Giving and Gratitude

Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday.

We thought long and hard on this one—whether or not to do a big sale and what it means for us to participate in this post holiday shopping frenzy called Black Friday. With all that is happening around us, I feel it is most important at this time of year not to take, but to give. Don’t get me wrong, I like a sale as much as the next, but I don’t like what the sale culture is doing to our small, local and sustainable businesses, not to mention our planet. I instead looked to other companies that I admire, like Patagonia and REI and what I found is that they give in other, more fulfilling ways. Did you know that Patagonia gives 100% of it’s profits to environmental causes on Black Friday?  And because of that sentiment, they are pledging to donate 10 million dollars to environmental causes. O.M.G. Can you imagine? How COOL? 

So we here in our tiny 1200 sq ft shop, in a big way, we have decided to not partake in what we don’t believe in and instead, we are offering you to come and shop our full priced, gorgeous items, from amazing and talented designers in addition to a beefed up sale rack and know that we will be donating 15% of all our in store and online sales to Santa Barbara’s Organic Soup Kitchen. We hope this gives you a moment in the midst of this time of year and the freneticism of your shopping to pause and feel good about your spending.  
 
We also in celebration of small businesses and designers, we have invited Amber of ARA Handbags on Saturday, November 24th for a trunk show with her handmade leather bags and goods. This is the backpack we and you all love and now you can pre-order her Spring collection at 20% off. And know there is a new cheetah print that you and I will both want. Meet me there and let’s give back.