The brands trying to change the world - Chris Baker, Serious Tissues & Change Please
Nov 6, 2024
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Chris Baker, an award-winning advertising and social change strategist, shares his journey as the founder of Serious Tissues and Change Please. He discusses how Serious Tissues combats climate change by planting trees with every purchase, while Change Please empowers the homeless through barista training. The conversation emphasizes the transformative power of purpose-driven branding and the potential of small businesses to inspire large-scale change. Baker also highlights the creativity and humor integral to effective social enterprise marketing.
Challenger brands, like Serious Tissues and Change Please, leverage socially and environmentally responsible practices to cultivate meaningful consumer connections and drive societal change.
Strategic partnerships and community-building efforts, exemplified by collaborations with established brands, are essential for small change-focused companies to amplify their impact and reach.
The concept of obsolescence in traditional business models stresses the need for innovation as consumer preferences evolve, urging brands to adapt or risk becoming outdated.
Deep dives
The Emergence of Change Brands
Challenger brands, particularly those focused on making a positive environmental and social impact, are gaining traction in the marketplace. These brands challenge traditional business models by emphasizing sustainable practices and social responsibility. The podcast features several examples, including a coffee brand called Change Please that trains homeless individuals as baristas, showcasing how altering purchasing practices can bring about significant societal change. The central message is that shifting consumer behavior, even in small increments, can lead to substantial global change.
The Power of Community and Partnerships
Building a community and establishing partnerships are crucial strategies for change brands to thrive in competitive markets. Collaborations with large companies, like Nespresso partnering with Change Please, demonstrate how shared goals can amplify impact and increase brand visibility. These partnerships also provide essential funding and resources, enabling smaller brands to scale their operations. By working alongside other like-minded brands, they not only gain exposure but also create a collective movement towards sustainable practices.
The Concept of Obsolescence in Business Models
The title of the book, 'Obsolete,' reflects the idea of driving innovation in business models to surpass outdated practices. The podcast discusses how successful challenger brands create new paradigms that render conventional models impractical and inefficient. This concept is illustrated through various examples, such as toilet paper brands that are shifting towards recycled products, encouraging more sustainable consumer choices. The notion is that as consumer preferences evolve, brands that fail to adapt will become obsolete, highlighting the urgency for innovation.
Consumer Behavior and the Tipping Point for Change
Understanding consumer behavior is critical for change brands seeking to make a meaningful impact. Research suggests that achieving just a 3.5% consumer buy-in can create a tipping point for widespread acceptance and change within various markets. The podcast outlines historical examples like the boycott during apartheid in South Africa, which substantiates the idea that even small movements can drive significant societal shifts. By appealing to consumers' values and integrating positive impact into everyday purchasing decisions, brands can catalyze larger societal transformations.
The Role of Creative Disruption in Innovation
Creative disruption is vital for brands aiming to innovate successfully in today’s marketplace. The podcast emphasizes that while large companies often focus on incremental innovation, smaller change brands can adopt more audacious strategies that challenge the status quo. By leveraging unique branding, engaging storytelling, and bold marketing approaches, these brands can capture market share while inspiring consumer loyalty. For instance, brands like Liquid Death and Tony's Chocolonely exemplify how distinctiveness and a strong social mission can differentiate a brand in a crowded marketplace.
Chris Baker is an award-winning advertising and social change strategist turned entrepreneur. He is the Founder & CEO of Serious Tissues, a toilet roll brand that fights climate change and deforestation by planting trees with every sale. Over 1.2m trees have been planted in just three years. He is also the Co-Founder of Change Please, a coffee brand that has helped hundreds of homeless people off the streets by training them as baristas, and is available in 23 countries. Change Please was named the World’s Leading Social Enterprise in 2018 and in Marketing Week’s 100 Most Disruptive Brands in the World. He has spent 20 years working on the world’s biggest brands including Unilever, Pepsico, Boots, Sky and Alpro whilst winning over 100 strategic and creative awards along the way.
00:00 - Intro 02:09 - The premise of his book 04:27 - Why Chris called the book Obsolete 06:41 - Making positive change with small businesses 18:32 - Being inspired by change brands 21:53 - How to win against established brands 27:03 - The advantages of purpose 29:31 - How Chris started Change Please 32:48 - Measuring the impact of Change Please 36:28 - How change brands can be distinctive 40:14 - Why Tony’s Chocolonely are making an impact 42:06 - Putting change ahead of profits 47:06 - Applying a change mindset to other industries 49:37 - Making an impact commercially and with purpose 52:55 - How Serious Tissues started 55:53 - The power of partnerships 57:49 - Chris’ biggest takeaway from writing Obsolete
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