The ZOË Chronicles - Fall Issue

THE ZOË CHRONICLES

Fall Issue

IN THIS ISSUE

ZC Pulse

Seasonal Spotlight

From the Field

ZOË Challenge

News & Links

SHOP FOR GIFTS

ESPÉRE COLLECTION

NAMBIKAI COLLECTION

CAMBIAR COLLECTION

EQUITAS COLLECTION

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

HANDMADE POTTERY COASTER SET

LUNCH BAG

IN THIS ISSUE

The past two months have been a whirlwind of activity getting ready for the fall. We had a fantastic time at Incentive Works 2011, and are so glad to be working with many new clients as more organizations choose to socially source 10% of their planned gift and promotional purchases.

This issue of our newsletter has two great stories and one exciting announcement. Mercy Abraham, the national leader of our partnership in India will be visiting us in November, so stay tuned for details on opportunities to meet up and connect that month.

Also, we get to hear from Geoff Bagg, President of The Bagg Group, as he tells us of the business impact he realized at his companies 40th Anniversary celebration. Finally, we learn more about the objectives of our Ottawa partner, GROW. Their vision for creating equitable employment opportunities for adults with disabilities is truly inspiring.

Angie Draskovic Enjoy!

Angie Draskovic

Founder & CEO

ZC Pulse: Building a Movement

"Once you see the results of this approach you want to incorporate it into your ongoing strategy. After our 40th anniversary we wanted to continue because of the genuine social impact achieved, so we turned to ZOË for gifts for our employees at our annual summer event too. We couldn't imagine why we wouldn't want to further extend our impact, it just made sense." Geoff Bagg, President - The Bagg Group

This issues article comes to us from Geoff Bagg, President of The Bagg Group one of Toronto's most successful full service staffing and consulting firms. Geoff speaks of his organizations perspective on client and employee relationships and how taking the ZOË Challenge affected both relationships and business.

RELATIONSHIPS THAT BUILD GREAT ORGANIZATIONS

When it comes to our clients one of the most important things that shapes our relationship is ensuring that we come through for them. We view our success as their success and we make sure that we deliver on our promises with honesty and integrity.

GEOFF BAGG SPEAKING AT 40TH ANNIVERSARY

Philosophically we believe that being able to access quality talent significantly drives the success of every organization. It is very different than where you buy your staples. So our employees engage with our clients in a way that ensures that we understand their unique needs and are able to partner for long term success.

Great relationships are achieved over time and are a result of positive experience together. It is important to us that our employees are engaged. Our people are exceptional and this helps build trusting relationships with our clients. The fact that our employees are so enthusiastic and engaged demonstrates credibility and that we will be able to help our clients achieve the same for their organizations.

INVESTING IN PEOPLE AND THE COMMUNITY

Relationships naturally extend beyond pure business interactions and as people most of us want to contribute to society in a positive way. The Bagg Group has a rich history that began 40 years ago when Keith and Mary Bagg decided they wanted to build a different kind of staffing organization, one that led from the heart.

It is in our DNA to engage proactively with the community locally and internationally, so when we were planning our 40th Anniversary it was natural to consider how we might have a positive social impact with this event even beyond the people in the room.

One of the more creative and memorable things we chose to do to celebrate our 40th anniversary was that, in addition to highlighting our history and key milestones for the clients and prospective clients in the room, we chose to highlight our community involvement by inviting a local organization that we support and by choosing gifts that had a very special meaning.

That night... (read the rest of this article)

SEASONAL SPOTLIGHT:

Equitas Handmade Pottery Coasters

This issue's highlighted product is from a project right here at home. Our Equitas hand made pottery coaster sets are produced in partnership with Grow in Ottawa, Canada. Grow provides meaningful employment for adults with disabilities.

EQUITAS HANDMADE POTTERY COASTERS

These coaster sets make an especially memorable gift for speakers or key clients. Priced affordably at $39.85, they are available in a broad array of colours and can be affixed with your company's logo.

"We want to neutralize factors that would otherwise keep a person who wants to work from being a part of the work force." Micah Elson

Program Manager, Ottawa GROW

ZOË Alliance works with a broad range of fair trade producers to find just the right solution for your event. Our goal is to make it easy for your company to take the ZOË Challenge of socially sourcing 10% of your gifting budget. In addition to our 15 core products we have access to hundreds of items that make truly memorable gifts.

