The Year Everything Came Together: 2023 in Review

If 2022 was the year we found our purpose, then 2023 was the year we lived it. I've been running Boxiki for nearly a decade now, and I can say without hesitation that this was our most meaningful year yet. Not necessarily our most profitable (though it was good), but the one that made me proudest.

Bali

I already wrote about our Bali retreat in detail, so I won't repeat the whole story. But I want to say this: the impact of that trip lasted far beyond the five days we spent together. Coming back from Bali, we were a different team. Communication improved. Trust deepened. Inside jokes multiplied (ask anyone about the satay incident). When you've shared a meal with someone at a warung in Ubud, the next Zoom call just feels different.

We're committed to annual retreats now. They're expensive for a company our size, but they're non-negotiable. The ROI isn't on a spreadsheet — it's in the quality of our relationships.

$300,000 in Donations

This was the milestone that surprised us most. When we started our giving program in 2022, I genuinely didn't think we'd reach six figures in total donations within two years. But here we are: over $300,000 in retail value donated to organizations including Habitat for Humanity, Derian House Children's Hospice, the Huron County Food Bank, and several others.

Nineteen pallets to Habitat for Humanity. Nearly 2,000 items to Derian House. Over 2,000 silicone bags to food bank families in Ontario. Each donation was its own story, its own logistics challenge, its own moment of connection with organizations doing incredible work.

The part that gets me is that none of this was part of a grand strategy. We didn't have a CSR department or a corporate giving playbook. We just kept saying yes when the opportunity arose, kept reaching out to organizations that aligned with our values, and kept showing up with products when they needed them.

ClimatePartner and the Road Ahead

We renewed our ClimatePartner commitment this year and expanded certification to additional products. But the bigger news is what's coming: ClimatePartner is transitioning from their "carbon neutral" label to a new "ClimatePartner Certified" standard that requires companies to demonstrate concrete emissions reduction measures alongside offset purchases.

This is a higher bar, and frankly, it's the right one. Carbon neutrality through offsets alone was always a starting point, not a destination. The new standard pushes companies like us to actually reduce our footprint — not just compensate for it. We're already working on our transition plan and expect to be among the first in our category to achieve the new certification in early 2024.

The Team

Our team is the best it's ever been. Not just in skill — in cohesion. The combination of the Bali retreat, shared charitable projects, and daily collaboration across time zones has forged something special. We argue respectfully, celebrate generously, and hold each other accountable without resentment.

I know every founder says their team is amazing. But I really mean it. These people make me want to build something worthy of their talent and dedication.

Looking Ahead

2024 is going to bring changes. New certifications, new brands, new markets. I can't share all the details yet, but I can say this: everything we've built in 2022 and 2023 — the sustainability infrastructure, the giving program, the team culture — is the foundation for what comes next.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Whether you're a customer, a charity partner, a team member, or someone who just stumbled onto this blog — you're part of the Boxiki story now. And the best chapters are still being written.

Happy New Year. Let's make 2024 count.