Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

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Rich Sloan , Co-Founder, Chief Startupologist, StartupNation

My sil lived in Berkley(sp?) for many years.  I understand lots of stuff is very expensive out there.  We were looking at housing in the LA market.  For what we paid for our brand new, large home on six acres in the country in MI (land all around us) we could get a very old single wide on a rented lot...eek! 

I was just in TC last fall and saw that restaurant.  I`ll have to suggest it to my sisters and nieces next time we`re there. 

I have a TBL mission statement for my company, Barkwheats Dog Biscuits.  We are active in our community promoting sustainable practices from organic farming to compostable packaging choices.  95% of all of our ingredients come from local producers, many of which I just get to pick up at the farmer`s markets I attend, thus saving on gas and saving the roads from large freight trucks. 

Our flour miller operates purely on water power, and goes even a step further by piping the power generated at the mill to his house up the street.  All of our flour and seed bags go to a local artist, too, who turns them into wonderful carry bags that sell at craft shops.  Our other ingredients that can be grown in Maine come from MOFGA certified farmers.  Heck, even our laundry detergent is made from a local company. 

So, that`s our story as for a TBL.  You can check out my website under the "About Us" section for our actual statements.  :)



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Barkwheats Dog Biscuits
-all natural, maine-made buckwheat dog biscuits

Urban Renewal Inc. They are an electronic recycling firm out of Newark, NJ. 
 They operate with a twist. Not only will they come to your town to pick up old electronics (working or not) for FREE. 
 They will bring the computers back to their facility and use them in a socially commendable way. 
 Urban Renewal uses the electronic components to teach homeless and less fortunate people how to repair, refurbish, service and reuse these old and broken down units.
 
Some of the units or parts are sold overseas. The money generated from those sales is used to buy housing, food, and clothing for the people in their program. The other computers that are refurbished and reloaded with fresh software are used to teach computer skills to those less fortunate this assists them with the skill sets to get jobs and back into the regular workforce.
 
That is not only the great idea coming from Urban Renewal Inc. The laptops collected at the Electronics Recycling Events are segregated and refurbished. The units are donated to US soldiers from the local town serving overseas in Iraq or Afghanistan. It allows each soldier to be in touch with their family and towns people. Everyone wins.

We`re working with some clients/friends who are working hard to create petroleum free replacement products.   Currently in the biofuel recycling business they have created a tiki torch replacement fuel, Porch Torch, a wood treatment for cabinets, decks, and gardens, called Woodserve, and a charcoal lighter fluid called Brightlight.

A social venture/social enterprise is different from a company that institutes and adheres to triple bottom line accounting methods, although they can be the same. Triple bottom line accounting is just that - and accounting system, and it`s difficult to tell if the company is doing that by just looking at them. Half the company owners I know who do it don`t even know they do - but their accountant does. The key is the measuring part - triple bottom line means you measure and pay attention to your footprint, your impact. If you don`t, you might be a social enterprise but that`s ill-defined.

The examples cited so far would qualify as social enterprises, as the owners are using socially and environmentally responsible methods. It`s a pretty general term, and as I said, rather undefined at the moment. Technically, by current definitions, Wal-Mart and Starbucks are "social enterprises." Go figure.

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Check out my blog at www.GreenCPA.blogspot.com