New Zealand's fastest growing retailer makes a difference

Nature Shop, online retailer of premium nature inspired products, has pledged at least 10% of after tax profits to environmental and social causes.

Jeremy Curragh, CEO of Nature Shop says "As a company we believe we have an obligation to contribute to the future well being of our planet and society. Accordingly we have decided to commit the equivalent of 10% of after tax profits to maintaining our carbon neutral certification and supporting charities such as Canteen, Heart Children and the World Wildlife Fund. We are a New Zealand company that exports to over 65 countries so we felt it was important to support both New Zealand charities as well as a global cause."

In line with their focus on an exceptional customer experience Nature Shop will invite customers to vote for which WWF monthly initiative they would most like to see their money donated to. Monthly contributions are made to Canteen and Heart Children, two charities helping young people living with cancer and children born with heart defects. At the end of each financial year Nature Shop will review their pledge and ensure that they have comfortably spent over the 10% threshold. This will be independently audited by accountants at KPMG.

Rebecca Scott, Regional manager Canteen stated "Due to this generous donation from Nature Shop CanTeen has been able to increase the hospital support to our patients through companionship, counselling, resources and tools to keep our young ones stimulated and smiling during their fight against cancer."

Nature Shop is also taking account of its impact on the environment as part of its company's ethos and has achieved carboNZeroCertTM certification for the second year running. Certification demonstrates that Natureshop's carbon footprint has been measured, managed, mitigated (offset) and independently verified in accordance with international best practice. As part of their re- certification, Natureshop is committed to reducing car mileage by 50% and international freight by 30%. They are also looking at ways to reduce the average weight of each of their parcels by 10%.

Graham Carter, chief executive officer of the carboNZero programme explains that "Nature Shop is an innovative and fast growing business, but they're also wary of the impact this growth can have. CarboNZero certification demonstrates Nature Shop's commitment to credible sustainability action. People can be certain that by supporting Nature Shop they are supporting a business that is putting words into action".

Nature Shop opened a UK distribution centre in 2010 in West Sussex to lower their freight air miles and thus their carbon footprint. This has also allowed them to offer far faster and better service to their important European and North American customer bases.

Nature Shop is the second fastest growing company overall in New Zealand according to Deloitte's Fast 50 as well as the winner of both the 'fastest growing retailer' and 'fastest growing exporter' categories. They were also the 24th fastest growing business in the Asia Pacific Deloitte's Fast 500 Technology Awards.