Upcycling and Uplifting: Pingree Detroit's Revolutionary Impact
- Upcycling and Uplifting: Pingree Detroit's Revolutionary Impact Devin Thorpe 25:21
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Devin: What do you see as your superpower?
Jarret: For me, having passion as my superpower is present because I’m so present with what it means for me to be alive at this time, at this converging of storms with the challenges we face as humanity, as a human family and as a global interconnected family of life.
In today’s episode of Superpowers for Good, I had the pleasure of speaking with Jarret Schlaff, the co-founder and CEO of Pingree Detroit. His company is creating meaningful social and environmental impact while simultaneously crafting high-quality, handmade goods.
Pingree Detroit, a worker-owned cooperative based in Detroit, upcycles leather from the automotive industry, crafting beautiful shoes, bags, and other products from materials that would otherwise end up in landfills. But this venture isn’t just about sustainability; it’s about creating opportunities for Detroiters and veterans to gain skilled trades and meaningful Employment.
Jarret shared a key insight during our conversation, saying, “Relationships are our strongest currency. We’re able to connect with people and create an environment where folks have meaningful work, working with their hands to create something of real value.” This idea lies at the heart of Pingree Detroit’s mission: providing both economic opportunity and a supportive, empowering environment for its workers, many of whom have faced significant challenges in life.
During our discussion, Jarret highlighted the company’s commitment to supporting its workers, even when life circumstances create challenges. He explained, “We have a different way of supporting that person…we might say, ‘Check in with your battle buddy,’ to ensure they have the support they need on tough days.”
Pingree Detroit is currently raising capital through a regulated investment crowdfunding campaign on Honeycomb Credit. The funds will support the company’s growth and help launch exciting new products, including a highly anticipated line of boots.
The work Pingree Detroit is doing represents a powerful combination of social and environmental impact, and I couldn’t be more excited to share their story with you.
tl;dr:
* Introduction to Pingree Detroit: The episode introduces Jarret Schlaff, CEO of Pingree Detroit, a worker-owned cooperative in Detroit. The company upcycles leather from the automotive industry to create products like shoes, bags, and wallets, with a focus on providing skilled jobs for veterans and Detroiters.
* Business Model and Social Impact: Jarret explains how Pingree Detroit has been profitable while balancing a strong social mission, including providing meaningful employment and creating high-quality, handmade products. The company’s approach to pricing reflects the true costs of production and support services for employees.
* Worker Ownership: Pingree Detroit is a worker cooperative, where employees can become worker-owners, helping to improve retention, efficiency, and investment in the company. Jarret highlights the benefits of ownership in fostering emotional and financial commitment from employees.
* Capital Raising through Crowdfunding: The company is raising capital via Honeycomb Credit to fund key initiatives, including launching a new product (a boot called the Governor), purchasing their building, scaling operations, and Investing in marketing efforts.
* Jarret’s Superpower – Passion: Jarret identifies his superpower as passion, which drives his work toward building a restorative, localized, and equitable Economy. He shares stories of how his passion has inspired others to start their own ventures and positively impact their communities.
How to Develop Passion As a Superpower
Jarret Schlaff identifies passion as his superpower, explaining that it drives him to create meaningful change in the world. His deep sense of purpose comes from his desire to contribute to a more equitable, sustainable, and restorative future. This passion fuels his daily work and enables him to inspire others, believing that anything is possible when driven by such purpose.
Jarret shared a story about how his passion has inspired others to start their own social impact companies after learning about Pingree Detroit. His commitment to the mission of upcycling and creating meaningful jobs has resonated so strongly with people that it has sparked their own entrepreneurial journeys. He also noted the reciprocal inspiration he experiences by witnessing team members thrive despite overcoming immense adversity, further reinforcing his belief in the transformative power of passion.
Tips for Developing the Superpower:
* Visualize the Future: Imagine the world you want to help create, focusing on what it looks and feels like. Use this visualization to drive motivation.
* Identify Your Unique Gifts: Assess your skills and how they can contribute to a larger mission, whether through leadership, support, or creativity.
* Stay Grounded in Your ‘Why’: Regularly ask yourself why your work matters to you and how it aligns with your deeper sense of purpose.
* Share Your Passion: Talk about your vision with others to inspire them and create a ripple effect of positive change.
By following Jarret Schlaff’s example and advice, you can make passion a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.
Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!
Guest Profile
Jarret A Schlaff (he/him):
Co-founder and CEO, Pingree Detroit
About Pingree Detroit: Pingree Detroit, founded in 2015, is a worker-owned, triple-bottom-line design and manufacturing cooperative that hand-makes footwear and home, pet, and fashion accessories in Detroit with leather and other materials upcycled from the auto industry.
Website: www.PingreeDetroit.com
Company Facebook Page: fb.com/PingreeDetroit
Other URL: invest.honeycombcredit.com/campaigns/Pingree-Detroit
Biographical Information: Jarret Alan Schlaff is the Co-founder and CEO of Pingree Detroit & Founder of Lectric Boil. He lives on Detroit’s east side and is committed to fostering neighborhood resilience and developing opportunities for sustainable, community driven job creation accessible to his neighbors. He is a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 small businesses program, was one of 90 leaders selected from across the U.S. as a 2015 Young American Leadership Fellow with Harvard Business School, named an Emerging Leader by the Detroit Chamber of Commerce in 2015, 20/20 Detroit Person of the week in November 2017, in 2020 was awarded the Oakland University, “10 Under 10 Alumni” for outstanding achievements and impact within ten years of graduation, and most recently was given the 2024 Michigan Recycling Coalition Award of Excellence.
X/Twitter Handle: @Planit4planet
Personal Facebook Profile: fb.com/jarret.schlaff/
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/jarret-schlaff-4931b120/
Instagram Handle: @pingreedetroit
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