Starting a business that tries to do more than look after itself…

Businesses need to survive financially, so perhaps a shared ambition between them all will be to generate money. This is afterall the currency that enables them to trade, pay employees, and retain profit.

Of course, profit allows individuals and businesses to afford as many vehicles, holidays, gas bills, toy cars, garden gnomes, socks, whoopie cushions, power tools, medical procedures and Uber Eats as possible. And so, a business is organised with a laser sharp focus on how to make as much of it as possible. It is one measuring stick of success, and gnomes are getting pricey.

But, success can take other forms, ones existing alongside the generation of profit, and to an extent, can change the focus of business practice. It's a voice that has been growing for some time. It can be heard in the winds of climate change, discussions around ethical decision making, the notion of a better planet, happier times and people. One where species and habitat are valued, protected and actively nurtured. At an organisational and individual level, this is a change in attitude and behaviour.

It was this context in which we began building Stratum Marquetry. Our decisions around the company structure, the customers’ and its own contribution towards habitat regeneration, choice of materials, suppliers, partners, our role within community, and energy providers became as considered as the need to turn a profit, whilst  allowing us to make quality work, and buy all the gnomes we could possibly need.

Daunting, but small and considered steps help make this approachable. A plan, or road map was needed. One that identifies ambitions, marks where we are currently, and where we aim to be in the future. What are other businesses doing, how can we do that, and more? 

We looked at B Corp, an organisation attempting to set out a framework of positive business practice. Its backbone presents categories of governance, community, environment, customers, disclosure and workers. We measure ourselves against these standards, and make adjustments within our practice in order to improve upon them.

So this is the start of our journey within the B Corp framework. One where we strive to build a company that’s part of a broader positive behaviour change in culture. In doing so and leading by example, we hope to share and perpetuate these values with others around us, pushing that change further forward.