Choosing by People and Culture. | The People and Culture of INSTINCT BROTHERS

When choosing a company, many people look at its business or size. But perhaps the truest substance of a company lies deeper: what kinds of people work there, and with what kinds of values.

INSTINCT BROTHERS Inc. has always cherished one thing while running the lifestyle brand Value Village. That is “people” and “culture.”

Today, please let us share a little from the inside: how we choose our companions, and what kind of culture we are trying to grow.

To begin with, what is “culture” for a company?

Culture is not a set of rules written in a rulebook. What does a person choose when no one is watching? If someone is in trouble, does a hand naturally reach out? Can small promises continue to be kept? The accumulation of such everyday behavior eventually becomes “what makes that company itself.” We believe culture is not a system, but the way people live. That is precisely why we think it is something to be nurtured carefully over time.

Why do you value character more than skills?

Skills can be learned later. But a heart that cares for others and an attitude of trying to be sincere are not easily taught. When we welcome someone as a companion, what we first look at is not “what they can do,” but “how they want to be.” Under our belief that every person matters, we want to value not titles or backgrounds, but the wishes inside that person. A straightforward heart over a clever way of doing things. That is how we choose.

What does it mean to “grow together”?

We do not call it growth when only the company becomes larger. The people who work there, their families, the partners who walk alongside us, and the local community all become a little more abundant, step by step. We see that whole picture as growth. A relationship where only one person benefits will not last long. That is why we choose to support one another rather than compete. To keep learning, to share, and to pass things on to the next generation. The idea of Grow Together, growing together, is at the heart of our culture.

How does that culture relate to product making?

A culture that values people always comes back to each single item in our hands. Careful craftsmanship is possible only in an environment where people are not rushed. It lets us protect the basics at the level they deserve: providing moisture, preventing dryness, and keeping skin healthy. Products that can be used with confidence over time are not born from a way of making things that places a burden on someone else. We care about people and culture because we believe that, in the end, they lead to comfort in your everyday life.

What kind of companions do you hope to walk with from here?

What we envision is a circle like a town. From beauty to health, to food and learning, and then to community. As we expand the areas that help shape daily life, we need companions who share the same aspirations. More than titles, it matters that we can look in the same direction. More than speed, it matters that we can walk together for a long time. We want to quietly widen the circle with people like that. That is the future shape of INSTINCT BROTHERS Inc.

Behind each thing you touch in your daily life are the thoughts of many people and a culture nurtured over time. We would be happy if you remembered that quiet background from time to time.

We, too, hope to be one companion who stays close to your life.