Values ·
MPC Values | Transparency
⚖️ JUSTICE ⚖️ |
What even is transparency? I feel like it’s become such an overused term to convince consumers to buy a product, that it’s lost a lot of meaning. What is the responsibility of a business to share certain things? Where is the line? What do people expect? I’m sure these answers change significantly depending on who you are trying to appeal to.
For me, the main reason this is an important value to Mad Priest (i.e. me, Michael, since I recognize so much of the brand is tied to me as an individual and my own journey and evolution; more on that another time), is because it’s how I would want to be treated. “I” want transparency from places, therefore I give it. It seems “do unto others”, albeit a highly praised rule to be governed by, doesn’t seem to really be followed all that often. Though I fail often, it’s something I carry with me everywhere. It’s why I approach every situation with curiosity and inquiry, versus judgement. I’m sure I’ll find myself in a scenario where I’d want the same. But this is hard! And it sets us up to potentially be hurt – which is where the line of transparency and vulnerability are really interesting to me.
Transparency is also one of those hard values to live out. What information do I give, and how do I give it? Who really wants it? As roasters, we sorta have two sides to this coin. One the one side, we want relationships with traders that have transparency… how much are they paying at the farm gate? How do they cultivate and maintain relationships with farmers? What are their goals and motivations? How much of their “programs” is marketing fluff versus truly investing in communities? It seems we ask lots of these questions but how many roasters are turning around and giving information to those on the other side of the chain?
The other side is how we turn around and give information. One area though that we are definitely operating in (and have grown a lot IMO) is how we share information within our company. No one hides their salary info. We discuss ideas like how we tip pool. We have all our information, both past and present, accessible. And we even *gasp* share feelings and have vulnerable two way conversations about operations, systems and general experiences.
As far as communication to our consumers… I am still working on that, and I am sure it’ll be an ever evolving system. All you have to do is look at our Youtube or other content and see I pretty much just say what I am thinking or processing. We try to put data and info on the site when we have access to it. If you email me a question, I’ll answer. But I literally know of roasters who buy commodity grade coffee and sell it packaged nice and neat for $15/bag as “specialty” – and unfortunately this is more common than one would like to believe. But because “specialty” doesn’t really have a regulated definition, and consumers just sorta trust roasters when they use fancy words like “ethical” or “direct trade”, we’re stuck perpetuating a top down profit driven system that just has a nicer package.
Recently I got an email from someone who thought they “got me” by pointing out I was selling on Amazon, and linked an old video where we call for a fast from Amazon. So when they said, “Is this you?” as if I was caught on camera doing naughty things (anyone else get those funny scam emails??), I was like, “uh, yea”... Because I am not hiding anything. Yes, I *was* selling on Amazon. Yes, I sell to Walmart. Yes, I still think billionaires are a gross imbalance in our society. Because I can hold tension with complex things, and because I’d rather find creative ways to grow and have a bigger impact on the farmers we buy from - even if it’s within a system I do not prefer.
I think ultimately my biggest goal with this value is to be open and honest about walking the walk and not just talking the talk. Being willing to ask hard questions, and engage in hard conversations. I have no problem being challenged, and examining how we can do better. My hope is that MP can be a community of people who do these things, and do them together.
Now go buy some coffee ;)
+Michael, High Priest
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