You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist.
-Indira Ghandi
I came across this quote by Indira Ghandi and stopped to think how really true this statement is. I've heard it before and each time I just think what power each of us has to turn a clenched fist, jaw, body, whatever, and reach out to someone with an open hand instead. I know it's easier said that done but even if we stopped for a moment and took a few deep breaths, can it really help diffuse a situation?
Our partners, both locally and internationally, are an amazing bunch who have overcome many odds. Rather than turning their backs to the injustices they've been dealt, they've tried to make things better. Often, they really didn't have a choice to even turn their backs - they had a family to feed, clothe and shelter. But despite all of their hardships, they've learned a way to use their skills to make beautiful pieces and, through the process, found dignity and a voice.
I'm delighted to help facilitate making their work and sharing their dreams with you through www.World-Shoppe.com. Being an artist, anywhere in the world, is truly a passion. Being an artist in a developing country has a whole different set of challenges since, often, the only raw material you have from which to work comes from nature or something has to be re-used. While this makes a nice little entree into the fashionable "eco-friendly" movement we're experiencing, it's a matter of survival at a different level for our artisans.
New shipments are arriving daily now as we get into heavy holiday mode. We're unpacking, shooting images, writing our product descriptions and finalizing some holiday events we'll be at this season. We can't wait to share the products and the stories with you. Please bookmark www.World-Shoppe.com and visit often! We're delighted you're on this journey with us and look forward to bringing you items that are not only good for our artisans, but the planet, too.
-Megy Karydes, Founder
www.World-Shoppe.com
Monday, September 15, 2008
Monday, September 08, 2008
Selling More, or Selling Out?
Starting a company like http://www.world-shoppe.com/ has been something I've wanted to do since I was little - I just didn't know it was going to look like this e-boutique. The goal was to start a business helping others, especially women, who may not have the opportunities to excel whether that's because of their society, polical climate, religious beliefs, or whatever. Because, I felt, if women could "work" outside the home and make money, their "worth" is looked upon differently because of the way they contribute to their family and community. They also gain a kind of voice that isn't always available to women.
http://www.world-shoppe.com/ was launched to help given women a voice by purchasing products from them - and paying them a fair wage for their work. Sometimes sales aren't stellar and other times they are great. But each day we plug away because we know that each sale does make a difference to that family - women, men, children and entire communities.
When some companies I've long admired started, I imagined they had their own specific goals in mind. In fact, my MBA admission cover letter said that I wanted to start a company helping others, just like Anita Rodham (The Body Shop) or Jerry Greenfield and Ben Cohen (Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream). I admired companies like Tom's of Maine, Burt's Bees, and Honest Tea. Sadly, most of these companies are no longer owned or operated by those forward-thinking entrepreneurs. They've sold their companies to larger companies - and I now wonder if their original goals are still even considered.
I was having lunch with some friends when this topic came out and I was surprised at how few of them knew that these companies sold - what a brilliant marketing tactic. Why not let people, their loyal buyers, think that nothing happened? Makes sense, don't you think, especially if you have an issue supporting the "larger" company for one reason or another? So, in case you didn't know, here are some companies that have sold in recent years:
http://www.world-shoppe.com/ was launched to help given women a voice by purchasing products from them - and paying them a fair wage for their work. Sometimes sales aren't stellar and other times they are great. But each day we plug away because we know that each sale does make a difference to that family - women, men, children and entire communities.
When some companies I've long admired started, I imagined they had their own specific goals in mind. In fact, my MBA admission cover letter said that I wanted to start a company helping others, just like Anita Rodham (The Body Shop) or Jerry Greenfield and Ben Cohen (Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream). I admired companies like Tom's of Maine, Burt's Bees, and Honest Tea. Sadly, most of these companies are no longer owned or operated by those forward-thinking entrepreneurs. They've sold their companies to larger companies - and I now wonder if their original goals are still even considered.
I was having lunch with some friends when this topic came out and I was surprised at how few of them knew that these companies sold - what a brilliant marketing tactic. Why not let people, their loyal buyers, think that nothing happened? Makes sense, don't you think, especially if you have an issue supporting the "larger" company for one reason or another? So, in case you didn't know, here are some companies that have sold in recent years:
- Odwalla - Coca Cola
- Honest Tea - Coca Cola
- Rhino Records - TimeWarner
- Cascadian Farms - General Mills
- Stoneyfield Farms - Group Danone
- Tom's of Maine - Colgate
- The Body Shop - L'Oreal
- Burt's Bees - Clorox
- Ben & Jerry - Unilever
There are countless press releases that tout why the founders sold to the larger companies: it was a way to broaden the brand and the mission, create more jobs, etc. I get it. But it just makes it that much harder to "support" their original brand/company/mission when I'm not, directly, supporting another larger company's brand/company/mission through my purchasing power. And that makes me pause and, often, reach out for a new company brand whose mission still aligns with mine.
You can do the same - shop fair trade whenever possible, shop locally, shop farmers market and organic food and clothing whenever you can.
I'm not naive to think I'm going to change the world - but by golly, if I can change the world even for one person, I'll keep doing what I'm doing until I can't do it anymore.
Thanks for sticking around and reading...and supporting http://www.world-shoppe.com/ in any way you can!
