International Women's Day & a Case for Shopping Local
Today is International Women's Day. Also, a Day Without A Woman. Today, I work. Tomorrow, I work. Running a business doesn't come with a whole lot of leisure off-days. But Today, I wear red and make a point to support my favorite local + woman-owned businesses. I really think you should too.
This is not a ploy to get you to purchase from my shop; this is an honest take on why where you spend your money matters.
You've seen that little graphic on Instagram, right? "When you spend your money at a small business, an actual person does a little happy dance." That is true. Shopping small is personal. You can get to know the people who make your goods. You can appreciate products that come with stories, and you get to support the diverse perspectives that shopping small supports - artisans + artists from all walks of life; neighbors raising kids and building a side hustle; passionate friends trying to make a difference.
That's not to say that big companies don't make a difference. Many are. But most aren't. And spending money with those that aren't, hurts us all again and again.
It's hard to transition to shopping consciously. Doing the research. Finding companies that aren't funneling money towards purposes that directly oppose your own life / views / rights. Personally, this year, one of my goals is to break up with Uline, a packaging provider that we source some of our packaging supplies from. Their CEO has raised funds for a particular candidate that I absolutely, morally object to, and no dollars from this business will go to support that.
Our consumer power matters. Our choices matter. We are not passive human beings; we have conscious thoughts / minds / morals. And we can choose to support people, not corporations. People that create consciously; people that give back to their communities + shape the culture of the communities in which we live; people that care about our collective future.
So today, support women. Head to a women's museum. The National Museum of Women in the Arts is a personal favorite. Shop at local small women-owned businesses in your neighborhood. (Here's a map of the DC area rounding up some amazing ones.) Donate to organizations that support causes you care about. Our favorites: National Resources Defense Council / National Public Radio / Planned Parenthood / American Civil Liberties Union / Global Fund for Women / Casa. And support women-owned, minority-owned, small businesses. Follow our Instagram stories today to see some of our other maker women pals. We'll share lots more today.
Today 20% of sales will be donated to the Global Fund for Women. XOXO
