Innovating with Intention

As the founder of b, halfmoon, Andrea Morris has over 20 years of experience in marketing and business development, coupled with a deep understanding of yoga. Morris is motivated by vision and sustained by love, connection, and coffee, with an innovation approach centered around problem-solving and the creation of global opportunities through strategic partnerships.

1. Tell us your name and about your role at b, halfmoon?

I'm Andrea Morris, the founder of b, halfmoon. Founder means many things and many hats ranging from vision casting to quality control testing to sample experimenting to spokesperson and much MUCH more.

2. What does innovation mean to you?

To me, innovation means continuous improvement, which is a principle that I live by both personally and professionally.

3. What is the biggest challenge you face when innovating?

I have a huge sense of urgency (aka impatience) and yet I have to recognize that innovation takes time, care, and intention. I cannot move with haste and often cannot be rushed. The most impactful innovations come with time and are an exercise in patience.

4. Do you have any specific rituals for resetting your team to be creative?

Truth be told, the business has had a tougher time stepping out of the day to day since COVID hit. We sometimes take afternoons to 'heartstorm' which alway prove effective, but we need to expand upon this. Prior to COVID, we often had team offsite sessions which began with a group meditation or movement practice at a studio and flowed into workshops that inspired personal and professional creativity. We need to bring this back but the team is more spread apart and remote now which makes this more challenging.

5. Can you elaborate on the journey that led b, halfmoon to pursue B Corp certification, and how does this milestone align with the brand's core values and mission?

B Corp certification has been on our strategy map for over 5 years and was truly driven by the team. This milestone was always the goal. b, halfmoon has deep-rooted values of integrity, sustainability and contributing to something bigger than ourselves. We are so proud to be making an impact with a community of global changemakers.

While we acknowledge that perfection doesn’t exist, this certification demonstrates our continued efforts to uphold our core brand values of truth, connection, impact and wellbeing for all, and honouring our commitment to our community and the environment.

6. How does b, halfmoon integrate social and environmental responsibility into its day-to-day operations, beyond the use of recycled packaging and renewable materials?

We select suppliers that are in close proximity to one another and we are extremely selective with our corporate travel, thus reducing our carbon footprint. Socially, we endeavor to connect deeply with our team and external stakeholders to truly understand their vantage points and needs and to support them in creative and constructive ways. For example, we spotlight changemakers in our community.

7. Could you discuss the specific initiatives or practices that b, halfmoon implements to ensure ethical standards are upheld within its supply chain, particularly concerning human rights and sustainability?

Yes! We have team members on the ground near ALL of our key suppliers. These team members visit our supply chain partners regularly, ensuring that our standards are met or exceeded AND that they are supported. This is key to us and our B Corp commitment.

8. In what ways does b, halfmoon plan to leverage its B Corp certification to further promote its commitment to wellness, intentional products, and innovation, both within the industry and among consumers?

B Corp fuels what we are already doing. It is a reminder that we are on the right track and to continue to push the envelope when it comes to changing lives - the lives of our team, our supply chain partners, our customers and our planet.

9. Looking to the future, how will b, halfmoon continue to be a leader in innovation?

We will continue to dig deep and innovate not only via product innovation (you wait!) but also via social norms in how we work, how we support others, and how we lead with vulnerability and transparency.