Warmly,
-Megy Karydes, Founder
www.World-Shoppe.com
Thursday, September 04, 2008
www.World-Shoppe.com Web site Refresh on-target
Last month I posted that http://www.world-shoppe.com/ was going to get "refreshed". My goal is that after four years in business (I can't believe it's been four wonderful years!), it was time to let http://www.world-shoppe.com/ grow up from its baby stage.
When we first launched http://www.world-shoppe.com/, it was my first e-boutique venture and while I knew a bit about retail from my volunteering at various non-profit retail shops, this was a whole new ball game. To make our experience launching the site as easy as possible, my Web designers and I decided to use a Yahoo platform to make http://www.world-shoppe.com/ a reality. And while I know my Web designers were less than thrilled with the opportunity to really customize the site as I wanted it, we made it work because there were other things we needed to focus on which included getting the best selection of fair trade gifts, home accessories, kitchen accents and stationery to you (and I think we've done a pretty good job of that based on our increasing sales figures every year since we launched!).
We now have a good, solid groups of fair trade partners all over the world and we continue to source more on a regular basis while keeping our commitment true to our existing partners.
But, as we look to the horizon, we knew that we needed to make our site more effective and functional. Constructive criticism was noted (yes, we listened!) and things that we personally wanted to improve was added to our "wish list". We searched for a web designer that understood our need to be thoughtful to the mission of fair trade while still giving us some wonderful concepts from which to choose.
Well, today we received our first phase mocks up since our site map was approved - and I'm thrilled. While we still need to make some minor tweaks, I'm seriously amazed at how our Web designer took our "wish list" and translated them into a true reflection of easy-to-navigate and visually appealing pages.
I wish I could post some of the pages but that would spoil the "reveal" we're planning to share in just a couple of months. So you'll have to wait and see!
In the meantime, thank you again for your support - and let us know what you think we could do better with our site. Our Blog allows comments - send them to us!
Thanks again!
-Megy Karydes, Founder
http://www.world-shoppe.com/
When we first launched http://www.world-shoppe.com/, it was my first e-boutique venture and while I knew a bit about retail from my volunteering at various non-profit retail shops, this was a whole new ball game. To make our experience launching the site as easy as possible, my Web designers and I decided to use a Yahoo platform to make http://www.world-shoppe.com/ a reality. And while I know my Web designers were less than thrilled with the opportunity to really customize the site as I wanted it, we made it work because there were other things we needed to focus on which included getting the best selection of fair trade gifts, home accessories, kitchen accents and stationery to you (and I think we've done a pretty good job of that based on our increasing sales figures every year since we launched!).
We now have a good, solid groups of fair trade partners all over the world and we continue to source more on a regular basis while keeping our commitment true to our existing partners.
But, as we look to the horizon, we knew that we needed to make our site more effective and functional. Constructive criticism was noted (yes, we listened!) and things that we personally wanted to improve was added to our "wish list". We searched for a web designer that understood our need to be thoughtful to the mission of fair trade while still giving us some wonderful concepts from which to choose.
Well, today we received our first phase mocks up since our site map was approved - and I'm thrilled. While we still need to make some minor tweaks, I'm seriously amazed at how our Web designer took our "wish list" and translated them into a true reflection of easy-to-navigate and visually appealing pages.
I wish I could post some of the pages but that would spoil the "reveal" we're planning to share in just a couple of months. So you'll have to wait and see!
In the meantime, thank you again for your support - and let us know what you think we could do better with our site. Our Blog allows comments - send them to us!
Thanks again!
-Megy Karydes, Founder
http://www.world-shoppe.com/
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
www.World-Shoppe.com IN THE NEWS
www.World-Shoppe.com has been featured in not one but TWO national magazines this month - Every Day with Rachael Ray and Family Circle! We are so excited and we've been busy shipping out baby tagine sets and recycled glass beaded necklaces and earrings (since, yes, those were the items featured in the magazines respectively!).
Our Baby Tagine Salt and Pepper Wells handmade by artisans in Morocco were chosen as the very first item in Rach's FAVES feature - and, of course, in Rachael's favorite color - orange! http://www.world-shoppe.com/kitchen/k07.htm
Family Circle chose our Tiara Recycled Glass Beaded Necklace handmade by a women's cooperative in Ghana: http://www.world-shoppe.com/womenaccessories/wa12.htm.
We're always appreciative whenever we receive any editorial coverage because not only does that allow us to share the story of fair trade and our artisans, but it allows us to sell more of their items which translates into more work and opportunities for our artisan partners. What a win-win-win for everyone!
Thanks so much, Every Day with Rachael Ray and Family Circle and all of your fabulous readers!
Warmly,
Megy Karydes, Founder
www.World-Shoppe.com
Our Baby Tagine Salt and Pepper Wells handmade by artisans in Morocco were chosen as the very first item in Rach's FAVES feature - and, of course, in Rachael's favorite color - orange! http://www.world-shoppe.com/kitchen/k07.htm
Family Circle chose our Tiara Recycled Glass Beaded Necklace handmade by a women's cooperative in Ghana: http://www.world-shoppe.com/womenaccessories/wa12.htm.
We're always appreciative whenever we receive any editorial coverage because not only does that allow us to share the story of fair trade and our artisans, but it allows us to sell more of their items which translates into more work and opportunities for our artisan partners. What a win-win-win for everyone!
Thanks so much, Every Day with Rachael Ray and Family Circle and all of your fabulous readers!
Warmly,
Megy Karydes, Founder
www.World-Shoppe.com
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