In this episode I interview Cayla Mackey and Dave Pittman from Unicorn Goods, whose tagline is ‘the world’s largest vegan store’, in Rhode Island, New England.
The couple have run several social enterprises including Nashville’s culture magazine Native, and Taco Bike, a certified organic restaurant.
They started Unicorn Goods, an online store, in November 2014, offering a large range of vegan goods across a number of categories using an affiliate model.
CEO Cayla oversees the overall vision and strategy of the company, while CCO Dave, a former creative director of advertising company Young & Rubicam, oversees the creative vision of the brand. Dave is an industrial designer focusing on vegan manufacturing and animal-free design at the Rhode Island School of Design.
In this interview Cayla and Dave talk about:
• Why they chose to use an affiliate model for the business and the pros and cons of this approach
• Why they made the company a public benefit corporation
• How collaboration and community building, including the creation of their brand ambassador program, the ‘Unicorn Squad’ has contributed to the success of the business
• How using interns and volunteers in an ethical, win-win scenario can be an affordable way to build your business
• The benefits of being a PETA-approved business
• The key questions to ask yourself when considering starting a business
• And much more
Visit the Unicorn Goods online store
Brands mentioned in vegan business news roundup:
Hackney Downs Vegan Market (Event page) and information
Food Fight!
Miam! vegan bakery
Ten Forward
Star Truck
RESOURCES:
My Online PR Course for Vegan Business Owners & Entrepreneurs: Vegans in the Limelight
My book Vegan Ventures: Start and Grow an Ethical Business
Follow Vegan Business Media on:
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Connect with me personally at:
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
view more