Contact us at (647) 477-4377 or online at info@zoealliance.com with your next requirement and let our team quote a solution for your event.

FROM THE FIELD: Ottawa Update

Christian Horizons is the largest government funded provider of support services to adults with disabilities in Ontario. The organization serves over 1,500 families and continually evolves their services to meet the changing needs of the people whom they serve.

Micah Elson is the Program Manager at Ottawa Grow, one of their largest employment solutions programs. One of his responsibilities is to oversee the team that produces the Equitas product line of ZOË Alliance. This issues' From the Field brings us a glimpse into the goals and larger vision for the work of Grow through an update from Micah.

(To get more background you can find a primer on this project in the December 2010 Newsletter)

THE GOALS OF GROW

Employment solutions initiatives began with the dual objectives of helping people develop job skills and supporting them in securing meaningful work in the community. As such our programs were comprised of subsidized businesses and day service programs with a specific focus on skills development.

SUSAN IN POTTERY SHOP

A key realization has contributed to the evolution of our programming. We still have a strong commitment to helping people develop job skills and securing employment in the community, however our experience in the past few years have brought us face to face with an interesting reality.
The reality is that some people, who had previously been unable to engage in work activities, can be very successful in a workplace setting with some modifications that enable them to participate. We have realized that accommodations for behavioural, physical, and medical needs can create an environment in which almost everyone can contribute in a meaningful way to the success of a business.

We are uniquely positioned to evolve our employment solutions initiatives into self-sustaining businesses that provide working environments that enable people who possess any combination of abilities to participate successfully as part of the work force.

So our goal in the coming years...( read the rest of this article)

You Can Take The ZOË Challenge Too!

In North America alone, $895 billion is spent on gifts, promotional items and donations each year. The ZOË Challenge to spend 10% of that on fair trade options represents an easy way to generate an $89 billion dollar investment that creates trade opportunities and dignity for indigenous business leaders.

ZOË Alliance's message to achieve this change is simple. Think 1.1.1:

1 Event

Choose 1 event each year where gift spending reflects approximately 10% of what is spent overall;

1 Approval

Get executive approval to buy items produced in accordance with fair trade principles for this event's gifts from a reputable vendor;

1 Time a Year

Repeat every year - make this a part of annual CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) plan.

If you like the idea but don't know where to start, give us a call at 647-477-4377, or drop a line at info@zoealliance.com and if we can't help you, we'll recommend someone who can.

News & Links

RECENT HIGHLIGHTS:

April 7 - OCRI Awards Gala (Perley-Robertson Hill & McDougall LLP Issue the Challenge)

UPCOMING EVENTS:

November 15 - Corporate & Community Social Responsibility Conference - Panelist

November - Date TBD - Visiting National Leader, Merci Abraham, Managing Trustee of Mahalir Aran Trust our partner in India will be visiting us in Canada! Stay tuned for more information regarding opportunities to meet Mercy.

LINKS FOR MORE INFO:

ZOE Challenge Video (Think Bigger Than Fair Trade)

Press Release Take the Challenge (Think 1:1:1)

TV News Segment November 23, 2010

Interview with Chris Chopik of Evolution Green

Some Thoughts from Our Blog

Have you been following the ZOË weekly blogs? It's a great way to keep in touch with the current activities of both ZOË Alliance and our founder, Angie.

Here are a couple of her more recent blogs that we think you would enjoy:

The Role of Corporations in International Development - Thoughts on TIMS 2011
Guatemalan Update - A Glimpse into Some Great Work

Who is ZOË Alliance?

ZOË Alliance Inc. is a social enterprise that harnesses what we spend to help developing nations break the cycle of poverty.

ZOË Alliance helps people and companies transform impoverished villages with their regular purchases. We stretch each dollar spent on a personal or corporate gift three ways: to purchase a gift that tells the stroy of hope; to create jobs with dignity in villages; and to donate funds toward a school or village project.

We also help companies link their Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives to the bottom line by making it easy to source high quality, profitable products from producer groups in villages around the globe.

Contact Us

ZOË Alliance Inc.

15-75 Bayly Street West, Suite 279,Ajax, ON Canada L1S 7K7

(647) 477-4377 info@zoealliance.com www.zoealliance.com