There are many ways you can support your favorite small business while also giving back to various charities and foundations. Whether it's for a birthday, anniversary, a special holiday, or a just because gift, it's always a great time to shop small and support others.
By shopping small, not only are you putting money back into the local economy; you are helping a person, a family, a community. You are also supporting a dream and buying the small business owner more time to be able to keep creating and delivering a piece of their soul, that is their product. How awesome is that?!?!
Also, it always feels good to support others in general, right? So, why not shop small AND shop for a cause at the same time? You have power when you consciously decide where to put your dollars. You may think it's little, but it's a domino effect and it changes people's lives.
I've made it pretty easy for you and honestly for myself. I always get so excited about gift giving and sometimes I get overwhelmed and completely forget where it was that I saw or heard about these wonderful brands. Sooooo..... I've put them all in one place for us. I will continue to share more in future posts.... I'm just gettin' started, people!
And without further adieu, check out these amazing small businesses below and enjoy while you......
SHOP FOR A CAUSE!
Since launching in November 2014, The Shop Forward has raised over $4,200,000 for various charities by selling items associated with a cause.
Every product sold on The Shop Forward follows their mission of supporting programs and organizations that are effectively working to help others around the world. The Shop Forward is a social-impact driven brand and business, created to offer consumers the opportunity to make an impact with their purchase.
The brands goal is to provide a platform to collaborate with charities for fundraising and spreading awareness while offering great, unique, and ethically made products for customers to enjoy. You're always paying it forward when you shop with them.
Some of the causes The Shop Forward has supported includes: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, American Red Cross, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Project Medishare, Capital Area Food Bank, Andy Roddick Foundation, Austin Pets Alive, Musicians on Call, Building Homes for Heroes, The Trevor Project, Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation, Epic Girl, UNICEF, and so many more.
The Shop Forward is continually launching new products and campaigns so be sure to check back and keep in touch with them through their Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or sign up for their mailing list!
My favorite items from The Shop Forward is the CHOOSE JOY collection.
“Socks. We need socks.”
March 2014: The phrase that started it all.
"As sophomores in Florida State University’s entrepreneurship program, we took a trip to our local homeless shelter looking for an opportunity to help. Expecting to hear “food” or “shelter,” we were surprised to learn there was a huge need for clean socks. The inspiration for DivvyUp was born."
On Father's Day, I gave my brother a pair of custom DivvyUp socks with my niece and nephews faces on them. It truly was the best gift ever, and not only to my brother, but just seeing the look on his face AND my niece and nephews faces when they saw the gift was beyond priceless! It made my heart so happy!
The kids went wild when they saw their little adorable faces on Papa's feet and that they will be with him wherever he goes! My brother is a cool Dad and wears cool socks, so he totally pulls them off for work or play!
To visit the DivvyUp website and customize and create socks,
use my Affiliate Link HERE .
Jane Dottie Vintage offers handpicked sustainable styles and provides high quality vintage apparel as a conscious alternative to the environmentally destructive fashion industry. JDV sells vintage tees, denim, private collections, collaborations with Urban Outfitters, jewelry, accessories, decor, the list goes on. Jane Dottie Vintage was created in 2019 by Tatyana ZW Alanis. She was raised by an extremely hard working single mother in Anaheim, California. All while growing up she admired her mothers strength and style. From childhood she had a strong desire to promote the welfare of others. She created JDV in efforts to combat fast fashion and bring quality sustainable styles to her community all while giving back to women in need. She aims to create a platform that not only involves all things eco friendly but all things women empowerment.
The fashion industry is the second most polluting industry in the world.
By offering sustainable styles Jane Dottie Vintage intend to conserve water, avoid all types of pollution, and try our best to help combat climate change. JDV says NO to single use and YES to second hand. Each garment is pre-loved and selected by hand with tender loving care, ensuring only the best vintage pieces leave their hands (and hearts) into yours.
Slow Fashion is an awareness and approach to fashion, which considers the processes and resources required to make clothing, particularly focusing on sustainability. It involves buying better-quality garments that will last for longer and values fair treatment of people, animals and the planet.
Jane Dottie Vintage promises to donate a portion of their proceeds to help women in need. Each quarter, JDV chooses an organization that honestly helps and supports women of our community. JDV strongly believes in helping those in need and would rather give back then make a profit. Want JDV to donate to an organization you love? They include a form on their website HERE to do just that!
Jungalow® started as a design blog in Justina Blakeney's tiny, plant-filled living room back in 2009 and has since grown into a lifestyle brand and the go-to source for jungalicious design goods and inspiration. Their shop features signature Justina Blakeney Home® and Jungalow® collections designed in their Los Angeles studio as well as a curated ensemble of creative, colorful, modern goods from around the globe. They are also proud to offer an exclusive, rotating selection of high quality, limited edition art prints from an international group of female artists.
Jungalow® works with vendors from all over the world to source, design, and bring products to life. From ceramics made in Vietnam, to textiles woven in India, to their wallpapers printed here in the U.S.A., they partner closely with their vendors to produce quality products but make consistent efforts to look out for the artisans, communities and the environment along the way.
As part of our mission to help foster the human/nature connection, each time you purchase anything from Jungalow® , at least two trees are planted with every single order. (Read more about that program here.)
Jungalow® also gives back to non-profit organizations whose missions they believe in and support. In the last few years, they have donated to the ACLU, Black Lives Matter, Girls Who Code, Girltrek, The Rainforest Alliance, The National Organization for Women, The Downtown Women's Center, and the Southern Poverty Law Center, and the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services, among others.
Visit the Jungalow® website HERE .