Nick Pearce is the CEO & Co-Founder of HoMie, a streetwear clothing social enterprise that launched in 2015.
HoMie uses 100% of its profits to achieve HoMie’s mission of supporting young people affected by homelessness or hardship.
Current Work:
Since 2015, Nick has helped take the brand from a pop-up idea between three friends, to a bricks and mortar retail store that also acts as a base for HoMie’s Pathway Alliance Program - an initiative that sees young people experiencing hardship participate in training, where they gain paid on-the-job experience and accredited learning.
In 2017, Nick was awarded the Victorian Young Achievers Award for Leadership, in 2018, the National Retail Association's Young Retailer of the Year and in 2019, GQ Magazine’s Social Force Award.
Talking Points
Doing Business with Purpose
Key Takeaways:Doing Business with Purpose
- Starting/scaling a social enterprise
- Balancing passion & logic
- Identifying & implementing logical value-adds
Empathetic Employment
Key Takeaways:Empathetic Employment
- Taking a strengths-based approach
- Operating with unconditional positive regard
- Meeting underperformance with curiosity
Leading with Authenticity
Embracing imperfection
Leading with Authenticity
Embracing Imperfection
Mental Health talk
Embracing Imperfection
Video
Nick Pearce | Social Justice Enterprise 'Homie' Helping the Homeless
HoMie started out of curiosity in 2015, between 3 friends eager to break down the stigma associated with homelessness and those experiencing it rough on the streets. Starting as just a Facebook page - Homelessness of Melbourne aimed to draw awareness to the faces and stories of everyday people affected by homelessness and allow people to share their own narrative in a dignified way, ultimately destigmatising and humanising the issue. The following year, this idea grew into HoMie - Homelessness Of Melbourne Incorporated Enterprise and a retail pop-up at Melbourne Central was born, with a singular monogram tee and a few other brands hanging on racks. After a short while at the pop-up, HoMie moved into the now flagship store at 296 Brunswick St, Fitzroy. The flagship store now acts as a base for our two social impact programs - our VIP Shopping Days and a training location for our HoMie Pathway Alliance Program, as well as where we showcase our latest collections across all seasons. From one monogram tee to multiple collections and two solid social impact programs - it’s fair to say the HoMie team is stoked to see how the brand has evolved over the years in making and creating impact in our community. Our programs and overall brand has developed over 4 years to reflect our learnings along the way, of which there have been many, to help us grow and become the social enterprise we are today. We are an organisation that supports young people affected by homelessness or hardship to equip them with skills, confidence and experiences to be more work-ready and better prepared for their future. We are gender neutral, we are socially conscious and we are a community. We value inclusivity, connection, respect, and transparency - just to name a few. We wear these values on our sleeves.I’ve seen Nick present and light up young school children around the need to tackle youth homelessness and the possibilities of a career focused on making a difference in the world. Nick’s e ... keep reading Think Impact
