Getting to Scale: Growing Your Business Without Selling Out [Paperback]

Ben & Jerry’s. Stonyfield Farm. The Body Shop. Tom’s of Maine. All leaders in the socially responsible business movement—and all eventually sold to mega-corporations. Do values-driven businesses have to choose between staying small, selling off, or selling out?

Jill Bamburg says no. Based on intensive interviews with more than thirty growth-oriented, mission-driven entrepreneurs—including American Apparel, Give Something Back, Wild Planet Toys, Organic Valley Family of Farms, and Village Real Estate—her book explodes the myths of scale from both ends of the spectrum. She debunks both the limiting “small is beautiful” approach as well as the “you have to sell out to grow” mandate.

Focusing on the unique challenges that socially conscious companies face,Getting to Scaleaddresses the issues that affect all businesses:

Production and personnel
Access to capital and markets
Changes in organizational structure
Ownership and control
Corporate culture

Filled with practical and tested advice,Getting to Scaleprovides a blueprint for socially responsible entrepreneurs in any industry who want to benefit larger groups of customers, have a greater positive impact on their communities, and maintain their independence by scaling up their enterprises.Foreword
Preface
Introduction: There IS Another Way
Chapter 1: Mission Comes First
Chapter 2: Any Business Can Do It
Chapter 3: Organic Is the Way to Grow
Chapter 4: Finance Your Independence
Chapter 5: Build Your Values into the Brand
Chapter 6: Match Manufacturing to Mission
Chapter 7: Morph Early and Often
Chapter 8: Form Follows Function
Chapter 9: The Soft Stuff Is the Hardest
Chapter 10: Getting to Scale: Is It Right for You?
Notes
Additional Resources
Index
About the Author“A must-read for any socially and environmentally responsible business or eco-preneur, giving lc2