In the last 9 months, fashion retailer Boohoo has been investigated for modern slavery, been accused of making people work with no social distancing during lockdown, and been found to price the same garments at significantly different prices across its different retail brands. These are just the latest in a number of historic failures to address its supply chain. And yet in the last year its revenue has increased by a massive 41%.
The organisation consistently tries to communicate its good intentions, with the latest announcement being that executive bonuses may be linked to ESG principles. But a trail of broken promises mean that such statements appear to be nothing more than greenwashing, with Boohoo's reputation suffering as a result. But if shareholders are happy, does it matter whether or not consumers trust it or whether it has any ethical principles?
In this episode of the Digital Download podcast, special guests Kate Hartley, co-founder of crisis simulation company Polpeo, and John Brown, founder of brand activisim agency Don't Cry Wolf, discuss the role of ethics, trust and reputation in today's business, and whether Boohoo's success is a result of a societal failure to hold organisations to account.
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