Case report : Patagonia vs. Columbia Sportswear

Patagonia is a private, certified benefit corporation (B Corp). Columbia Sportswear Company (COLM) is a publicly traded corporation that is listed on NASDAQ.

Compare these two companies' corporate governance and corporate social responsibility definitions, strategies and performances. Discuss below questions from the perspective of a financial manager:

1. Can Patagonia still be a B Corp if it decides to go public? What are the possible advantages and disadvantages?
2. Does Columbia Sportswear Company invest in corporate social responsibility as much as Patagonia does? Why / Why not?
3. Would Columbia Sportswear Company benefit from becoming a public B Corp?