Why we’re doing this
(or, a manifesto of sorts)
Like a lot of folks, we enjoy shopping.
As a social activity, shopping gets us out into the various neighborhoods in our city, allowing us to connect with other people along the way. As a cultural excursion, it gives us a chance to discover what’s new and interesting in the world. And, of course, we derive some joy from finding just the right gift for someone, or for ourselves.
At the same time, there’s an element to shopping that we find quite troubling. We buy things that appeal to us – we love a product’s styling, for example – though we may have little idea of where a product comes from. What materials went into its manufacture? Did the wood used to make that chair contribute to deforestation in Asia? Were toxic chemicals used to create the lustrous finish? The people who actually fabricated the product – were they paid a fair wage and provided a safe, comfortable environment in which to do so? How far did the product have to come in order to get to the store, and how much fuel was used in that process?
And what of the lifespan of the products we buy? Eventually – sooner or later, but eventually – a product will outlive its useful life. What then? Does it get thrown away? Is it made such that it’ll sit in the landfill for hundreds (or even thousands) of years before it degrades? And in going through that process, will it release toxins into the environment?
These are all some pretty heavy thoughts, and they can really sap the joy from a fun day of shopping.
The fact is that many people are at least somewhat aware of the sobering factors of our consumptive lifestyle, but that doesn’t keep them (or us, for that matter) from buying things. As a culture, we’re practically bred to be shoppers – it’s a habit that runs deep and strong.
So in looking for a solution to the problems mentioned above, we’re taking a different approach. Instead of asking people to stop shopping (which is, of course, pretty impractical), what if we changed the paradigm of shopping itself? What if we could shop in a place that had already done the challenging thinking for us? A place where we could buy products that are wholly appealing on every level, but that are also manufactured and brought to market in such a way that we didn’t have to feel guilty about buying – or, eventually, disposing of – them?
This is the basis of the idea for Branch, an online store based in San Francisco. To read more about our commitment to sustainability, and what differentiates the products in our collection, see our Sustainability page.
Thanks for visiting. We look forward to hearing from you.
Paul Donald
Founder and President
ps: We’d love to hear from you. Please send your thoughts, suggestions, etc., to feedback@branchhome.com. And if you’d like to stay abreast of new developments at Branch, simply sign up for our free e-newsletter.
Who we are
Paul Donald, President and Co-Founder
Before founding Branch in 2005, Paul spent 12 years in the graphic design and magazine publishing industries. Living and working in New York and then San Francisco, he has helped craft the look and feel for such magazines as Spy, Wired, The Industry Standard and Sunset. He has been a staff designer for Alexander Isley Design; his freelance clients include Chronicle Books and the Long Now Foundation, among others.
Despite his big-city experience, Paul is a Midwesterner at heart – he grew up in small-town Iowa, and his deep appreciation for nature is a result of the many summers he spent working in area cornfields.
Tracy Brien, Co-Founder
In addition to her savvy business skills, Tracy brings to Branch an extensive knowledge of environmental issues and sustainable, small-scale community development. From 1989 through 1998 she worked in the non-profit sector for organizations including Greenpeace, the International Rivers Network, and International Development Exchange.
In 1998 Tracy changed her career path so as to apply her technical, business and selling skills in the internet industry. Since then, she has worked for IDG, West Law and Jupitermedia. Along the way, she has been involved in many local community development efforts aimed at educating low-income and incarcerated adults in the Bay Area. Tracy has led program efforts within a number of local organizations, including the Bay Area Video Coalition, Glide’s ‘Computers and You’ program, and the San Quentin College Program.
Peter S. Crosby, Advisor
Peter is a social entrepreneur in profit and nonprofit environments with 20 years’ international experience specializing in strategic planning, operations, media and internet technologies. As Founding Partner of AllTogetherNow Consulting, he advises clients such as the James Irvine Foundation, Glide Foundation, CompuMentor, Women’s Technology Cluster, TechSoup.org, Groundspring.org, SeniorNet.org, TechRocks.org, GirlGeeks.com/org, Interra Project and Anglican Malaria Project. In 2004, he also Chaired Social Enterprise Alliance’s 5th Gathering. More at AllTogetherNow.com.
Michael Grossman, Advisor
Michael is a communications consultant who has spent more than 15 years improving product performance for some of the most respected companies in America. His broadest experience is in magazine publishing, though his clients now include online publishers, retailers, non-profits, and more.
Among his dozens of past and current clients are AARP; Absolute Magazine; Garden Design; Harper’s Bazaar; Kiplinger’s; National Geographic; Nerve.com; O, The Oprah Magazine; ReadyMade; Real Simple; Saveur; Sports Illustrated; and Sunset Magazine.
Michael has also held staff positions including Editor-at-Large of Time Inc.; Partner and Creative Director of Meigher Communications; editorial Design Director of Entertainment Weekly; Art Director of the Magazine Development Group for Time Inc., and others.
Rod Harl, Advisor
Rod brings 15 years’ business and startup expertise from a variety of experiences, ranging from engineering at a large pharmaceutical company to technology startups. Rod is a founding partner of Brandwise, Inc., a software and services firm targeting Gift and Home retail supply chains, growing the company from 2 to more than 40 employees, and most recently performing as Vice President Operations.
Rod holds Bachelor of Science degress, Highest Honors, in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Masters of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.
Tracy Wheeler, Advisor
Tracy is a marketing professional with more than 20 years’ experience. She has led account and creative teams for brands such as Polo/Ralph Lauren, Gap and Esprit and has expertise in brand management, creative direction, corporate communications and media relations. In addition, Tracy is an aspiring screenwriter whose screenplays have been short-listed for The Don and Gee Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting and The American Zoetrope Screenplay competition.
Tracy currently serves as President of the Board of Southern Exposure, a Bay Area contemporary arts organization. She enjoys creative problem solving and brainstorming, especially over a good meal.
