Businesses Hold the Power.

I spent a week in Chicago and accidentally stumbled upon the Trump Tour at a crowded three-way intersection. It was as large as you’d imagine and had me wondering about the power of business.

It’s obvious, of course, but I was also standing in the present, impacted by Trump’s presidency, knowing damn well this skyscraper was built way prior to now. It felt absurd to imagine the amount of people who had seen this skyscraper day-to-day, without acknowledging the magnitude at which business impacts the world.

It made me happy to think that entrepreneurship has grown, and that consumer focus has swayed from big organizations towards smaller businesses. It isn’t a new concept, but consumer spending power is still easily excused in day-to-day life. I am an educated Gen-Z consumer, but sometimes I want the convenience of buying a Target candle. I don’t have the mental energy to think about who owns Target, the sustainability practices used, and do a research analysis on their brand values.

It needs to be easier.

Because it is important: the most impactful way to support the world is to buy from the businesses that support us. Businesses touch so many elements in our day-to-day life, from employment and compensation to healthcare, sustainability, and political climate. It’s been too easy to value profit over societal wellbeing and build successfully. We have to support the brands that support us.

I know it’s easier said than done (mostly because I’ve begun the research already), but I did conclude it’d be easier for me to support local farms than try to become a backyard gardener myself. It’s not my passion, and I’d rather support a small business and still feel good.

I plan to share all I learn about responsible business practices and how I’ve researched brand impact through product, people, and the planet. I’ll also update Steibel to make it easier to stay updated and shop intentionally. It’s not meant to be a reason to buy, but an easier way to consider brands when you’re already shopping for a product.

Thank you for following along!