ETHOS (noun) guiding principles that direct decision-making and action-taking.
Our ethos is super-important to us because it influences everything we do.
A lot of organisations keep these principles private, but we wanted to share them so we can stay accountable and laser-focused in our work in bringing about change in the areas that matter most to us.
So with all that said, here they are!
(And yes, they’re ranked in order of priority which is kinda scary but crazy-helpful).
Help Artists Thrive
Not starve, not just survive, but flourish personally, creatively and professionally. Sure, guiding them to create amazing art is part of it, but so is teaching them how to build profitable businesses that don’t involve working 80 hours a week.
Make Art Accessible
We exist to bridge the gap between stuffy art galleries and the high-street. Our studios give the public a chance to meet the makers, see the creative process happen in real-time and even buy art at an affordable, fair price.
Make Better Stuff
Quality and design are everything. Better products lead to happier customers, fulfilled makers, larger margins and a healthier planet — plus it means we can buy, make and own fewer, but better things — which is great!
Support Local
Money spent locally should impact local people. We make it happen by supporting local makers, selling quality products and telling stories that are far better than internationally-owned high-street alternatives.
Celebrate Home
Despite all the negativity in the media, we love where we live and are proud to call it home. We shout about all the great things going on here, encouraging others to love and give back to the places they were born and bred.
Look After Yourself
Making a difference (and money) is important — but not at the expense of our relationships, physical health or emotional wellbeing. Plus after a lot of trial and error, we’ve found that prioritising the important stuff actually helps us do our best work. So do it!
Trade Fairly
The global market has disconnected us from the people who make our products and made it easier to cover-up corruption. We challenge our makers, customers and ourselves to ask the tough questions and dig deeper to discover more just, ethical ways of doing business.
Tell Honest Stories
Stories are powerful. Real stories are even better. In everything we do, we look for opportunities to share stories that educate, inform and inspire (as well as being true!). The journey is never easy, but good stories show us its worth it.
Look After The Planet
After all, it’s the only one we’ve got. We work with artists, manufacturers and suppliers to reduce the materials used in the production, packing and shipping process, encouraging them to use sustainable, environmentally-friendly alternatives.
Have Fun!
We see play as an essential ingredient in producing highly creative work, cultivating a life-giving community and finding satisfaction in this journey we call life. So have fun, have it often and have plenty of it!
We’re far from perfect (spoiler alert: neither are you) and that’s okay. We’re always growing, improving, and learning how to become better at what we do
