Bob Dalton is the founder and CEO of Sackcloth & Ashes, a mission-driven company that gives a blanket to a homeless shelter for each one purchased. He shares his motivation for wanting to become a social entrepreneur and reveals the personal story that inspired him to action. Bob and Elliot discuss the exciting road ahead for Sackcloth & Ashes, how Bob balances a busy work life with his family life, and how you can support whatever cause calls to you. Listen in to learn some valuable tips for becoming a social entrepreneur – and learn the advice Bob would give his younger self when he was just getting started.
Time Stamped Show Notes
[01:30] – Introducing Bob, his journey, and the meaning of Social Entrepreneurship to him
- 02:05 – He was involved in the nonprofit world and seeking his purpose
- 03:00 – Around the same time, his grandmother and brother passed away; it took a toll on his mother and she lost her home and strained her relationships
- 03:30 – She started drinking, sold everything, and moved to Florida; she thought her aunt would take her in but she didn’t so she slept on beaches and benches
- 04:05 – The way he viewed homelessness totally transformed; he used to be judgmental towards people on the streets
- 04:50 – He called homeless shelters and they all said they needed blankets; he was familiar with the 1-for-1 business model like Toms shoes
- 05:05 – His model donates one blanket to a homeless shelter in the buyer’s neighborhood; he wanted people to know they were making a local impact
- 06:10 – A quote on a coffee cup sleeve that said, “What are you waiting for?” inspired him to get moving and start the business
- 06:40 – He found someone to sew the blankets, drove around selling them, hired a photographer; and in 2014 the website went live with 20 shops
- 07:25 – His business strategy was to post on IG 1x/day; he got creative and set themselves apart
- 08:50 – They got featured on Instagram’s IG account the day before Black Friday; they grew 20,000 followers overnight and were able to leverage IG influencers
[09:25] – The impact the company has had on his life
- 10:00 – He knew a large social following would get the attention of big corporations; in 2018 they pivoted into the B2B partnerships world
- 10:25 – They launched their “Blanket the United States” campaign and partnered with Subaru; now companies all over the U.S. are a part of the campaign
- 11:30 – He’s on a plane almost every week to go to homeless shelters around the U.S.; they pass out blankets and food with celebrities and executives
- 12:00 – People get to learn the solution to help homelessness around the U.S.; he learns daily and is at the forefront of solutions
[12:45] – How Bob balances work and life with all his travels
- 12:55 – He’s still trying to figure out the balance; he wants to create a great home environment where he can be present intentionally
- 13:30 – He sets time aside for himself and his family; he and his wife have organized the “personal” and “us” days
- 15:00 – He’s the determining factor for whether the business grows the way it could
[15:35] – Social entrepreneurship tips
- 15:45 – Don’t do “cause marketing”; instead, make sure you’re marketing a cause
- 16:35 – Use your platform to bring exposure and support those who are doing the work
[17:33] – Advice for his younger self
- 17:35 – Trust your gut, don’t listen to too many voices or opinions; mentorship is good but be cautious and test everything
- 18:10 – Be true to yourself; consistence is stronger than resistance
[19:40] – How to support
- 19:40 – Look homeless people in the eyes and acknowledge them; cultivate compassion for real people with real stories
- 20:00 – If there’s a cause you want to support, pick up the phone and call the people in your community that are already doing something about it
- 20:20 – Sackcloth & Ashes blankets are available for purchase; when you buy, one will be given to your local homeless shelter and you can fill the box with shelter items
- 21:30 – There are ways to continue sharing and spreading the blanket love through Sackcloth & Ashes
[21:50] – What’s ahead for Bob
- 21:55 – He’ll be speaking, expanding into corporate partnerships, staying educated, staying solution-focused, and spreading a message of dignity and respect
- 24:30 – Share eye contact and acknowledge the state of our reality and the homelessness in it
3 Key Points
- As a social entrepreneur, understand who is the true hero.
- Trust your gut and continue to move forward.
- Collaborate, join a cause, and support it!
Contact/Resources
- Primed Mind – Elliot’s Mindset Coaching App
- Bob’s Website
- Sackcloth & Ashes
