Beauty with a Conscience

In the same way that the public has driven demand for holistic beauty, the importance of ‘social consumerism’ has also risen, and it should come as no surprise that many of today’s modern consumers care about more than just the quality of your products and services. In fact, a study by the McCann Worldgroup in 2016 found that as many as 84% of young people believe that brands have more power to make change than government.

More than ever, consumers want to support brands that give back in a very real and tangible way. They are looking for brands and companies that weave corporate social responsibility into the fabric of their entire business model. In fact, a 2015 Nielsen survey found that nearly two-thirds of global consumers are willing to pay more for sustainably made products.

Another study revealed that 81% of millennials–those aged from approximately 15 to 30–expect their favourite companies to make public declarations of their corporate citizenship. There is simply no question that in 2022, customers want to know that their money is going toward something that not only looks good, but does good too.

The past few years have seen brands moving towards creating a culture of social awareness by providing opportunities to give back to the community. Most are now forming partnerships with aligned non-profit organisations in an attempt to move towards a world of ‘conscious consumption’.

A study conducted by Cone Communications and Echo Research revealed that more than 90% of consumers would switch to a brand supporting a good cause, echoing the inherent importance for a brand to speak for what their customer stands for, through its product and services. Even a significant 65% of consumers felt more positively about the retailer after giving.

Giving back not only drives change in your community, but also within your organisation. It is evident that philanthropic efforts on the part of employees and employers result in workplaces that are better for business and the people who work there. This year, staffers who believe their organisation gives back to the community are a striking 13 times more likely to look forward to coming to work, than those who do not perceive their employers as charitable.

Unfortunately, the reality is that many small business owners are neck deep in focusing on building their business, meaning they simply don’t have the time to focus on non-revenue drivers. If you polled every entrepreneur in Australia, nearly 100 percent would say that giving back is important. But if you asked how many of them have such programs in place, you would encounter a much lower number.

Make 2023 the year your business gets in touch with the larger world, whether it be aligning with something in your local community or choosing brands that already have programs in place because more than anything, it feels good to give! Here are two of our favourite brands that put “doing good” at the heart of their business:

BESTOW SISTERHOOD | BESTOW BEAUTY

The Bestow Sisterhood is a collective of beauty therapists and skincare clinics throughout Australasia who are changing the lives of vulnerable girls in Cambodia by sponsoring their education.

Launched in New Zealand in April 2017, the Bestow Sisterhood is a partnership between Bestow Beauty founder, Janine Tait and her sister, Denise Arnold, who founded the Cambodia Charitable Trust in 2008.

“On one of her trips to Cambodia, Denise met a young woman who was working as a therapist in a local spa. When Denise asked her about her life she discovered that her family had been tricked into handing over her 15-year-old sister to the sex trafficking industry. They thought they were sending her off to a work as a nanny, to create a better life for herself. Denise returned to New Zealand determined to do her bit to stop this despicable practice”, explains Tait.

Photo credit: Bestow Sisterhood

Over the last 10 years, Denise has changed the future for thousands of vulnerable children by transforming schools through the establishment of libraries and fresh water systems, while ensuring that the poorest children are sponsored to attend.

“Education is the greatest hope for fighting poverty and slavery, especially education of girls,” says Tait.

Photo credit: Bestow Sisterhood

There are two ways to participate in the Bestow Sisterhood and make a tangible difference to the lives of those less fortunate.

SPONSOR A GIRL

For just $40 per month, you can sponsor a young Cambodian Girl – providing her with a school uniform, essential school stationery, access to health programs and a monthly contribution to her family’s living costs, helping to lift them out of poverty.

STOCK GENEROSITEA

Salons can also become part of the Bestow Sisterhood by stocking and selling Generositea – the official Sisterhood tea. 100% of profits from the sale of this beautiful rose-coloured herbal tea go to support the work of the Cambodia Charitable Trust.

The Cambodia Charitable Trust currently supports 12 primary schools, four secondary schools and two teachers training colleges in the Takeo and Kampot Provinces of Cambodia. Professional Beauty Solutions is also proud to be part of the Bestow Sisterhood and currently sponsors 5 young girls in rural Cambodia. We think of them as our little sisters and encourage our salon partners to join us in sponsoring those who struggle to support themselves.

IMAGE SKINCARE

Founded by Image Skincare’s President Dr. Marc A. Ronert, M.D, PHD*, the Care for Skin Foundation is a non-profit organisation created to provide reconstructive surgery for people who have suffered loss of skin due to accidents, tumours, burns, scars or genetic abnormalities.

Their goal is to provide surgeries to those who could otherwise not afford them – performing skin transplantations, scar corrections and cleft-palate corrections around the world.

Image Skincare funds ALL administration expenses for Care for Skin, making it possible for all donations to be utilised to support patient care.

“Burn wounds are a significant cause of disease among children, and cleft palate and lip conditions can impair speech and the ability to eat. With simple reconstructive surgical procedures, we are able to change someone’s life. Not to offer this to people in need would be unthinkable.” says Ronert.

Dr. Marc A. Ronert, M.D, PHD, President, Image Skincare

Photo credit: Care For Skin Foundation

To date, Marc Ronert and his wife, Image Skincare CEO and founder, Janna Ronert have travelled with other members of the Care for Skin Foundation to Peru, Vietnam, Myanmar and Burma to perform reconstructive surgeries on hundreds of children in need, giving them a better quality of life.