This is Brad, founder of Good Wave. I am so excited to share a few fun updates with you! Whether you have been following us since day one (only a few years ago..) or one of our most recent customers throughout the US, Canada, Australia and most recently the UK, we appreciate you for sharing this journey with us.
Coming from the social sector, building a socially conscious business has always been part of my North Star for Good Wave. From TOMS' give back model, to Patagonia’s 1% for the Planet initiative and Marko Foam recycled surfboard foam blanks, there are so many ways to give more than we take in the outdoor and apparel industry. But sometimes, as with many hard decisions, that’s the problem.. we don’t know where to start.
Our mission has and continues to be to get kids and families outside. I consider opening up otherwise intimidating industries (such as surfing) to beginners as well as driving forward efforts for outdoor equity (i.e. expanding access to the outdoors for underrepresented socioeconomic and ethnic groups) in line with this mission.
For this reason, I am SO stoked to share that beginning October 1, 2021, Good Wave is joining Patagonia’s 1% for the Planet initiative, committing at least 1% of our annual sales to environmental charities regardless of profitability.
This profitability part is very important to us. We’re a bootstrapped business, meaning we don’t have any outside investors as of writing today. Every product we develop and launch is funded from company profits or on credit, and every dollar counts. When we launch a new product, we typically are in the red—but that doesn’t stop our giving or impact.
Amid massive greenwashing in the outdoor industry, I’ll be the first to admit that our business is not perfect. Most products we offer can be traced to some sort of single use plastic, whether in construction or packaging. If you ask me, “What’s the one thing that keeps you up at night?” this is my answer. How can we continue to offer the very best in outdoors products while leaving a better planet and community for our kids?
To answer this, I’ll bring back our mission for outdoor equity. Good Wave exists to increase access to the outdoors, with all of its compounding mental, emotional and physical benefits. Nobody should be denied this outdoor access due to their socioeconomic or ethnic background.
As a small part of our commitment, I’m thrilled to announce a matching donation to Urban Surf 4 Kids’ Giving Tuesday campaign, doubling the impact for the next $500 donations!
Double your impact until 11/30 11:59pm PST! Donate here: https://fundraise.urbansurf4kids.org/campaign/because-they-are-worth-it/c352384
Urban Surf 4 Kids provides opportunities for healing and empowerment through surf therapy, mentorship, and life skills achievement programs for youth in foster and at-risk communities. I had the opportunity to connect with this nonprofit years ago in San Diego, and was as excited then as now about their programming and approach at tackling the mental health crisis and outdoor equity through surfing.
While we have a long way to go, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the support.
I invite you to connect with us on social as well as email me at brad [at] goodwave.co to continue the conversation!
Instagram: @goodwave_co
Facebook: Goodwave.co
Stay safe and salty,
Brad
Good Wave
