Put your money where you mouth is.

Your purchase is your vote.

As someone who spends too much money on vegan and organic groceries and products, I’ll be the first to admit morals can be a pain in the ass. But the more you ignore that little voice in your head telling you don’t worry about it this time, the more you start to feel friction. You want safe, ethically sourced, quality products, and you’re tired of big businesses putting their profits (and salaries) over ethics. You’re thinking about all the plastic shopping bags and food containers ending up in the ocean. And who made these clothes? Who made these products? Are they making a livable wage? I could literally write an essay on how morally wrong some manufacturing is done, but this should just be an overview on businesses in general. So. In general. How much waste would be reduced if all the big companies made it a point to cut it down to almost 0? What would happen if all the big companies put doing good over profit? And so on.

The best thing about millennials and the younger generations is that we are done with the traditional bullshit of making things fast and cheap. We made farmer’s markets trendy. We made companies start offering more organic and vegan options. We made a movement for fair wages and ethically sourced products. Hopefully we’re just getting started.

We’re ready for ethical, safe, quality products. So, as a customer, your part of the change is your purchase. As a business, my part is to join the small business community using their profits and voice for positive change.

Your business is your voice

How can a small business start a change?

• Picking a cause

• Donations

• Ethically sourcing supplies

• Intentional partnerships

• Speak up!

How we can help

Pick a cause, or a few

There is a business for every good cause. Most businesses have a set of core values. For my business, one value is a passion for veganism and animals. Copper Lane Candles donates to Austin Pets Alive, Central Texas Pig Rescue, and Austin Farm Sanctuary. Plus all products are vegan/cruelty-free. I bring awareness to veganism whenever I can.

It’s always a good idea to shop at businesses with similar values as yourself.

Donations

Do I need to say more?

One of the labels from the Oct 2022 Austin Farm Sanctuary fundraiser.

Ethically sourcing supplies

Business owners are making a vote with their purchases too. Like with Copper Lane, I switched to EcoEnclose for packaging because I think their innovations for recycled and reusable packaging is incredible. From your perspective, you would want to eat at the restaurant that uses biodegradable to-go containers, or recyclable shopping bags.

On the other hand, maybe you want to avoid businesses that use a vendor you don’t agree with.

But please don’t judge the businesses that don’t openly pick and choose their vendors this way. This is not always realistic because us tiny businesses usually can’t afford to shop from anywhere we want. We have to selectively cut corners as we grow.

Intentional partnerships

Who a person works with could say a lot about them. You may want to avoid a business who is business partners with a person or company you don’t agree with. Or support a business that partners with someone or a business you love. This could look like a consignment deal for small businesses.

This also may not be realistic at first. I’ll use my business again as an example here. My candles are in Teal Sky Boutique. The owner is so sweet, and the shop has some really good stuff. It’s a really cute boutique. But the values don’t align 100% with my personal values or my business values. As the business grows, I can be more selective with who I work with.

Speak up

Small business owners are in a place where their voice is now in front of an audience. Raising their voice will repel the people they’re not trying to reach and attract their target customers. Small businesses can create a space where people feel heard, and can empower people to speak out themselves. We’re all told to stand up for what we believe in. How cool is it to have a space where we can all speak out against the issues we care about most?

Where are my vegans?

So why should you care?

There is a group of us small and tiny businesses out here fighting to make the changes we want to see, but we can’t do it alone. Your values align with ours. You want to see less animal cruelty. Clean up the oceans. Empower women. Literally there is a business out there for any cause you can think of. Just being intentional with where you shop can make an impact.

Keep scrolling for farm sanctuary pics!

Pearl came to the sanctuary with her son, Copper, from the meat industry. They were both surrendered because Copper was born with only 3 legs. He has passed away. It’s special to see this beautiful girl living the rest of her life in paradise on the farm.

Penny and Polly came to the farm as little piglets, and they’re inseparable. These are the sweetest, goofiest girls.

Lillith may be small, but her sass had no limits. I’ll cherish the time I spent with her. She has passed away.