If you want to do better business, get socially conscious

There was an interesting article in the Washington Post this week that examined the relationship between small businesses that were growing in profit terms and their proactive involvement in social issues that resonated with customers. It appears that social consciousness is becoming an even greater issue when it comes to consumers' shopping and dining habits. According to the 2018 Cox Business Consumer Pulse on Small Businesses, seventy-one percent of survey respondents said they would spend more money at a small business if it supported a positive social or environmental cause. And interestingly, 68 percent of consumers think small business owners should openly communicate the causes they support, to give consumers the opportunity to make informed purchasing decisions in line with their own social and/or environmental views. It’s not just about connecting with customers - getting socially conscious as a business can also help in the recruitment and retention of top talent, increase employee morals, attract capital and improve brand equity. This is definitely an era where businesses are expected to make a positive social contribution in the world, not just a profit, and entrepreneurs are leading from the front!