Spotlight: Zack Steven

Posted on March 17th, 2009 by tim bursch. Filed under spotlight.

Recently I interviewed Zack Steven of buythechange.com - Great insight on integrating social mission and business.

[Tim] Zack, tell me about buythechange.com.

[Zack] buythechange is a new service that makes it easy for people to buy and sell locally with their friends, neighbors and independent businesses. Members can place unlimited ads and events for a year and 1/3 of all membership fees go back to local non-profits, as chosen by each member. buythechange is different because it’s a trusted network of real people, and members receive emails when their friends and neighbors post ads or events which helps build community.

[Tim] Why a social business?

[Zack] When my partners and I (friends since childhood) set out to launch a business together we wanted to create something that not only made money but also made a difference. We wanted to help restore a greater sense of community in our own lives, for our kids and in society at large. We believe that business can be a force for good, and that harnessing the power of capitalism is the greatest opportunity to create social change. We’ve actually coined the term “Fair-Profit” to describe a business model that sustains itself through profits, but not at the undue expense of the resources (human, environmental or otherwise) that are consumed in the process. Profit isn’t bad. It’s a measure of value created and it’s what sustains our economy – government and non-profits are ultimately funded by business profits, in the form of taxes and charitable contributions.

[Tim] How did you get interested in integrating business and social change?

[Zack] The change that we were most interested in was strengthening communities by helping people feel more connected to each other. We think that many aspects of social media and technology have actually resulted in people feeling more isolated from real offline connections, like their neighbors. We’re all better off with a higher level of generalized trust (vs. fear) and buythechange uses social technology to help people connect to the people, places and causes they care about where they live.

Social capital is built when people have informal and spontaneous contact with people they recognize, and buythechange makes that more likely to happen, through commerce. Everyday purchasing decisions have the potential to change the world, if they are informed and conscientious. It’s not just about Green, Organic or Fair Trade, it’s more about local. Buying and selling in a way that builds a relationship or makes a connection. We built buythechange to make it easy for people to buy and sell with friends and neighbors, to attend events where they may see someone they know and to spend their money with local, independent and home-based businesses. Our vision is to power a grassroots movement that harnesses individual social responsibility and capitalism to enrich communities.

[Tim] What is your idea of a career?

[Zack] For me it’s about learning and earning and it’s built on knowledge of self. I’m interested in continually increasing my capacity to create value and putting myself in situations where I can benefit from the value I create. I look for opportunities to grow and contribute and it’s really important to be surrounded by talented people, working on things I’m passionate about. I trust that good things will come from being intentional, working hard and taking risks.

[Tim] Creative income is thinking outside of the normal 9-5 job. What are you doing for creative income?

[Zack] I’m heavily focused on buythechange, but in the past I have done business and financial consulting and earned income from a product I patented. It comes down to identifying a need, and providing a solution people are willing to pay for. My wife is an art teacher who also offers affordable design and color consultation services through www.nudgestudio.com.

[Tim] How can people use buythechange.com in this economy?

[Zack] People can use buythechange to meet their needs, meet their neighbors, and make a difference. It’s a safe and affordable way to sell your goods and services to people you know or have reason to trust, and it’s a great way to find used goods without driving across town. Our site design and automatic delivery of content gives members and their ads high visibility on our network and through organic search results on Google, Yahoo and MSN. People can join free and begin receiving updates on ads and events from their neighborhood, and paid members can feel good about giving back 1/3 of their membership fee to a cause they care about.

[Tim] Lastly, what do you want people to know about you?

[Zack] I’m an inventor and entrepreneur who graduated from Grinnell College with an Art degree. Over the course of my career I’ve come to see business as art. As Andy Warhol said “making money is art and working is art and good business is the best art.” I enjoy the challenge of creating offerings that are simultaneously beautiful, useful and profitable.

Follow Zack on Twitter. Be heard. Tell us what you think.