back
We can make a difference together. Partner with local non-profit organizations and/or become a member of international giving organizations, like 1% for the Planet (https://onepercentfortheplanet.org). Travelers want to know they’re helping the amazing people and places that they are visiting.
Be Sustainable and Responsible
How can your business have a lower impact on the planet? Consider your carbon footprint on transportation. How much waste or trash are your tours creating? Do you practice and educate travelers on Leave No Trace? (It may be founded on a trail principle, but we find it’s relevant everywhere).
Travel by nature is hard on the planet, yet experiencing the world offers a better understanding of it. What is your business doing to help balance these?
We also value taking a stand for what’s right. Customers are looking for organizations to step in and stand up for positive progress. Better yet, combine giving back (#1) with taking a stand (#2) and support organizations doing tough, progressive work.
Bring Joy
This is a big one. How do you bring joy to the local communities you are visiting? And what is your impact on these communities?
Connect that with your customers. Consider how you are bringing them joy, beyond offering an experience. What are you doing to make them smile? Or, tougher yet, to make things right in a difficult situation?
Take Care of Your Employees
Happy employees lead to happy customers. Paying it forward looks like supporting employees and fostering a healthy, inclusive, and occasionally silly work environment.
We’re extremely proud to have been included on Outside Magazine’s Best Places To Work list for 13 years. Our Senior Manager of People, Planet, and Community, Sarah Palladino, sums it up: “We work hard and play harder, and all come together with an aligned mission to do good, support one another, be kind to the planet, and have a lot of fun along the way. We operate like a family, which shines through in events like our annual camping retreat; the ‘Grilled Cheese Smackdown,’ which we host for our local community; yoga and meditation practice; and our themed holiday parties.”
When Recommending Gear, Think Quality and Lasting
When you travel, you should be packing your favorite clothes, not a costume. This goes for all gear and goods on any adventure. If you’re only going to wear/use it once, why bother?
Buy things that are versatile, will last for years, and that you’ll be happy to have during your trip… and when you return home.
Hint – we’ve created several clothing collections to make this easy!
Our Women’s Sunkissed Collection is made from recycled polyester, water-friendly and UPF 40+, lightweight, and hard to wrinkle. Our Men’s and Women’s Boundless Collection moves with you, will last the test of time, and easily go from beach to bar.
And remember, progress over perfection always wins.
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