Every gift from Packed with Purpose counts for the community.
It seems like a no-brainer that gift-giving at meetings and incentives can be so much more than the products themselves. But when Leeatt Rothschild founded Packed with Purpose back in 2017, she saw “a disconnect between the gifts companies were sending and the impact they were trying to create.” Since then, Packed with Purpose has grown to rank in the top 10 percent of Inc. 5000’s fastest-growing private companies. Gifts are curated from carefully selected “impact partners” who make a meaningful contribution to at least one of six areas: women’s empowerment, sustainability & environment, youth advancement, workforce development, health & well-being, and diverse & women-owned businesses. For example, chocolate that creates jobs for veterans, popcorn that supports sustainable farming and savory treats that open doors to those with barriers to employment. Included with each gift is an impact booklet that tells their stories.
Prevue recently caught up with Rothchild to learn more about Packed with Purpose and how she partnered with Shopify to send gifts to 1,400 employees prior to an annual company-wide virtual Town Hall meeting.
Prevue: Tell me more about your backstory founding Packed with Purpose.
Leatt Rothchild, Founder and CEO, Packed with Purpose: My “aha!” moment in 2017 happened while serving as a consultant, advising Fortune 500 Chief Sustainability Officers and marketing executives on maximizing the social impact and financial returns of their CSR efforts. As the story goes, it was a cold December day in Chicago and our office was filled with the typical holiday gifts of popcorn tins, baskets of treats, etc. There was such an obvious disconnect between the gifts companies were sending and the impact they were trying to create.
That’s when I realized there was a gap in the market and that I could help companies gift better. By curating gifts with products sourced from purpose-driven companies I could make it easy and engaging to do good. By sharing the stories of impact behind each gift, I would create a more meaningful experience for senders and recipients alike. Because corporations were placing a greater emphasis on CSR, ESG, sustainability and being a good corporate citizen, I knew this offering would resonate. Our gifts fill a gap in the meetings and incentive space because event planners are looking for ways to make their gifts stand out and appeal to recipients—be it as an amenity gift, a speaker thank you, or a welcome gift.
Prevue: What was the goal of the Shopify gifting program?
Rothchild: We partnered with Shopify to curate a gift—customized to their liking and Shopify branded—that would resonate with employees and showcase Shopify’s commitment to sourcing from, and powering, small businesses. The recipients were employees from all departments: Payments, Banking, Shipping, Transactions, Marketplaces and Retail. The intention was to thank everyone in the entire company for their hard work with a gift that reflected Shopify’s values.
Prevue: How did the gifting process work?
Rothchild: Gifts were delivered to employees’ home addresses prior to the Town Hall and they were asked to open the gifts during the Town Hall as a way to build camaraderie and thank them for a tremendous group effort. The meeting began with several Shopify Executives speaking and I was then brought in to share details about Packed with Purpose, their gift, and the impact it created.
Prevue: What did the gift baskets consist of and how did they impact the community?
Rothchild: The gift baskets contained a Shopify-branded water bottle, A Shopify- branded notebook, and an assortment of snacks and treats that do good across the United States. A few examples of impact behind the products include a bamboo water bottle made from natural, sustainable materials; cookies produced by a Black and woman-owned business that supports food-insecure people by providing meals and resources to children and families in need; chocolate crafted with fair trade practices that support sustainable cocoa farming; and gourmet nuts that support animal welfare initiatives by donating a portion of company profits to organizations that rescue, rehabilitate and find homes for homeless animals.
