I hereby coin the term "causumption,"
signifying the purchasing of products or services
from which profits help the world
from which profits help the world
by contribution to a cause.
Cause + Consumption = Causumption.
The most common causes:
poverty, environment, education, health care, human rights.
I declare the Right to Causumption,
as the future model of business,
a hybrid evolution of
the "social entrepreneur" business model.
In a speech, Mahatma Gandhi said
that the customer is the purpose of work
and that he is not outside the business but part of it,
that the customer does a favor by letting you serve him.
(South Africa, 1890)
Causumption lets this reciprocal action flourish and thrive.
It allows the consumer choices to provide social influence and change.
Cause + Consumption = Causumption.
The most common causes:
poverty, environment, education, health care, human rights.
I declare the Right to Causumption,
as the future model of business,
a hybrid evolution of
the "social entrepreneur" business model.
In a speech, Mahatma Gandhi said
that the customer is the purpose of work
and that he is not outside the business but part of it,
that the customer does a favor by letting you serve him.
(South Africa, 1890)
Causumption lets this reciprocal action flourish and thrive.
It allows the consumer choices to provide social influence and change.
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| The Consumer as a chart |
50 comments:
I agree with this right and would like more companies to get involved with contributions to different causes, but now I ask this, if a drug-dealer takes his money earned from selling illegal drugs and gives back to his community, buying toys for the kids or school supplies, feeding the homeless is that consider causumption?
Carlos G.
I agree with this right because both the companies and people will benefit from a good cause.
-M.Quintanilla
I agree with this right as it being the future to businesses because this will help out with a good cause.
A. Lazo
Well Said Carlos. I would have to agree with you.
Sarah M
I feel that this Right is ideal for a future society, but in today's society, people would be too busy to worry about themselves and making a profit than the good for the consumer.MCL
It's a good point that people in today's society dont care to help out the economy. It's all about the profit. And it's sad because our economy and the consumers would really benefit from the Right to Causumption. C.M.A.
A recent study has shown that, increasingly, consumers want to purchase products that will also help support causes they personally care about ([1], [2]). As this trend continues to grow, more businesses may feel enticed to participate, leading to more support for these causes.
Dan M.
“Causumption” sound like a good idea, but our ultimate goal should not be profit, rather customer satisfaction. Wood kitchen cabinets’ makers, distributors and salespersons are destroying what little bit is left of the forest in the world in order to make money. It is a very dangerous path letting businesses whose goals are centered only on profit control the world and ignore our environment. It’s about time we stop using cars fueled by gasoline. Car manufacturers should be producing new cars that are cost efficient and use solar energy in order to solve the problem with air pollution in the environment. By: LBJR
"Causumption" is a great wait of giving back and helping the world. Today many organizations and business tend to give an "extra" to good causes, but just to raise there sales or profits. They should focus on helping the communities, instead of getting themselves richer everyday.
I agree with the right to Causumption. As a healthcare worker, I'm drawn to products that contribute to the study for new medications for a variety of diseases. I think that its great that many products are moving towards this trend. A small donation from companies is better then no donation at all.
- Ma Mo
I am totally supportive of "Causumption". By companies helping the needy though the products they sell, they make it easier for customers to help out these people. Instead of sending out money on the mail, the community help by buying products they will use and that way they don't feel pressured to give a donation.
"Causumption" would be helpful to everyone. Such as the shoes TOMS, every shoe you purchase TOMS will donate a pair of shoes for a person in need. "One for One." They state. There should be more companies like this that contribute more to the world.
-Alli Brecht
According to the chart there are several aspects that influence a consumer. Among these are beliefs and social influences. Studies have shown that people are more prone to act in a humanly way when surrounded by people. For example a person is more willing to give to a certain cause if his or her peers acknowledge it. Therefore companies respond to this phenomenon by marketing products that “support” a cause, when really they are benefiting from it.
LC
I think that this whole concept of "causumption" is genius. What nonprofits want most is to help people who need it and what people want most is to feel good about themselves. Causumption also raises awareness about important issues and allows businesses to make a profit as long as they endorse a cause.
-A.B.
A good economy requires the right to causumption
Stefan H.
