Is Your Organization Innovative? If Not, Take a Look at Bombas.

What do you think of when you read the word, "innovation"? Most people would answer this question by saying that they think about technology, space discoveries, or simply going beyond what's currently normal.

Recently, we have heard of innovations such as Facebook's collaboration with Ray-Bans to create smart glasses, Apple's iPhone 13 announcement, and everything going on at SpaceX and Tesla. But what truly defines innovation?

According to Google, to innovate means to, "make changes in something established, especially by introducing new methods, ideas, or products."

Therefore, you do not necessarily have to introduce that new, flashy product that gets everyone's attention to be innovative. Innovation is not limited to CEOs, designers, and artists. You can find a new method or introduce a new idea. Personally, I think Bombas does a great job of innovating.

You may think, "How? Bombas just makes clothing?" Fair enough, but Bombas has changed the way simple items like t-shirts and socks are made and the company continues to innovate within the apparel industry.

Bombas proves itself as an innovative organization in the following ways:

The Leaders of the Organization Listen

If you are not familiar with Bombas, the company has a one-for-one approach. Therefore, for every item a customer purchases, the company donates an item on the customer's behalf. You may wonder why the company does this. One of Bombas' passions is combating homelessness. Therefore, all of the clothing items that are donated help a homeless person have a shirt or pair of socks to wear. Bombas does not turn a blind eye to the problems going on in the world. The company listens and attempts to solve a complex problem in doing so. Additionally, the company does not just listen to those giving feedback in the research and development side of the company, Bombas listens to those who are underserved.

Paying Attention to the Exceptional

Companies often get unique insights from unexpected feedback, which helps the company develop an exemplary product. Although Bombas pays attention to the exceptional when it comes to its products, it also does so regarding its mission and causes the company donates to. For instance, Bombas makes it evident that it not only seeks to combat homelessness, but the company also acts as an ally to the LGBTQ+ community, and advocates for the Black Lives Matter movement. Bombas does not only listen to customers' concerns about the quality of shirts, underwear, or socks, the company lends a helping hand to those who need it the most. While most companies only kept their statements regarding the Black Lives Matter movement on their site during the height of the movement in the summer of 2020, Bombas goes above and beyond by paying attention to the outrage that continues to happen in various communities across the country.

Designing Real Solutions for Real People

Everyone I have ever spoken to who has purchased clothing items from Bombas has always raved about the comfort of the items he or she has bought. I always wondered why those individuals were always obsessed with Bombas' clothing quality. It turns out, Bombas has spent years researching how to make its apparel the absolute best. As Bombas' website reads, "Each item we make is rigorously tested for comfort and durability, and we're constantly looking for more ways to innovate and improve." Additionally, Bombas attempts to target common issues individuals have with their clothing such as painful toe seams in socks and slipping no-show socks. This conveys how Bombas is committed to making sure its customers are comfortable. Bombas makes sure to pose real solutions to yield satisfaction.

Focusing on the "Human" Qualities

As David Bornstein writes in his book, How to Change the World, "Organizations whose success hinges on high-quality human interaction generally pay close attention to soft qualities when recruiting..." What does this mean? Soft skills are things that cannot necessarily be taught such as empathy and emotional intelligence. Out of curiosity, I looked at Bombas' Careers page to see how they recruit those employees with "soft qualities." It appears that Bombas' company culture draws those employees in. According to the careers page of Bombas' website, those who work at Bombas, "get the opportunity to learn from each other, grow, and give back every day." Additionally, Bombas' core values include going above and beyond for its customers, giving back meaningfully and personally, and "trying to bee better." Therefore, Bombas prioritizes a healthy work environment and ensures its employees are committed to its mission.

Although this is a helpful framework if you are looking to make your organization more innovative, there are other aspects that come with innovation such as creating and testing ideas. Most importantly, do not be afraid to voice your ideas. Regardless of your position within your organization, you can change the face of a process or method by simply making sure you vocalize your concerns. Also, do not be fearful of standing up for what you believe in. Whether that means donating to certain charities or being an ally to an underrepresented group of people, just take action. After all, none of our current innovations were made possible by those who remained silent.

Check out Bombas' products here: https://bombas.com/