Social Responsibility and Consumers
LUSH Cosmetics
Average Rating: 3.6
Why is it a 3.6?
Website: 4 (Good)
Explanation of Rating:
The Lush website was given a 4 because Charity Pot was given multiple pages of explanation from the product and social cause connection. There was also a page on how a nonprofit can apply to be on a Charity Pot. The purchase page of Charity Pot explained 100% of the proceeds, minus taxes, go directly to the nonprofits. There were lingering questions about if when Charity Pot was scanned in-store or bought online with a specific cause or nonprofit, would all the money go directly to them via account connection or was all the money pooled together and sent out equally to each partner.
Email Correspondence: 4 (Good)
Explanation of Rating:
The email correspondence was a surprising shift from how Starbucks answered and how Lush answered. There was some information that I felt was vital that the website neglected about the product proceed distribution. On top of each Charity Pot, there is a nonprofit or cause that 100% of the proceeds are presumably going to. The representative in the email informed me that the proceeds go into a pool and are equally distributed to all of the nonprofit partners. For example, if a multitude of Charity Pots helping the homeless sells more than all other Charity Pot causes, it would still get an equal amount as all the other nonprofits. For the consumer, it is deceitful to say all of the money for that specific cause on top of the Charity Pot is going there because it is going to drop in a pool. The representative in the email was transparent but was only given a 4 because they should have provided more external information about proceeds thereafter.
Social Media: 3 (Neutral)
Instagram: @lushcosmetics
Facebook: @lushcosmetics
Twitter: @lushcosmetics
Explanation of Rating:
Lush’s Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter all showed the same amount of photos of Charity Pot explaining that 100% of the proceeds go to the nonprofits and causes on the lid of the product. However, Charity Pot was only seen twice every 2 weeks because Lush has been endorsing new or seasonal products. Charity Pot gets lost in the sea of social media because of how frequent Lush posts everyday. Lush averages 4 posts a day and usually Charity Pot is not 1 out of the 4 posts.
Customer Representative: 4 (Good)
Explanation of Rating:
I had the chance to speak to 3 representatives in store. The representatives in the store were very informed and pleasant when speaking about Charity Pot. We all may think to speak to an in-store representative they will be upselling the product itself but they were more focused on selling the cause of the product. Meaning, before showing a demonstration of the product, they spoke about the history and meaningfulness of where the money goes after a purchase of Charity Pot. When asked about the donation process after purchase, they explained it goes directly to nonprofits and is unrestricted funding. They also provided me with a catalog and directed me to the Charity Pot page explaining the amounts to date and where last years Charity Pot profits went.
Product Packaging: 3(Neutral)
Explanation of Rating:
Charity Pot directly shows that proceeds are going to social cause or nonprofit on the lid of each Charity Pot. However, the description is very limited in explaining that 100% of the proceeds are going directly to the listed cause. It says, “100% goes to grassroots charities” but it is misleading to a consumer with the information about pooling the funds together and having an equal distribution to all partners. There needs to be more clear that it does not matter which Charity Pot and cause you to decide to purchase, they will be receiving an equal part along with the other partners involved.