Dennis shares how implementing a living wage increased employee satisfaction and profitability.

1. Impact Unleashed
Great Minds. Innovative Ideas. An Industry Evolved.
Accomplishing More With More
Core Values and a Living Wage

2. Impact Unleashed
Great Minds. Innovative Ideas. An Industry Evolved.
A Quick Background on Our Company
Core Team + 2 Brands
PAW5 + Mobile Outfitters
Common Thread:
Problem-solving products and Core Values

3. Impact Unleashed
Great Minds. Innovative Ideas. An Industry Evolved.
Rapid Growth in 2015
40% revenue growth from 2014
Production staff increased from 5 to 8, plus 3 temps
Average wage for entry level employees: $9.84

4. Impact Unleashed
Great Minds. Innovative Ideas. An Industry Evolved.
Growth Was a Cultural Low Point
Why are we doing what we’re doing? What’s the point of growth?
Everyone – from founders to employees, was not fulfilled / happy
At the same time we launched PAW5 and decided to start with purpose.

5. Impact Unleashed
Great Minds. Innovative Ideas. An Industry Evolved.
Turnaround: Living Wage + Culture
We made our Core Values as a team, and decided growth would be
meaningful to everyone financially and emotionally:
Help each other, and allow others to help you
Integrity, in everything we do
Thoughtfulness – put thought into our work, and be thoughtful people
Execute – we’re here to get things done

6. Impact Unleashed
Great Minds. Innovative Ideas. An Industry Evolved.
Turnaround: Living Wage + Culture
We were transparent with our goals:
We want to love our jobs
We want to pay a living wage
We want the company to grow in revenue and profit
…What do you want?

7. Impact Unleashed
Great Minds. Innovative Ideas. An Industry Evolved.
The Outcome:
2015
8 Employees
3 Temps
$9.84 average (Entry Level)

8. Impact Unleashed
Great Minds. Innovative Ideas. An Industry Evolved.
The Outcome:
2015 2016
8 Employees  7 Employees
3 Temps
$9.84 average (Entry Level)

9. Impact Unleashed
Great Minds. Innovative Ideas. An Industry Evolved.
The Outcome:
2015 2016
8 Employees  7 Employees
3 Temps  No Temps
$9.84 average (Entry Level)

10. Impact Unleashed
Great Minds. Innovative Ideas. An Industry Evolved.
The Outcome:
2015 2016
8 Employees  7 Employees
3 Temps  No Temps
$9.84 average (Entry Level)  $13.50 average

11. Impact Unleashed
Great Minds. Innovative Ideas. An Industry Evolved.
The Outcome:
2015 2016
8 Employees  7 Employees
3 Temps  No Temps
$9.84 average (Entry Level)  $13.50 average
Revenue increased another 22%

12. Impact Unleashed
Great Minds. Innovative Ideas. An Industry Evolved.
The Outcome:
2015 2016
8 Employees  7 Employees
3 Temps  No Temps
$9.84 average (Entry Level)  $13.50 average
Revenue increased another 22% / Profit multiplied.

13. Impact Unleashed
Great Minds. Innovative Ideas. An Industry Evolved.

14. Impact Unleashed
Great Minds. Innovative Ideas. An Industry Evolved.

15. Impact Unleashed
Great Minds. Innovative Ideas. An Industry Evolved.

16. Impact Unleashed
Great Minds. Innovative Ideas. An Industry Evolved.
Takeaways From My Experience:
Start with culture
Be transparent – if you get culture right, then we all want
the same thing.
Business isn’t a zero-sum game

17. Impact Unleashed
Great Minds. Innovative Ideas. An Industry Evolved.
...I didn’t come up with this stuff
How Great Leaders Inspire Action by Simon Sinek (TED Talk)
Scaling Up by Verne Harnish
B Corp Handbook
The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz