Ethics is a field that is on the up; it’s currently popular & fashionable to ‘do’ ethics.

When I started studying ethics formally four years ago, people often asked me why I was studying it. Why? Because it’s important, because I want to understand the various theories, because it’s so closely related to actions, motivations, emotions…

Marketing works… Your marketing changes the way people act… The morality of marketing is this: you need to be able to stand up and acknowledge that you’re doing what you’re doing… We’re responsible for what we sell and how we sell it. We’re responsible for the effects (and the side effects) of our actions… It is our decision. Whatever the decision is, you need to own it. If you can’t look that decision in the mirror, market something else.

Recently, Seth Godin (marketing expert) asked Is it possible to hold a marketer morally responsible? Of course, as he stated - yes, it is.

I started Ethical Beads because I learnt of a few of the many issues with bead manufacture and I didn’t want to be perpetuating the problem with my own jewellery crafting, especially as I had started selling my jewellery and was hoping to launch a profitable business.

Well, the hobby business is over and the real one is in development. Wish me luck and if you’d like to help in any way, please do let me know - I’d love to have you on board.

Interestingly, separately from thinking about this entry I had the brainwave of comparing marketing & evangelism and commenting on the ethics of each for my dissertation. What do you reckon?