Meet Cary Telander Fortin | co-founder, goodbuy

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cary Telander Fortin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cary, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
For me, it’s all based on intuition. Life continually throws roadblocks and challenges all our way. Sometimes, I believe these are cues to pivot or to release a project. In the case of goodbuy, myself and Cara (my co-founder), both believe in the greater mission with our entire beings. It’s the only way we could have started a project this ambitious at this moment in our lives. So if a setback appears or we struggle in a certain process, we know to be flexible and resilient in small ways so we can always push forward with our greater mission at goodbuy.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve been an entrepreneur for over a decade. It’s in my bones to see a problem without a solution and to work (and work and work:) until a new solution exists. I also know what a privilege it is to be able to work on projects that are deeply meaningful and inspiring to me every day. The company I previously co-founded (New Minimalism) taught me over 10 years SO much about mindful, intentional and sustainable consumption. The most surprising takeaway was that the things that people value most are the ones with the most meaning, the best story, imbued with love, regardless of how that item appears. That is why buying from small businesses with goodbuy is so impactful; every item you buy comes from a real human who had crafted or thoughtfully curated this exact products for their store — and is doing a happy dance when they see your purchase come through! I means so much more than a random box inside a box with a slip of paper thrown inside could ever mean.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The inspiration and the credit for goodbuy lies with small business owners. They are such pivotal parts of all our communities — contributing 63% of net new jobs across the U.S., keeping $.68 of every $1 circulating inside their communities, 250% more likely than mega retailers to give back to their communities — and they are the reason we work at goodbuy everyday. Each business owner we build a relationship with, each time we see a beautiful product on a beautiful site from an individual with a real story… it just reminds up the radically inclusive world we see to nourish and grow.

Website: www.trygoodbuy.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trygoodbuy/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caryfortin/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trygoodbuy/