In this episode I interview Andy Tabar, owner of Compassion Co, an organic, US-made vegan clothing line that he runs out of his van while traveling across the US to vegfests each year.
Andy is an animal rights activist who completed three trips with Farm Animal Rights Movement’s 10 Billion Lives tour, traveling to nearly every continental state and having more than 10,000 one-on-one conversations educating college students and concert-goers about the cruelty inherent in animal agriculture.
His business is very much connected with this activism by producing t-shirts featuring messages that start conversations around veganism or the treatment of animals and which are made as ethically as possible.
He’s also the co-host of the Bearded Vegans podcast, with Paul Steller, in which the pair discuss a range of vegan issues.
In this interview Andy talks about:
• How his experience touring with punk rock bands has helped him in running his business
• The challenges and benefits of running your business from a van
• How he handles scaling up the business, especially with physical location and inventory storage limitations
• The one person he hired early on that was instrumental in helping him to run the business effectively
• How taking an intersectional approach to his business, in manufacturing, operations, and marketing, gives the brand a competitive edge
• How to maintain a relationship when you’re on the road for several months a year
• And much more
Visit the Compassion Co website
Check out the Bearded Vegans podcast
Find out more about FARM’s 10 Billion Lives Tour
Brands mentioned in vegan business news roundup:
Expo West
New Hope Network
Beyond Sushi
The Fields Beneath
Fresh Start Fauxmage
RESOURCES:
My Online PR Course for Vegan Business Owners & Entrepreneurs: Vegans in the Limelight
My book Vegan Ventures: Start and Grow an Ethical Business
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Connect with me personally at:
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Vegan Business Media is a multi-media, multi-author blog for aspiring and existing owners of vegan-run businesses, designed to equip them with the information, tools, inspiration and resources they need to start and grow their enterprises. It is hosted by award-winning journalist Katrina Fox.
