Lisa and Tara had the opportunity to speak with Davis Smith, the founder and CEO of Cotopaxi, a company that makes innovative outdoor gear while also giving back to the global community. It's also the newest addition to the SanMar family.

In this episode, Davis reveals what goes into making Cotopaxi's hip AND sustainable bags, discusses the company's core values and talks about how a kid named Edgar shaped his desire to help the world.

THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE

• Davis explains where Cotopaxi got its name and what went into selecting the llama as its mascot.
• How Davis' love of adventure and exploration influenced the direction Cotopaxi has taken.
• How Cotopaxi produces sustainable, colorful, one-of-a-kind bags.
• What brought Cotopaxi to work with SanMar.
• Breaking down how exactly Cotopaxi gives back to communities.
• Davis' connection and reunion with Edgar, the boy who changed the track of Davis' life.

QUOTES

• "We didn't have a lot of money but we could definitely adventure."
• "Anyone that has adventured or seen the world or spent time in the outdoors has connected with something bigger than themselves."
• "We felt like if there was a time for us to focus on doing good, it was today."
• "It's just really important to build those rituals and traditions around those values so that they're not just words on the wall but they're something that everyone lives every single day."

LINKS

• Cotopaxi: https://www.cotopaxi.com/
• SanMar U: http://www.education.sanmar.com/
• SanMar's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sanmarcorp/
• SanMar's Twitter: @sanmar_corp
• SanMar's Instagram: @sanmar_corp