We knew from the start that we wanted our relationship with customers to be authentic, inclusive, and enabling. With constant care, attention, and dedication, we were able to make this happen, creating a community united by a distinctive vision, shared values, and the love for craftsmanship, originality, freedom, and individuality. All of which are intrinsic to our Company and to the way we work.
We put a lot of love and thought into designing a customer experience, both physical and digital, unlike any other. Our visionary and distinctive retail store concepts, such as the new Venice Store and Forward Store, are a blend of innovation, art, and traditional Italian craftsmanship conceived to take the experience to a new dimension. By harnessing the power of communication, we created unique spaces and channels to extend our conversation with customers beyond the moment of purchase. Most importantly, believing that our customers’ story is our story, we enable them to share their ideas and tell us about their stories, hopes, and dreams, so that our artisans may translate them into one-of-a-kind, personalized products through our signature Co-Creation and Co-Action experiences.
We strongly believe in the power of community and in making everyone feel welcome and valued, just like in a family. We also believe that small actions can have a big impact, and that together we can create change and make a difference. Our commitment to promoting positive change finds expression in projects and initiatives that align with our core values and corporate culture, especially in three areas: the promotion of arts and culture, community development, and support for people in emergency situations. We provide support through cash contributions and in-kind donations, and by volunteering our time for national and international programs.
Volunteering is such an enriching and rewarding experience that we encourage all our Golden Family to get involved and make a difference. Through our Give Back Permits, the people at our Italian headquarters can take up to 12 hours of paid leave each year to participate in individual or collective volunteering activities. For those who wish to be involved in projects that require more time and continuity, our Give Back Project allows for up to 10 business days of special paid leave, which can be used all at once or once a week for up to ten consecutive weeks.
It’s not just a way to show how much we care about our communities; it's also an opportunity for personal and professional growth and it strengthens the bonds with and within the Golden Family.
Being a community means helping each other in difficult times. Given the current social, economic, geopolitical, and environmental context, and the increasing frequency of natural disasters, pandemics, and conflicts, we feel it’s our responsibility to do our part and help when the need arises. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is our most relevant partner in providing disaster relief. Through the UNHCR, we were able to aid those affected by the war in Ukraine and by the earthquake in Türkiye and Syria, in addition to our employees supporting both causes individually.
We also started a long-term collaboration with the TOG Foundation. This foundation provides rehabilitation pathways for children and young individuals grappling with complex neurological conditions. Our commitment is based on a first three-years project, during which we will actively contribute to covering 60% of the annual operational costs for the newly inaugurated swimming pool at the Foundation's site in Milan.
We believe in the power of conversation with our communities and in giving them a platform to be heard. In our effort to build a movement for a better, more sustainable reality, we aim to enable and inspire as many people as we can – our people, customers, future talents, and industry peers – to join us and make more sustainable choices every day. By listening up and opening to our communities, we are able to make progress towards our sustainability ambitions, and towards creating a shared culture of responsibility and kindness, faster than we could alone.