TORONTO, Oct. 21, 2021 /CNW/ - Today, Indigo (TSX: IDG)
announced it has exceeded its representation targets since joining
the Fifteen Percent Pledge. On this day last year, Indigo was the
first Canadian retailer to sign the Fifteen Percent Pledge, a
non-profit organization, founded by Canadian born designer
Aurora James, urging major retailers
to commit 15% of their shelf-space to BIPOC-owned
businesses.
As part of the pledge, Indigo committed to have at least 15% of
the books on display written by BIPOC authors by the end of 2021,
as well as increased representation across its creative and
marketing. In 2021, Indigo exceeded 15% representation across
the majority of its business areas including in social (30%),
creative studio (86%) and book displays (30%). Indigo
continues to expand its assortment with more BIPOC-owned businesses
and exciting upcoming partnerships with BIPOC-creators with its
private label brands.
"I'm proud of the progress we've made, but we know the work is
still just beginning. We will continue to accelerate diversity,
equity and inclusion across all of our business. DE&I is a
culture shift that requires courage, long-term planning, and an
organization-wide commitment to hold each other accountable and
continuously push for better," said Nathan
Williams, Indigo's Chief Creative Officer and Executive
Sponsor of Sustainability and DE&I. "At Indigo our greatest
strength comes from our people and our culture. We empower
our team members to make an impact on our business and in the
world."
In addition to signing the Pledge, Indigo has taken several
actions to support their commitment to Diversity, equity, and
inclusion:
- Indigo has become Diversio Certified, meaning
diversity and inclusion are key performance drivers. Data on
employee representation and experience are collected regularly, so
solutions that address bias and barriers can be implemented, while
also tracking its progress.
- Internally, Indigo has established a Diversity Council and
Employee Resource Groups to drive an integrated diversity
strategy, to monitor progress and for accountability.
- Indigo has engaged Fred
Martin as Indigo's first Knowledge Keeper. Fred is
Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) with ties to the M'Chigeeng First Nations of
Manitoulin Island, Ontario, and
the Qalipu First Nations (Mi'kmaq) of the Port au Port Peninsula,
Newfoundland, and Labrador. He will help build a plan of action
with culturally informed support and guidance, and ensure Indigo
takes important steps of learning and understanding towards Truth
and Reconciliation.
- The Indigo Love of Reading Foundation works to promote
equitable access to books in schools across Canada. Recently, the Foundation
contributed over $340K in funds from
its Community Response Fund, to support First Nations, Métis,
and Inuit families to promote literacy while at home during the
COVID-19 pandemic.
- Indigo continues to amplify important cultural moments
such as: Black History Month, Asian Heritage Month, Pride, and
Indigenous History Month, and highlights and amplifies books by
BIPOC authors and other equity-seeking creators year-round.
Additionally:
-
- 60% of Indigo's 10 Best Books of 2021 are written by BIPOC
authors
- 41% of the Authors of the Month in 2021 are BIPOC authors
- 50% of the Staff Picks of the Month in 2021 are books written
by BIPOC authors
- Launched Mini Marché, a new marketplace of small and
local Canadian brands that are environmentally friendly, BIPOC- or
women-owned businesses. In September
2021, Indigo brought on 12 new brands; 50% of these brands
are BIPOC-owned or led. This includes Zee Zee's World, Go Coconut
and Chevron Heart, to name a few.
- Brought on a Kids Advisor, Sueann
Hall, a blogger, reader, and a mom. She rates, reviews,
and builds lists at Indigo to create the best BIPOC books for
kids, to help diversify children's libraries and bookshelves so
they are more representative of the world around them.
"As a native Canadian, I was extremely energized to see Indigo
step up as Canada's first retailer
to sign the Fifteen Percent Pledge," said Aurora James, founder of the Fifteen Percent
Pledge. "I'm very proud of the work they've accomplished in just
one year in exceeding 15% representation across the majority of
their business areas, and look forward to our continued partnership
in support of the BIPOC community."
________________________________
|
1 30%
of all social posts included a model, book written by or brand
owned by BIPOC individual. Source: Indigo.
|
2 86%
of models featured in campaigns. Source: Indigo.
|
3 30%
of books featured in book displays were written by BIPOC authors.
Source: Indigo.
|
For more information on Indigo's commitment to diversity,
equity, and inclusion, please visit
indigo.ca/en-ca/diversity-and-inclusion.
About Indigo
Indigo is a publicly traded Canadian company listed on the
Toronto Stock Exchange (IDG). Indigo is Canada's leading book and lifestyle retailer,
offering a curated assortment of books, gifts, baby, kids,
wellness, and lifestyle products, that support their customers
every day and at key life stages by simplifying their journey to
live with intention. Indigo believes in real books, in living life
fully and generously, in being kind to each other and that stories
– big and little – connect us.
Indigo founded the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation in 2004 to
address the underfunding of public elementary school libraries.
Every year the Foundation provides grants to high-needs elementary
schools so they can transform their libraries with the purchase of
new books and educational resources. Most recently, in the wake of
the COVID-19 pandemic and unprecedented nation-wide school
closures, the Foundation committed $1.0
million to provide books to families in need. With the
support of the Company, its customers, employees, and suppliers,
the Foundation has committed over $33
million to more than 3,000 high-needs elementary schools
across Canada since 2004
About Fifteen Percent Pledge
The Fifteen Percent
Pledge is a non-profit advocacy organization, based in the United States, urging major retailers to
commit 15% of their shelf-space to BIPOC-owned businesses in
Canada. It offers large
corporations' accountability, support, and consulting services with
the goal of advocating for and supporting BIPOC-owned businesses.
Launched in June 2020 by Aurora James, the initiative was born from
seeing multiple acts of social injustice and police brutality in
the United States, with a lack of
accountability for the systemic issues at play. Businesses
including Indigo, Sephora U.S. and Canada, Rent the Runway, West Elm, Hudson's
Bay Company, Yelp and Vogue U.S. have all committed to the Fifteen
Percent Pledge. For more information, visit
www.15percentpledge.ca
SOURCE Indigo Books & Music
Inc.