It has never been more relevant to support small, local businesses as they are trying to pick up the pieces while we return to some sort of normality.
Andrew Curnow is taking this support further and launched a social enterprise in late 2019 called the me-too foundation, which donates 100 per cent of its profits to charities that support survivors of domestic violence in Australia.
Curnow wants to ramp up the funds donated and is calling on Aussies to buy local and cause related to support people impacted by domestic violence.
“The choice of brand has never been more important,” the former Nest Inspirations owner explains. “Every purchasing decision we make has the capacity to make a difference in the world and support individuals who are facing hardship.”
The Melbourne not-for-profit organisation offers a range of natural, vegan-friendly body products such as hand wash, body wash, hand cream, vegetable soap and candles. They are available in three scents including mint and cedarwood, floral bouquet, and orange and patchouli.
Curnow emphasises there has been an increasing shift towards ethical consumption.
“Ethical consumption isn’t just about being plant-based or environmentally sustainable, it is about being thoughtful and deliberate in the purchase and consumption of items that contribute to positive outcomes for others.
“I encourage more brands to start considering their corporate social responsibility moving forward, as the brand decision for many Aussies is being more and more dictated by these factors.
“It is essential for brands to consider how they’ll position themselves among the ethical and social standards that are being firmly set by society. Supporting brands with ethically and socially responsible policies and commitments is an important issue to many customers. Coupled with great products, companies that have a direct call to action for their shoppers are quickly setting themselves up to become powerhouses in the retail market.”
The me-too foundation currently works with two national Australian charities supporting survivors of domestic violence―RizeUp Australia and the White Ribbon Foundation. The work of these two national organisations has been instrumental in turning the lives of domestic violence survivors around, and educating the wider Australian audience on the devastating domestic violence problem that is sweeping across the country.
“Keeping all of the profits in this country to support Aussies doing it tough is incredibly important to us as an organisation. Since our humble beginnings in 2019, me-too has been built on the foundation of donating 100 per cent of profits to existing credible charities in this field, supporting survivors of domestic violence across the country.
“We are also looking into the future to support the hundreds of smaller charities at community level, who work tirelessly and are desperately underfunded. This problem is not going away without serious intervention, which is why I urge Aussies to think of our Australian-made high-quality me-too products before they head to the grocery store to stock up on their personal care products,” Curnow adds.
“We are not asking people for charitable donations. We are simply asking people to change their brand of wash products so we can all help make a difference.”
