BE YOU Brands, a certified LGBTQ+ distributorship has launched under then American Solutions for Business umbrella, expanding the company’s branding and customer reach.
“I think it is important to share some of our experiences that drove us to create BE YOU Brands. Being part of the community, I am keenly aware of some of the struggles those within my community endure. In parts of our country, many people do not feel safe being themselves in their regular day to day activities, let alone in their working environment.
I have been lucky. I can’t say that I have ever been made to feel uncomfortable here at American Solutions or by any of my previous employers. Prior to Rob coming on board at the Ohio Hub I was out to most people in my office but wouldn’t say that it was something I liked to talk about much.
It really wasn’t until Rob entered the picture as a proud LGBTQ+ ally that I realized I was in a safe place to be as out as I wanted to be. The normalization and verbal support he provided really changed my mind set. Most of my coworkers I am sure are reading this and thinking I do not notice a significant difference. There is an inner confidence that I don’t expect everyone to see, but believe me, it’s there. I wouldn’t be okay being featured in this article if it wasn’t.”
– Scott Coder | Co-Founder & Managing Partner
“Our core beliefs focus on the customer experience and making sure it delivers positive feelings and memories for our clients. This, coupled with our individual stories and involvement in the LGBTQ+ community supports our vision.”
– Rob Whitman | Co-Founder, Managing Partner, and LGBTQ+ ally
We sat down with Scott Rob to gain insight and understanding on this endeavor.
Who does “BE YOU Brands” serve, and what makes them stand out from other marketing service providers?
BE YOU Brands serves any marketer who wants a strong partnership with a marketing services supplier aligned with their diversity spend initiatives. If they have an affinity for the LGBTQ+ community or want to actively support them, then we are a great choice to facilitate their marketing service needs. They can know they have supported business growth with a certified LGBTQ+ company.
We are engaged in the LGBTQ+ community and actively participate in the Ohio Business Chamber and events which supports entrepreneurialism. In addition, a portion of all our proceeds will be donated to the Trevor Project to promote awareness and safety in coming out.
Being part of ASB gives us an additional strategic advantage as most diversity companies are very small enterprises. Clients and prospects have loved that we are a nimble diversity business but have the resources and support from a big mother ship.
Golf outing hosted by Kendall Communications (NGLCC Certified Business)
What recent Pride events have you provided products for?
The Gay Softball World Series was the first event we really started working with and that work contributed to the start of BE YOU Brands. That was in the summer/fall of 2021. We incorporated right around that time and soon after we started the certification process with the NGLCC – National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. We received our certification in June 2022 and have just now begun promotion and marketing for BE YOU Brands.
Some of the projects we have worked on include:
- Columbus Pride 2022
- Gay Softball World Series
- Midwest Institute for Sexuality Gender Diversity Conference
- We are also working with an LGBTQ+ ERG, Employee Resource Group, for a large multi-national company and we were recently awarded their welcome kits
Gay Softball World Series
What impact does an LGBTQ-owned provider have for our sales associates and partners?
Columbus Pride – 2022
You may not always visually see the impact your acceptance brings firsthand but trust me, supporting diversity inspires people more than you realize.
Our vision was to create a diversity company, but more than that to get involved in the community that we care about, to support entrepreneurialism in the LGBTQ+ space, and to offer marketing insight to our clients. Many companies have Employee Resource Groups, and these groups are established by companies to support a safe, inclusive environment for their employees. Larger companies tend to have a diverse workforce and these ERGs enable employees to be open about their true self at work and expand work relationships with friends and allies who share and support a common bond. This promotes inclusion, understanding, and collaboration and teamwork. They also want suppliers and partners who align with their diversity values. We are incorporated in Ohio, have a warehouse resource with our hub affiliation and we are a certified business enterprise by the NGLCC. All this opens doors to opportunities.
We created this company simply to support this diversity business community and secondarily create a competitive advantage for us in our market. ADBS already has a LGBTQ+ affiliation, and we are open to discussing a partnership with American Diversity to sell through them and partner with other reps.
Midwest Institute for Sexuality Gender Diversity Conference
NAGAAA Softball Tournament
Please expand on your core belief of: “We are in the business of great memories.“
We want to focus on the customer experience and make sure it is one which creates great feelings and memories for our clients, so that they look at us as more than just an opportunity to drive their diversity spend, but a great partner who just happens to be a diversity-owned company.
This, coupled with our individual stories and our involvement in the LGBTQ+ community writes a great story. Memories is just another way of saying the customer has a good feeling about their interaction with us from the order to the charity giveback, to our involvement in helping the LGBTQ+ business community. We want to be remembered.
Our vision was to create a diversity company, but more than that to get involved in the community that we care about, to support entrepreneurialism in the LGBTQ+ space, and to offer marketing insight to our clients. This enables employees to be open about their true self at work and expand work relationships with friends and allies who share and support a common bond.
Visit their website at https://www.beyoubrandsolutions.com/.
To learn more about American Solutions for Business, visit http://www.americanbus.com.
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