Kindness and ethical business at Helium

Quarter Strength (Walls), Half Strength (Trim).



For years, when doing odd jobs around the house or for others, my dad has had a habit that I’ve always found moving.

He’ll leave a note, scribble on the back of a spare tile, or jot down the name of a wallpaper or paint shade: little bits of information to make life easier for the person who might come after him. He’ll also avoid shortcuts, like using glue instead of screws, simply so it’s easier “for the next guy”.

It moves me because it’s such a quiet form of kindness. A gentle consideration for a future hypothetical person he’ll probably never meet.

As a team, we try to apply this thinking to guide the work we do now.

Projects, branding, ad campaigns, websites… None of it is a worthwhile investment if its longevity does not extend beyond our involvement.

Henry Ford supposedly said he would give away new cars if all parts and repairs were done at Ford dealers. And there are plenty of websites built with unnecessary proprietary coding that have adapted the lucrative Ford model.

Ethical business may mean we leave money on the table. But we value building work that lasts, work that is understandable, maintainable, and genuinely useful long after we’re out of the picture.

I aspire to carry forward even a fraction of my dad's thoughtful care for others in everything I do. It's a work in progress.

Kind regards,