By Mia Lupo | Fashion and Lifestyles Co-Editor
Meet the master of multi-tasking, Ben Aalvik.
Originally from Bellevue, W.A., Aalvik has lived most of his life in Rhode Island, including his college career at Salve Regina University in Newport, R.I. Aalvik graduated with the Class of 2011 and earned his bachelor’s degree in Information Systems Management (the equivalent of Applied Technologies) and a minor in Business Administration. Aalvik, who is one of the co-founders of Spanchor apparel, is currently working on several projects that are centered on a combination of health, charity, and positivity.
I asked Aalvik a few questions in an email interview about life after graduation, running his latest business venture, Pure Happiness, and what it takes to stay focused on top of it all:
ML: What activities and clubs were you involved with while you were at Salve Regina University?
BA: I learned a great amount from the various jobs and internships I had along the way. Creating web sites for the RI Small Business Development Center was great for networking. I was on an activities board and a member of AMA, while running Spanchor as well.
ML: So…What are you doing now exactly?
BA: This is always a long-winded answer for me. I currently work at Regency Cigar Emporium, which is where I learn so much about running a small business as well as life and other business lessons. It’s not the kind of job most people think it is and that is difficult to explain, but I enjoy it very much and do not look forward to the day that I would have to leave there to pursue my side projects full time. I’m also a freelance web designer.
Aside from that, I continue to run the clothing brand Spanchor that was started back in 2008 with my dear friend Matt Maynard. Fully Rooted is a juice company I started with some friends in spring 2013. We sell fresh cold-pressed juice at farmers markets and events around R.I. Tied to that same group of friends is another project by the name of Delivering Hope, a non-profit we formed last fall. It started out as a thanksgiving basket brigade where every year everything needed for a Thanksgiving meal is packaged in a basket containing all organic ingredients and given to a family going through tough times. It also shows the family that the community does care about them. Last year we served 60 families—it was our fifth year. We have a goal to serve 500 families by 2017. Now, we provide hope and assistance to families and individuals year round.
This project is what inspired me to create Pure Happiness after the 2012 delivery. It would be a clothing brand that gives to various causes so that I, personally, could have a larger impact. I can only give so much of my time or money towards good causes, but creating a company that could sustainably give throughout its life, would be more impact than I could ever possibly provide alone.
ML: Describe Pure Happiness’s mission in three words.
BA: Spread Pure Happiness. (It’s all in the name)
ML: How is clothing made from sustainable materials, like hemp and bamboo, better than conventional cotton?
BA: This answer is twofold. Health and eco-friendliness. Conventional cotton is not organic. The plant itself, organic or not, is extremely taxing on water supply. When using pesticides and herbicides, which cotton is responsible for most of the world’s consumption of these, the environment is harmed to a large degree. These chemicals also create a very toxic material that cannot be washed out and therefore is absorbed into our skin. Toxic cottonseed oil is also largely consumed by cattle and then by us. Most Americans eat more cotton than they wear. Organic cotton is much better, but still not the best. Our products are a blend of organic cotton and hemp or viscose from bamboo.
Hemp and bamboo are grown without the use of any chemicals and need at least half the amount of water to thrive, while at the same time providing over double the amount of fiber per acre grown. Their fibers are stronger and provide antibacterial and moisture wicking properties that are normally obtained through the use of chemical additives. More facts can be found on our site and there are much more!
ML: As an up-and-coming start-up, it’s amazing that Pure Happiness already works with several charities. Why is balancing philanthropy and business important?
BA: I have been involved with several charities other than Delivering Hope for a while now. Some others include Endless Abilities, and Multiple Sclerosis Community Foundation. They of course, are going to be the first I would like to help. And that doesn’t have to wait until we are a larger company. Not all help is financial, and I truly believe that when you give for a great cause, you get back tenfold. By working with organizations from the start, that win-win relationship has no delay.
By the time we are ready to roll out the first line of apparel, there will be more people who know our story and our growth will be accelerated. This is especially important when raising capital on Kickstarter.com. The impact we will have on these charities can then happen sooner, and more charities can then be added to our community more rapidly. It’s like the original packing of the snowball. Our Kickstarter will start that snowball to roll down that hill while we grow and increase our impact among causes along the way.
ML: In addition to Pure Happiness, you’re involved with a lot of different things. You’re really busy! How do you stay organized?
BA: It’s not easy. Priorities must be decided upon week to week. I can’t always be a part of some things that are happening in Fully Rooted or Delivering Hope, but I provide value to them in other ways like social media, printing apparel, or web site work. It’s also important to have great help and delegate. I can’t do everything. I know that. I do a lot, but having to-do lists and sticking to a calendar while taking it day-by-day keeps the stress level to a minimum. Not everything will get done, but I have to make sure the important things do happen.
ML: Do you have any words of wisdom for students interested in starting their own company?
BA: Just do it! I’m not a fan of Nike, but I love their slogan. Do not be afraid to make mistakes or get shot down, because it’s going to happen anyways. The more mistakes the better. It’s always a learning experience and as long as you are taking action and learning, you will grow and get what you want. It’s also important to evaluate that experience and learn from those mistakes. Journal your story as you go and when you look back, it will be hilarious. One of my favorite quotes by Ralph Waldo Emerson is: “All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.” So go experiment!
Networking is also equally important. If you don’t know a lot of people, then a lot of people don’t know you. And it makes it that much harder to create something when no one knows what you’re doing. Market yourself and build rapport. Remember when I said what you give, you get back tenfold? Provide value to people you meet, and when the time comes for you to need their support, they will be there ready to thank you in full.
Update: To learn more about Pure Happiness, visit their Facebook page and their Prefundia page.
