Balancing Profit and Purpose – feat Studio Republic

Our Q&A with Jack De Wolf, Managing Director at Studio Republic.

The purpose of our series “Balancing Profit and Purpose” is to feature fellow B Corporations, to hopefully inspire many more to join the movement. We showcase those companies that meet rigorously verified standards of social and environmental performance, those that use business as a force for good. As a collective, B Corps are accelerating a global cultural shift to redefine success in business and build a more inclusive and sustainable economy.

Tony @ ADLIB: For some background information, who are you as a business and what makes your business offering unique?

Jack De Wolf: Studio Republic is a creative and digital agency that empowers charities and non-profits with powerful campaigns and digital experiences.

What makes us unique is our dedication to having a tangible, positive impact on individual lives, communities and the environment, which is why we only work with organisations that align with our business values. We want to use our voices and skills to challenge the norm and push to make a difference – whether that’s in sustainability, social justice, or something else entirely.

We’ve been in the business for 17 years, and proudly B Corp for the last two of them.

Tony @ ADLIB: What got you interested in joining the B Corp movement and what does being a B Corp mean to you?

Jack De Wolf: We established that one of our main motivators was running our business in a sustainable, ethical way. We wanted to do great work for organisations that care, and give them a transparent, honest experience. So we asked ourselves how we could best demonstrate that – and becoming a B Corp was the answer.

Being a B Corp shows our clients, colleagues and partners that we’re serious about the way we do business. It isn’t a box-ticking exercise, it’s borne out of our values, showing our dedication to being a modern business that makes an impact in the right places.

Tony @ ADLIB: Can you share a little bit about your B Corp story, what the process was like for you?

Jack De Wolf: It was a labour of love and a mammoth task for our small team. From beginning to accreditation, it took us about 18 months. In fact, the first time we submitted, we missed the pass mark by a small margin. If anything, this made us respect the process even more. It’s a big commitment, which just shows the dedication of the companies who choose to go for it.

When we achieved B Corp status, we were obviously incredibly proud – but it’s not the end goal. It’s an ongoing mission to hold ourselves accountable and continuously show improvement.

Tony @ ADLIB: In your case, what does it mean for your workers, customers, community and environmental considerations?

Jack De Wolf: Some agencies might see B Corp status as a value add, or giving them a competitive edge. For Studio Republic, it feeds into so much more than that.

It means we naturally attract team members that B Corp resonates with. They know they are working for an agency that values more than simply making money. Similarly, our clients can see that we’re more interested in purpose than profit.

B Corp hugely influences our decisions around our supply chain and partnerships we form, too. It means we’re able to make an even greater impact because we encourage our clients to use those providers – for example, our website hosting partners are sustainable.

Ultimately, B Corp means everyone who comes into contact with us knows we’re dedicated to being forward-thinking, sustainable business.