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Press Release: Eclectic CO. Wins NI4SI Social Impact Startup of the Year
Jul
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO – The National Institute for Social Impact (formerly The Colorado Institute for Social Impact) has awarded Eclectic CO the 2021 PRISM Award for Social Impact Startup of the Year. This prestigious award celebrates startup businesses (three-years-old or less) and entrepreneurs “that use the powerful economic engine of capitalism for good, not merely for gain. Referred to as the Fourth Sector, these Social Impact Businesses and Social Entrepreneurs are changing the way business is done.” Nominees are judged by a team of social impact authorities across academia, funders, nonprofits and business.
Eclectic CO was established in November 2018, initially as a “pop up” holiday retail concept, and has since developed into co-operative retail boutiques that exist to reduce barriers to market for quality, sustainable, and handmade goods.
Currently, Eclectic CO houses over 80 local artists, makers, vendors and curators at its two locations in Colorado Springs: the flagship store in downtown COS, and a new second location in Old Colorado City. As a social impact company, Eclectic CO serves as an incubator for small businesses of all kinds to be profitable and have prime retail space in some of the most prominent shopping areas in the city. Eclectic’s co-op commission is less than 7%, meaning that their vendors take home over 93% of their profits which is quite a unique structure for a retail co-op.
Additionally, Eclectic CO practices social impact by hosting many social impact businesses. Over 1/3 of the small businesses housed among the two co-op boutiques have a social impact component, including keeping waste out of the waste stream, up-cycling materials, donating to social and environmental justice causes, employing under-served populations, providing fair wages for workers, and more. Eclectic CO gives preference to businesses that have a stated social impact mission, and aims to consistently increase the ways that the shops and the vendors are giving back.
Co-owners Peri Bolts and Ani Trejo Barrington are constantly striving for excellence in their business practices, customer interactions, and social impact. “We want every person that walks through our doors to know our heart for community, environment, and individuals as the complex beings that they are. We lead with compassion always – something that is both beautiful and difficult when you are protecting the interests of so many diverse artists. This is at the heart of the growth and development that we foresee for our future. It must remain at the heart of the Eclectic brand, which is something we are both looking forward to and challenged by as we project our growth trajectory. We know that having the right servant-leaders in place is the most important thing!” shared Founder Peri Bolts.
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National Institute for Social Impact (NI4SI): The National Institute for Social Impact is a nonprofit organization that educates and evaluates the Fourth Sector of our economy. This new sector blends the powerful economic engine of capitalism, and the heart of the community to create massive value through social impact. | ni4si.org
Eclectic CO: Eclectic CO. strives to reduce barriers to market for quality sustainable and handmade craft goods. It is a co-operative space that provides support, education and camaraderie to makers and buttress the communities we live in. Eclectic CO. supports local artisans, healthy local economies, and social impact enterprises to promote social justice and environmental improvement. | shopeclecticco.com
