186 | Ethical Sourcing with Christy Asper, Paper Baristas

Hey friends! Have you ever considered how the products you use on a day-to-day basis are made?

In this episode, I was joined by Christy Asper of Paper Baristas to talk about her journey of finding ethical manufacturing partners.

Paper Baristas is a paper goods company run by Christy and her husband Jon. They started their business to create ethically sourced products by beautiful people for a beautiful cause. They are on a mission to help fight modern-day slavery in the supply chain industry.

Christy shares some of the biggest takeaways she’s encountered on her journey to ethical sourcing. She gives us insight into her biggest accomplishments and how she defines success in her business. Christy also shares her own experience as a Proof to Products Lab member and what big benefits she’s had from being a part of the program.

ON TODAY’S EPISODE:

What prompted Christy to start her business
The biggest challenges she faced in growing her business
What kinds of questions she was asking her manufacturing partners
Red flags that prevent her from working with a partner
Why she’s passionate about putting out ethical products
How she incorporates ethical manufacturing into marketing
The big problem with modern-day slavery and manufacturing
What she’s most proud of in her business
How Christy defines success within her business
The biggest benefit of being inside of Labs
What she’s working on creating right now

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KEY TAKE AWAYS

“Everyone says, ‘Oh, do fair trade or ethically source.’ But no one tells you how to do it at all.” - Christy Asper

“We're making choices every day about what we're spending time on, what we're spending money on and what our areas of focus are.” - Katie Hunt

“I'm always taking a look at it as a consumer.” - Christy Asper

“I really felt like there was something that I needed to hone in that made me different.” - Christy Asper

“We want to raise awareness, we want to change the culture of manufacturing and we want to provide these products that are ethically sourced at a reasonable cost.” - Christy Asper

“It's good to have that amazing community that's there supporting you and give you feedback.” - Christy Asper

“It's the coaching that I needed at the price that I can afford.” - Christy Asper

RESOURCES

Copper Bottom Design
Noted
International Justice Mission
Magnolia Events
Labs
Paper Source

MEET CHRISTY AND JON:

Paper Baristas is run by a husband and wife team, Christy Asper and Jon Marc. They are an Ethically Sourced Brand whose mission is to create "beautiful products by beautiful people for a beautiful cause". There focus is create high quality products that raise awareness and help fight modern day slavery in the supply chain. Paper Baristas started in August 2015 as a wedding invitation business that first swore off ever doing stationery products. Now, that is all they do and use their business as a platform to give back while doing what they love. Their desire to sustainably source has made a tremendous impact in what they create and how they create. Paper Baristas products are proudly made with fair trade practices, a love for details and value on the lives of the people creating their products.

CONNECT WITH CHRISTY AND JON

Website: www.paperbaristas.com | Facebook: @paperbaristas

Instagram: @paperbaristas | Twitter: PBaristas

Connect with Katie Hunt

Katie Hunt is a business strategist, podcaster, mentor and mama to four. She helps product based businesses build profitable, sustainable companies through her conferences, courses and coaching programs.

Website: prooftoproduct.com | Instagram: @prooftoproduct