Pride

It’s been Pride Month for a while (21 days, forgive us), and the one thing we notice year after year is the increasing number of companies willing to put up a temporary avatar, often the pride rainbow (and, sometimes even the progressive one that represents trans* and BIPOC people. That’s great.

But what are the moves those companies are making for their LGBTQ+ employees and their families? They’re consumers? If that answer is “nothing,” then they’re merely pandering. Especially if they’re making a buck off of Pride merchandise that will line the pockets of (probably) cishetero white men at the top of most companies while draining the very community of the cash they need more of to support their families’ medical care, transitions, mental health, etc.

But who is really out there doing it? We’ve found a few. Check them out and let us know who else is doing good work out there.

• Mastercard letting customers use their True Name®. This is allyship in action, taking steps to integrate everyone into society in an equitable way. And often, a more safe way.

• VC Ultimate has always spoken out in support of the LGBTQ+ community (and is run by an out gay woman!). Beyond that, they’ve changed the naming convention on their apparel. Instead of gendering styles, they name them based on how they actually fit (Classic, Fitted, Raglan).

• Kellogg’s has released a limited-edition cereal that allows consumers to share and wear their pronouns and will donate up to $140,000 to GLAAD ($3/box).

• KIND will donate $50,000 to the Ali Forney Center which provides healthcare and shelter to homeless LGBTQ+ youth. Additionally, you can text “Pride” to 1-833-623-KIND and the brand will donate another $1 to the Ali Forney Center for each text received.

• Bombas donates a pair of socks to homeless individuals for every item sold. In 2021, their focus is on Black trans* people (who experience homelessness at five times the rate of the general US population). The company’s Pride collection is always available. To date, Bombas has donated more than 300,000 pairs of socks through the Ally Coalition. 

• The Body Shop is encouraging consumers to sign a petition supporting the Equality Act and will donate $1 per signature to the Equality Federation, an advocacy accelerator to support LGBTQ organizations.

Probably the best thing any company can do is actually hire LGBTQ+ folks. Have anti-discrimination policies in place. Enforce them. Pay people fairly and equitably. Be cool.

Have fun out there people. Be safe and celebrate your uniqueness. We stand with you.

Happy New Year?

Let's face it, 2020 was HARD. Politically hard, pandemically hard, socially hard, financially hard. For the souls this world lost to COVID-19, you mattered, and we failed you. We must do better. #wearamask

To those who donated to Curious 7's GoFundMe, your donations did not go unnoticed. We think we put the money to good use by offering small businesses reduced rates to help keep them afloat. Some of our projects:

• Designed a trauma-responsive schools theory of change toolkit

• Took that toolkit, which was based on Colorado research & statistics, and created a national edition

• Designed a suicide prevention toolkit for Indigenous populations in North America

• Branded a software-defined security governance startup

• Designed packaging for a small business that curates subscription-based kits for STEM education

• Continued work with our very first client, a landscape design & architecture firm

• Joined a team of primarily BIPOC womxn who are working to design an accessible climbing app

• Did the web design for a woman-led company that helps athletes reach their highest potential

We were also able to make modest donations to organizations who do work to help boost the most marginalized communities. The list of those groups include:

• @transanta (we fulfilled someone's holiday list)

• @snap4freedom

• @sisterspgh412

Stay safe out there, fellow humans, and here’s to a 2021 that looks forward and up.
~ Loverin

The Juke | Readjusting Your Business Model in COVID-19

First, we hope you’re hanging in there, that this epidemic hasn’t touched you or someone you care about. We’re continuing remote work for the time being.

Second, how have you been hanging in there? Have you had to adjust how your business operates? What services it offers (or how)? Do your visuals, website, and social media reflect those changes? Does the functionality of any of your outlets need to be upgraded? For instance, are you now offering curbside pickup or delivery services because your brick and mortar location can’t be open (or you don’t feel safe opening it)? Is there a way for your customers to order online? Schedule a pickup time? If not, you’re using valuable time (and energy) to take phone calls when you could be using that time to strategize further methods for staying open and successful.

If updating your website’s functionality makes your head spin, give us a shout. We do that.

Or maybe because your product is being delivered rather than consumed on-site, you might need awesome branded packaging so your story gets into more homes. We do that too.

If there is something we can help you with, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We’re here for you.