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4 min read
We always knew we wanted All The Good Things From BC to be one of the brands that gives back.
In fact, the idea of doing business a little differently was part of our story from the very beginning.
When AGBC founder Adela Beranek first settled in British Columbia, she often found herself searching for gifts to bring home to friends, family, and their children.
You'd think finding something genuinely from BC would be easy. After all, we're surrounded by incredible artists, makers, and creative people.
But it wasn't always that simple.
There were plenty of products marketed as BC souvenirs that were actually designed and manufactured elsewhere. Others came with questionable sustainability claims, while genuinely local products weren't always easy to find or affordable.
After working at an art museum in Whistler, Adela became increasingly interested in the incredible art and creativity coming from this part of the world.
And that's where the idea for All The Good Things From BC began.
Why not create a gift shop that celebrates the people, places, and creativity of BC while keeping more money circulating in our local economy?
A shop where customers could discover thoughtfully selected gifts, learn about the artists and makers behind them, and feel good about their purchases.
As AGBC grew, so did our understanding of what it means to run a business with purpose.
We wanted to do more than sell beautiful things. We wanted to find meaningful ways to give back to the communities and places that inspire our shop.
We've long been inspired by the B Corp movement and its belief that business can be a force for good.
In 2020, AGBC joined 1% for the Planet, committing 1% of our total sales to environmental conservation initiatives around the world.
You can read more about that milestone in our earlier blog post, AGBC Becomes a Member of 1% for the Planet.
In 2021, we expanded our giving-back efforts by supporting two organizations especially close to our hearts: BC Parks Foundation and the Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS).
Our original giving model included contributions based on profits from different product categories. Over time, our approach has evolved, but our commitment to giving back remains.
Today, we donate 5% of Indigenous-designed product sales to IRSSS, while selected product lines also support BC Parks Foundation.
And our community involvement doesn't stop there.
We've also made supporting local fundraising initiatives part of how we do business.
We don't want to be a business that makes a donation once a year at Christmas and calls it a day.
We believe giving back should be part of how a business operates, not just something it does when there's a little extra money left over.
That doesn't mean we have everything figured out. We're a small independent shop, and there's always more we can learn and improve.
But we believe that small, consistent actions matter.
Here's a little more about the organizations and causes we've chosen to support along the way.
Nature is at the heart of so much of what we love about BC.
The mountains, forests, lakes, wildlife, and coastlines inspire countless artists and makers whose work you'll find in our shop.
They're also part of what makes this place so special to those of us lucky enough to call it home.
Supporting BC Parks Foundation is one way we can help protect these incredible landscapes for future generations.
Through our involvement with 1% for the Planet and our support of BC Parks Foundation, we've worked to connect our love of BC's natural beauty with meaningful environmental action.
Today, selected products in our shop continue to contribute to BC Parks Foundation.
Because whether it's a mountain landscape on a greeting card, a bear on a T-shirt, or a beautiful photograph of a favourite hiking trail, we believe the places that inspire these designs deserve our care, too.
Indigenous art has a special place at All The Good Things From BC.
We believe the world is always better with more authentic Indigenous art in it.
And we believe that the artists behind these beautiful designs deserve to be recognized, respected, and celebrated.
That's why artist attribution matters so much to us. We make a point of sharing artists' names and providing opportunities for customers to learn more about the people behind the designs.
We also recognize that celebrating Indigenous art comes with a responsibility to continue learning about the history, cultures, and experiences of Indigenous Peoples.
One of the ways we've chosen to give back is through our support of the Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS).
IRSSS is a non-profit organization that provides support to residential school survivors, their families, and communities. Its services include counselling, cultural support, referrals, and other programs that support healing and well-being.
AGBC donates 5% of Indigenous-designed product sales to IRSSS.
It's one way we can contribute to an organization doing important work while continuing to learn, listen, and build a business grounded in respect.
We know that meaningful reconciliation requires much more than donations. But we believe every thoughtful action has a place.
Giving back also means looking after the communities closest to home.
As a business with strong roots in Whistler and the Sea to Sky region, we're always happy when we can support local organizations doing good work.
One of those organizations is PAWS — Pemberton Animal Well-being Society.
We've been supporting its annual Santa PAWS fundraiser every year, contributing prizes to help raise funds for animals in need.
It's a wonderful community initiative, and one we're always happy to be part of.
After all, our love for BC doesn't stop at its mountains, forests, and beautiful landscapes. It extends to the animals we share this place with, too.
Over the years, we've also had opportunities to contribute to other causes.
In 2023, for example, we donated prizes to a silent auction supporting The Northern Rockies Child Development Association.
These contributions might seem small compared with what larger companies can offer, but we believe local businesses have an important role to play in supporting community initiatives.
Sometimes giving back means making a financial contribution. Other times, it's donating products, helping a fundraiser, or simply showing up when your community needs support.
And we hope to keep finding new ways to do just that.
Building a business that gives back has been a learning experience from the very beginning.
We've made changes, adjusted our approach, and discovered new opportunities to support the causes we care about.
And we're still learning.
From choosing products with care and improving our packaging to supporting artists, environmental conservation, and local community initiatives, we try to make thoughtful decisions wherever we can.
We don't believe a small business has to change the whole world. But we do believe it can make a positive difference in its own little corner of it.
And that's what we'll keep working towards.
Every time you choose to shop with All The Good Things From BC, you're supporting more than our little independent business.
You're helping us continue working with artists and makers, sharing their stories, and contributing to causes that matter to us.
We couldn't do any of it without you.
So, from our little shop to you, thank you for choosing Good Things that give back.
With gratitude,
Adela Beranek
All The Good Things From BC
