CHEAP SHEDS: GIVE TO A MAN, GIVE TO THE WORLD
The purpose-driven business series features a different Business for Good every Thursday to showcase their unique giving stories. We hope these stories inspire you with interesting, new and joyful ideas on how to integrate giving into your business.
When you experience kindness, you are more likely to pass on kindness to others. The gift of giving just keeps on giving. And this week’s purpose-driven business is living testament to that, for passing on kindness to their team, who passes it on to the rest of the world.
INTRODUCING…CHEAP SHEDS!
WHO: Krisztian Panzcel from Cheap Sheds
WHERE: Southport, Australia
WHAT: We are the largest Online Storage Solution Provider in Australia. We offer quality & affordable DIY storage solutions for backyards. From garden sheds and deck boxes to garages and carports. We even have some farm sheds for those who have a hobby farm.
CAN YOU GIVE US A SENSE OF WHY YOU DECIDED TO START GIVING?
Growing up, my wife Maria and I came from a country and circumstances which were poor (Hungary). We worked hard to build our business and life in Australia. Building a multi-million dollar business has given us the power to ‘Give’ and we strongly believe that by giving, we are helping others in need and providing them the opportunity to build a better future. We strongly advocate that through business, people have the power to change the world.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PROJECT(S) TO GIVE TO AND WHY?
Education and environmental projects. Education provides people with knowledge and knowledge is a tool that can change your life. Knowing how to make good decisions can potentially help you build a better future.
We only have one planet and it’s an incredible organism, so we love to give to environmental projects because saving our world should be on everyone’s agenda. We all work from home which means fewer cars on the roads every day. We are as paperless as possible. We electronically do all our communications including invoices. We also choose not to do offline advertising in any form. Junk mail and flyers are one of the biggest waste of paper and cause immense litter.
I am grateful for organizations that are out there doing what they can. Besides choosing a green lifestyle and making our business paperless, giving to these organizations is the least we can do.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE IMPACT B1G1 HAS HAD ON YOUR COMPANY AND ITS CULTURE?
B1G1 has given us a ‘WHY’. We have reason to not only provide our customers with the best possible products and service but by doing what we do best, we are also able to help others in need. One great thing we do with the team is to encourage each member to choose a project each month of their choice. This way, they feel pride knowing our donation is going to a cause they strongly support and it also gets them involved in our charity work.
WHAT’S THE BEST EXPERIENCE YOU’VE HAD THROUGH YOUR GIVING ACTIVITIES AND BEING A PART OF B1G1?
The best experience is the (giving) experience itself. The gift of giving is one of the most beautiful feelings a human can have. We have been able to introduce the gift of giving at every level. We give job opportunities to team members who need it, and they, in turn, learn about the gift of giving by being involved in our B1G1 causes. Let’s not forget we too share the gift of giving with our customers whose appreciation comes back to us tenfold.
DOES ANYBODY IN YOUR TEAM HAVE AN INTERESTING GIVING STORY TO TELL?
Our whole team is an interesting story. We wanted to build Cheap Sheds around giving and opportunity. Our team is made up of talented individuals from around the world. We provide experience and jobs to those in countries where there are little opportunities and we make sure we take care of them very well.
We have mothers who can’t work in general jobs because they need to take care of kids. We have members who live in rural towns but have no job opportunities close to them. We have students who are after the experience, and even managers looking for work-life balance. At Cheap Sheds, we have a place for these people who then become part of our family.
As I mentioned, my wife Maria and I came from Hungary where we didn’t grow up very privileged. We moved to Australia where we made our home and built our very successful online business. We started out with 2 backpacks and no English. Looking back from the day we arrived at where we are now (traveling the world), it’s incredible. We have built an awesome team of talented individuals whose lives we have changed. And now we are all trying to pass it on to whoever we can, and its thanks to B1G1 that this part of our mission is easy.
WHAT QUESTION WOULD YOU WISH THAT WE’D ASKED AND WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ANSWER?
Q- Would you recommend B1G1 to other business owners?
A – Yes, and I already have. I help other business owners set up their own online stores. As part of my teachings and system, I help them sign up for B1G1 at the very start. The more businesses jumping on board, the bigger impact we can have on the world, right?
If you have an interesting Giving Story to share, write to us at hello@b1g1.com to be included in the next feature!