Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Workman. Robert and the Barebones team share their story with us below:
As Robert grew, he excelled at entrepreneurship through a myriad of business ventures, but his work has always been rooted in giving back. After selling his first business (an arts and crafts store named Provo Craft), he delved full-time into his true passion: philanthropic work. This inspired Robert to found Tifie, a company that helps marginalized individuals meet their own basic needs and achieve economic independence through enterprise.
Tifie continues to help thousands of people – from poverty-stricken families to entire communities recovering from natural disasters. Early in his professional career, Robert learned that small enterprises with talent, when given economic opportunity to grow, can impact their communities in exponentially positive ways. This philosophy has stuck with Robert throughout his lifetime and continues to fuel his desire to empower individuals and small businesses worldwide.
Robert believes that if he can help others reach economic independence while working within their own social and cultural framework, they’ll be better able to meet their basic needs, manifest their infinite potential, and ultimately give back to their communities. This is the heartbeat of his philanthropic philosophy. Robert’s life and professional career are steeped in hands-on, in-person, humanitarian work for the benefit of individuals and communities globally.
Before the conception of Barebones, Robert was working hard to help poverty-stricken communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. During this time, he faced some of the greatest hardships in his humanitarian endeavors. In his darkest hour, when his initiatives were failing due to widespread corruption, he nearly walked away from his projects. But then a message came to him:
“If not you, who? If not now, when?”
This impactful communication resonated in Robert’s heart and inspired him to keep working. Ultimately, he reapproached his strategy and identified five universal needs to focus his give-back energy: education, food, shelter, water, and electricity.
From this new vantage point and through his work at Tifie, Robert founded the company Goal Zero to bring solar-powered electricity to communities in the Congo. Today, Goal Zero continues to provide people with electricity through portable solar chargers. Through his lifetime achievements at Tifie, Goal Zero, and Barebones, Robert teaches us that anyone from humble beginnings, with a strong work ethic and a desire to do good, can have a profoundly positive impact on the world.
What drives him is partially self-empowerment, but more importantly, self-improvement. What inspires him is the opportunity to reinvent ourselves and constantly be better. He’s a self-proclaimed agent of positive change that is continually trying to help people improve their situation in life. And through his work and perspective, Robert inspires us all to consider how we can improve ourselves, our family, our community, and our world.
Robert’s personal values are his north star, providing the cardinal direction for where and how he leads his companies. Integrity, honesty, giveback, and open, respectful communication are core values integral to both Robert and the Barebones family. His down-to-earth and humble energy enables him to facilitate authentic collaboration throughout the Barebones team.
He recognizes that he is imperfect, just like everyone in the world, and he doesn’t allow shortcomings or unrealistic expectations to hold him back from fulfilling his life purpose. Robert believes that imperfect people are still capable of doing perfect things. This is revealed in how he engages with communities in need and his team at Barebones.
In recent years, Robert has gone back to his agricultural roots by creating Barebones and the products that help people feed themselves through tending the land. He’s become more in tune with mother nature and finds joy in helping others do the same. He’s always been a curious and spritely individual; a true kid-at-heart who finds wonder around every bend in life.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Life is not a smooth road, and neither is running a business. These struggles are common to every business owner: too much inventory, not enough inventory, cash flow, and finding the right team. There are ups and downs, seasons of plenty, and seasons of scarcity.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Barebones is a B-corp Certified, a mission-driven business that makes outdoor living products. Many of our products are vintage-inspired or inspired by heirloom quality items we have found along the way. At the end of the day, we are a lifestyle company that inspires customers to get outside or spend time with their community.
Barebones products are thoughtfully designed and made with quality materials. We strive for sustainability and design products with longevity in mind, which is why we offer many replacement parts to extend the life of your goods. We also try to use plastic as minimally as possible in both product design and packaging. We have recently introduced biodegradable plastic to our packaging and often turn towards design materials with natural elements, like wood and steel.
What sets us apart is when Barebones was founded we were a mission looking for a company, not a company looking for a mission.
What I am most proud of is the undergirding and overarching of what most people cannot see. We have beautifully designed and well-marketed products, but, it is truly our team that makes it all happen. They are the ones that come to work and figure out how to solve the issues day after day.
We are passionate about doing good. We are proud of our B-Corp status, which challenges us to excel at every level of our supply chain and business model. We give back locally and internationally whenever we can. Our employees are given a week of time each year for their volunteer efforts.
You can read about this and more in our 2021 Impact Report: https://barebonesliving.com/blogs/connection-culture/barebones-2021-impact-report.
What matters most to you?
What matters most to me is to help others help themselves through good, honest jobs. When individuals and families can provide and thrive for their own, they are happier and add to a better, more sustainable world.
Contact Info:
- Email: support@barebonesliving.com
- Website: barebonesliving.com
- Instagram: @barebonesliving
- Facebook: @barebonesliving
- Youtube: barebonesliving
- Located in Sugarhouse
1215 Wilmington Ave St. 140
Salt Lake City, UT 84106 - Phone: (801) 649-3088
- Customer Service Hours
Monday – Friday
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (MT)
*Store hours may vary – please call ahead
