Metro Hippie

There is nothing more refreshing than hearing of a company that steps back and rethinks the way our ’system’ should operate.  Nau is one such company and is in the process of transforming the way retail is run.  The outer and sportswear retailer has aggressively initiated the Triple Bottom Line (People, Planet, Profits) as a derivative for all of its decisions.  It has one of strongest social and environmental business models I’ve ever come across.

To date, Portland-based Nau has four retail locations to compliment its online shopping experience.  They are in Chicago, IL, Bellevue, WA, Portland, OR and Boulder, CO, with its Portland store reaching  LEED Certification.  The stores feature very minimalistic interiors, focusing the majority of ones attention on the product.  Customers can try on clothes in the store, then make their purchase at an in-store kiosk.  This is where it gets a bit revolutionary… You buy what you like at the kiosk, but have the choice of whether or not to carry it home.  Nau will discount 10% off your purchase and ship it to your home for free if you choose the patient route.  This retail model cuts building space and energy costs nearly in half and allows the company to use less employees and utilize centralized warehouses which use as little as 1/16th the amount of energy.

The stores also feature interactive computer stations where one can research products, materials and Nau’s ‘Partner’s for Change,’ companies that are socially, environmentally and humanitarian based….

Nau is also doing some really cool things with their products.  They have an ‘open source’ fabric resource center that allows their competitors access to improve their own environmental impact.  Huh… sharing information… who would have thought?  They also only use 100% certified organic cottons and recycled synthetics and made a decision to not use any petroleum based products… a bold mission considering traditional nylons, polyesters, and waterproof membranes are all ‘oil’ based.  As a result, 9 out of 10 fabrics utilized were developed specifically for Nau.

Let’s see… what else.  Oh, yeah… Social impact.  Nau customers can choose which charities 5% of their purchase can go to.  Many of the choices are based regionally to each stores location…. (btw, 5% donation is whopping by business standards, it’s nearest competitor probably sits in the 1% range.)  Nau also has a minimum age requirement for overseas workers.

As far as the clothes… It’s somewhere between Patagonia and Armani, all very clean lined and simple, catering to ‘urban adventurers’…  Check out Nau’s website and see for yourself.

Owner Chris Van Dyke from an interview with Outside Magazine…”With Nau, I’d love to be proven right—and not just for business reasons.  That the confidence we have in people’s basic optimism and generous spirit is well-founded. I want to know: Are there enough people out there who care about more than good stuff at good prices, who care about where the stuff comes from? Or where their money is going?”  I’m thinking Nau will be proven right, as the company ambitiously plans on opening 100 more stores by 2010!