I believe in this right because business is money and money makes the world continue. However I feel that huge corporations should not exist because it is destroying small business. Wal-Mart is fierce company that continues to expand and makes “causumption” easier. Big corporations should help out more to try to eliminate poverty in other parts of the world.
Angel M.
I am for the right to causumption and i have actually participated. For instance, for breast cancer awareness, i have bought water bottles, shirts and pins that help out the cause. Mainly because my great grandmother got diagnosed with breast cancer long ago. I have also bought shoes from TOM which if you buy a pair they send a pair to needy children in another country. G.A.
I am completely for the right of causumption. Causumption is a way of giving back to those in need. It has helped so many people and I hope that it only continues to become better. Hopefully we can find ways of diversifying causumption in the future.
N.Av
There have been many examples of this right popping up all around us. Shoes, bags, and food are only some examples of it. It's refreshing to see people making a conscious decision to help out others. I hope this not only continues but expands to incorporate more businesses and consumers.
Sheeda M.
Considering I read the book Eco-Barons I felt as if this was the perfect blog post to my book. I feel as if all business owners would just give to our community and economy and help out it will defiently make this a better place.
-Krystal Garcia
I think this is a great right and applaud the businesses that have made contributions based on the principles of this right. I believe that the society as a whole is beginning to value the same sense of ethics which can be great for everyone. The only thing that alarms me is that as more business communities adopt "causumption", will it become a safety net to those that are less fortunate and in return create an inevitable boom to the "right" to laziness.
~COL
I agree with this right. Toms shoes!!! You purchase a $60 shoe, and they donate a percentage to children in Africa. I give prop's to non-profit organizations who help those in need. It takes great people to devote their time and money to help those who cannot help themselves. If i could make a life changing donation that would make a major difference, i would. I just give blood for now.
Alexis Herrero
I've always been for a good cause, but this is an almost certain impossibility. As harsh as it may sound, the world of business will never consider selflessness over profit, and maybe that’s why things are the way they are.
Javier H.
I agree with Javier. Even if the company says they donate a percentage towards a cause, the percentage will not suffice. I have heard of companies that start off with good will but end up using most of the money for the production of what it is they are selling for the cause. I agree with the right to causumption only if companies do what they say they will do. Furthermore, I am curious as to the answer to Carlos's question.
-D.E.C.
I agree with the right to causumption. Organic food is a good example of causumption because it is healthy for the environment and it is healthy for the people who use it. It is also good for the company who sells it, it is almost like killing two birds with one stone, both the company the producer and the consumer get what they need in an Eco-friendly way.
Chelsea M.
There is no doubt that there are many living beings out there that need all the help that society can get for them, but there is only so much one person or one group of people can do for those in need. The right to causumption would allow us to collect the necessary tools to assist a vast number of people, animals, and even the environment. Therefore, I am all for this right and if it was up to me, I will make this a law that every existing company in the world would have to comply. D.C.R
I agree to this right. I think is a good idea because is contributing to a good cause and at the end of the day everybody benefits from it. (LCL)
Why not make causumption a law that any business who has revenues over a certain amount must spend a certain percentage towards a good cause. Another option could be having a structure like tax brackets for businesses to contribute to causumption.
I agree with the right to causumption because it's a great way for people to give while at the same time getting something in return. Although it's not such a great thing that some of us are sort of selfish in that way, in the end, giving to that specific cause is all that really matters. Etel
A cause + consumption = Cause and Effect. For every action their is a reaction. What we consume is what we produce, or for every seed we plant, it grows . The right to causumption is black and white and very literal. Sometimes our government takes so many different approaches that it forgets the right to simplicity and complicates the right to causumption. Thus, we can never help the world.
-G.R.
I agree with this right and I am seeing more and more businesses catching on to it too. Take TOMS shoes for example, they sell people stylish looking shoes and when a person purchases a pair of shoes, a free pair is given to a child in need. Every company should join in on this new way of marketing. SJB
I declare this the age of Causumption. It is heart-warming to see how a show like "Extreme Makeover" is producing yet at the same time, giving back to the community and the needy. There are many other great companies like the ones mentioned in the comments above (TOMS shoes, Breast Cancer products) that are showing concern and compassion for the less fortunate in a global effort.
