Our second instalment of “5 Questions with…”  took us on a quest to find small businesses that inspired us.  Here’s what we found:

ZOË Alliance Inc. is a social enterprise that distributes promotional items and corporate gifts. We spoke with founder, Angie Draskovic, to learn how technology is helping her help people and villages around the globe.

1. What’s your elevator pitch?

ZOË Alliance provides gifts and promotional items made by our partners in villages and marginalized communities around the globe.  Our current project partners in Haiti, India, Guatemala, and Ottawa offer corporate premiums and C-Suite gifts that can be affixed with a corporate logo.  Every item comes with a story card that connects the gift recipient to the people and the community that produced the item. 

2. What business challenges keep you up at night?

Ensuring a steady flow of orders into the villages, so that a growing number of people can count on consistent opportunity for work and provide for their families. 

3. What role does technology play in your operations?

Technology is vital to our operations because our partners are literally all around the world and in remote places.  Without the internet, email and Skype, we would simply not be able to quote on customer requirements, approve logo proofs, plan production schedules, or any of the necessary parts of ensuring we deliver quality solutions on time.  

The team here is on the road constantly, so we depend very heavily on our smartphones, texting, and tablets to ensure that we can keep the operations moving along while we are out working with clients.  The tablets are particularly helpful for viewing files that require immediate approval and for sharing images.  They are also a lot lighter and more practical to carry than laptops, which is helpful since we often bring product samples to share with clients.

Technology also helps our clients connect more tangibly with our village partners. There is nothing quite as powerful as actually seeing videos and pictures of women in villages proudly working on your promotional pen, leather portfolio, or lunch bag.

4. How do you stay up to date on technology and industry trends?

I love technology, so I tend to notice when something new comes on the market when I receive updates from Rogers, or when my friends and colleagues start using something.  I always like to learn about the new application or device and consider how it might help my business.  

5. What one quote inspires or defines your business approach and why?

 ”I dwell in Possibility
A fairer House than prose
More numerous of Windows
Superior for Doors”

The quote is an excerpt from Emily Dickinson’s poem “I dwell in Possibility.” At ZOË Alliance we dwell in the possibility that we can make a big dent in poverty by simply directing 10% of our routine gift and promotional purchases toward items produced in villages.  We dwell in the possibility that each of us can actually be a part of this and all we need to do is choose the window or door that best suits us.

Are you a small or medium business owner interested in being featured on RedBoard Biz? Email us at redboardbiz.feedback@rci.rogers.com and tell us why.

Haley Morrison is a regular contributor to RedBoard Biz.