museums&MORE Summer 2019
Products with a Purpose

In our industry, there’s no shortage of companies doing their part to make the world a better place. From community service and mission trips to product and proceeds donation, these are just some of the companies hopping on board the give-back express.

Able Made

ablemadeshop.com

Suzanne McKenzie, Founder + CEO

Company mission: Able Made is an active lifestyle brand that inspires healthy living.

How do your products serve the mission? Sale proceeds of every purchase goes back the support UMBF — Ucal McKenzie Breakaway Foundation, an organization we started when I lost my husband to sudden cardiac arrest while he was playing a soccer game. We produce our socks and accessories responsibly in the USA, and actively resource the most luxurious, high-quality eco material to use in all our products. Able Made is an active lifestyle brand that promotes healthy living, and we do that through making products that are healthy for people and planet, and that empower the next generation with skills and education. Our now award-winning foundation, which celebrates its 10th year this year, provides leading soccer and nutrition, concussion, hydration, hands-only CPR and AED awareness health education to hundreds of city youth in the Boston and Hartford area.

Plans for the future: We (will continue to) partner with museums, non-profits, influencers, celebrities, retailers, and brands who share our values to create custom socks and accessories that support our mission for a healthier community.

How can retailers get involved?We love to collaborate, and have produced collections with Puma, Anya from Project Runway, Threadless, many CFDA designers, and more. Retailers can contact us to collaborate on custom collections that help celebrate their brand experience.

Chicago Lighthouse Industries https://chicagolighthouse.org/

Richard Sullivan, Business Development Manager

Company mission: The Chicago Lighthouse is a world-renowned social service organization serving the blind, visually impaired, disabled and Veteran communities. Recognized as a pioneer in innovation since 1906, The Chicago Lighthouse provides vision rehabilitation services, education, employment opportunities and assistive technology for people of all ages.

 How do your products serve the mission? In 1977 under a program to provide meaningful employment to people who are blind, The Chicago Lighthouse was awarded a contract to build high quality clocks for the US Government and its agencies. Today you don’t have to look very hard to see one of our iconic wall clocks. The Chicago Lighthouse has provided clocks to government offices, military bases, schools, embassies, factories and warehouses around the country and the globe. We have enlisted leading designers to create new and exciting products using the latest color and design trends. From the kitchen to the nursery, from the study to the dorm room or from the teen’s room to the man cave, we have a clock perfectly suited for any home or office environment.

Plans for the future: Chicago Lighthouse Industries’ mission is to help provide meaningful employment for people who are blind. A population impacted by a 70% unemployment rate.

We are constantly exploring new products and expansion of existing product lines to create and sustain good jobs for people who are blind. In 2019 we will be further developing our product customization capabilities allowing us to produce custom clocks geared toward a specific city, cultural attraction, and color trend and consumer niche.

How can retailers get involved? Retailers can demonstrate their social consciousness by embracing The Chicago Lighthouse and our products. Each fashion clock is hand made in the USA by people who are blind. Clock bodies are made using 30% post-consumer recycled materials. We can provide products that match (each) stores’ mission. For more information, contact The Chicago Lighthouse.

 

 

Ornaments 4 Orphans

ornaments4orphans.org

Scott Laslo, Founder and CEO

Company Mission: Ornaments 4 Orphansexists to empower global artisans and help vulnerable children. Our goal is to prevent orphans through dignity and generosity. Our mission is to give parents and living relatives an opportunity to work and provide for their loved ones basic needs so that their families and communities can thrive.

How do your products serve the mission? Ornaments 4 Orphansis a fair trade, social enterprise. We are proud members of the Fair Trade Federation. Ornaments 4 Orphans sell handmade products, purchased fairly in developing countries. A portion of proceeds is reinvested in the communities we work to properly care for and educate orphans and vulnerable children.

Plans for the future: Our vision is to become the number one fair trade ornament brand in the world. We want to expand our product lines into new regions and developing countries. Our model is easily replicable and expandable in most global communities affected by extreme poverty and orphan crisis.

How can retailers get involved? Become a retail partner and join us in preventing the orphans of tomorrow one fair trade ornament at a time.





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