-Ana DM
We live to create, if we can not sell our products then what good is our creations. What good is our minds if we cant put them up for the greater good of the society. I also declare the right to causumption, in a world filled with imagination and creativity such as this one what else can we use those powers for? if not used to create products or services. We are not dolls we are all self thinking human beans we build we create and we triumph. - J.J.V.
I agree with causumption, but with so many selfish and prude people out there how much of it has been a success, and especially in a society such as ours? What can we do to strengthen the efforts?
L.R.
The right to causumption is a visionary right. We are consumers and if by consuming we can help people in need we should get informed and consume the products that causumption companies manufacture. A.L.
It is my belief that more businesses should join this synergy trend for the better good of our country, and for the entire world. Countries that are less fortunate than us - where a glass of clean water, shoes, food, medicine - is a luxury. These are individual humans like you and I - that can be our mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, daughters, sons, and so forth. It's an innovative way to contribute - to such needed causes such as education and health, to name a few. In my opinion, a country is only as strong as their people - we must provide today, if we want a better world for our future generations to live in. - Mystic
I do agree with the right to causumption. What the consumer does should provoke social influence. It forces society to adjust to the changing times.
S. Jones
I like your "invention" of this right. It is very true what Gandhi states, I believe the consumer is the most important part of a "business". I also believe Gandhi meant by a company, business et cetera serving others they are doing good. When they do good, they receive good. So the consumer is actually doing them a favor -MV
In a perfect world “causumption” would be great! Unfortunately “causumption” will never work because big corporations are too worried about profit margins, and making the rich richer to ever help the lower and middle class society out.
J.M
To contribute in the purchase of products or services does not have anything wrong as long as it is not excessive.Consumption is very important to keep the economy of a country flowing and let businesses the opportunity to grow and contribute to a good cause.
~MSM15
I agree with this right because as the consumer purchases something for their benefit, they give back in some way to the community. It is a win win for all the parties involved.
-ACA
I agree with this right, our generation now is all about helping others. Its about time a word was created, causumption.
CR
“Causumption” sounds like a well thought out plan but I believe there are too many loop holes in this proposal that need to be worked out before it can become efficient.
P.Picone
The idea in writing sounds amazing, but this idea could be interpreted in different ways. Like Carlos G. stated in the comment above, what if a drug dealer used his money for a good cause, would that be considered causumption?
Shani A.
This right has a good and bad side to it. I agree with the fact that its a great idea for people to donate money to a cause, and heck why not do it while your shopping. But I disagree with the idea of a company using a cause just to sell more products. To me it depends on how much the company is really supporting the cause before I will buy a cause related product.
I agree with this right. I personally believe this "causumption" mentality is going to open new doors to people in need, to business, and the world. To me, our society should support brands and companies such as TOMS Shoes, McDonald's, Pepsi, American Express, Disney, Target, and many other companies committed to causes. I think they help to bring GOOD-ness to this world through their contribution, to customers, and causes alike. And at the end of the day, everyone wins. The very important thing is that these companies are GIVING and collaborating to a cause; this contribution, even if it's little compared to the profit they make, goes to needy people who pray for help. Also bringing a sensation of generosity and satisfaction to the contributor, and a positive impact and most likely happiness to the final beneficiary.
MVTH
To comment on the question Carlos asked, I do believe it is causumption. Simply because he is helping the community versus helping himself. Therefore, it is for a good cause. "The ends justify the means." J.F.
Causumption is a good idea, however, we mustn't forget the greed of corporate America. Urban Outfitters donates 10 cents for every shopping bag you deny to Habitat for Humanity, PETCO donates canned cat food to shelters for every can a consumer purchases. In retail, the mark up price is three times the price it was bought for, if not even more, couldn't coporations donate more since they're making so much?
Monica C
This is a great idea for the reason that businesses need the customers and vice versa. I think that many had benefit from this right because some companies have started to do this and we have seen the commercials and ads saying that if we consume their product they as a company will use part of their profit to help out the charity they lend a hand to. I do agree with the right to “causumption”. O.V.
This right would help our society a great deal. It takes away from the greed that we all have and make it more of community effort. -ABL
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