Search results matching tag 'Charity'

No shop ‘til you drop

209478 — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:57:00 GMT

International No Shop Day back in 1997 was marked by the 'grand opening' of No Shop – the shop that promised everything but sold nothing.

The No Shop, an installation by designers Thomas/Matthews in collaboration with Friends of the Earth's Art and Nature Programme and the Royal College of Art, displayed all of the tempting window design and special offers used to lure in shoppers, while the space inside simply contained images of empty shelves and a single 'No Sales Assistant' behind an image of a cash register.

Visitors received a special paper shopping bag with a 'receipt' containing information on International No Shop Day and thanking the 'shopper' for ‘not shopping at No Shop’. (Thanks to JW for this one.)

The event is focused on the need to reduce material consumption and pollution to within defined ecological limits, and questions whether increasing consumerism can deliver a better quality of life.

Drink positive

209478 — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:13:00 GMT

From France to Fiji, bottled water brands rely on spring-based provenance to lure customers.

And now a newcomer is focusing on a different kind of message: positivity.

A Bottle Of, which claims to be Australia's first Naturally Positive spring water, currently comes in three varieties: wellbeing, love and strength.

Launched by Heidi Albertiri, a flower stylist who believes in the power of positivity, A Bottle Of hopes to lift people's moods, encouraging them to ‘Sip it - Say it - Absorb it - Feel it - Think about it - Repeat it - Believe it’.

Given the size of both the self-help market and the bottled water industry, there's something to be said for a brand that combines the two.

A Bottle Of is currently sold through a small number of retailers, yoga centres and gyms in New South Wales and Victoria, and the company is actively seeking stockists in Melbourne and Sydney.

Furthering its message of positive change, a nickel from each bottle sold goes to Food Water Shelter, a not-for-profit organisation that builds eco-friendly children's villages in Tanzania.

Ref. http://www.springwise.com/food_beverage/abottleof/

A breath of fresh air

209478 — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:40:00 GMT

Hint Mint was founded on the idea that simple objects (like a tin of mints) can also be beautiful lifestyle accessories.

Calling themselves the original designer mint, Hint Mint turn a commodity product associated with bad breath into a ‘designer breath accessory’, and describe their mints as a ‘gesture of kindness’, hinting to potential buyers that they ‘need this mint’.

As well as beautiful and functional pocket accessories, Hint Mint is also using their limited edition approach to support worthwhile causes like breast cancer.

(Thanks, Wadey, for sharing your trip to the Algerian coffee shop.)

Ref. http://www.hintmint.com/

Philanthropy is so this season, darlings

209478 — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:27:00 GMT

How can you help shoppers feel less guilty when shopping for luxury? One of the hottest new stores in Paris, Merci, is fusing fashion with philanthropy. The store's light, loft-like space is as trendy as any other concept store, and stocks brands such as Stella McCartney, special versions of Annick Goutal perfume, flowers and used books.

The ‘guilt-free’ difference is that all profits, after operating costs are paid, go to children's charities. Last month, Merci (founded by Marie-France Cohen as a way of giving back after selling luxury children's clothing label, Bonpoint) opened a temporary one-month shop in New York with help from Gap.
The charity aspect may give consumers another reason to visit the store, Ms. Cohen says, although she believes ‘a consumer who’s tempted by an item goes back to being just a consumer.’

More and more companies are homing in on the ‘guilt-free’ aspects of environmentally safe products, and are even trying to do their bit to reduce waste and – interestingly – overconsumption. Last year, upscale Swedish clothing brand, Filippa K, opened a secondhand store in Stockholm that sells its own used clothes for at least 50% off.

Ref. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704597704574487342734060448.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_lifestyle

Fun(d)raising

209478 — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 06:59:00 GMT

The real world meets the virtual in this inspired fundraising effort. Miravete de la Sierra is a Spanish village with just 12 inhabitants and they’re appealing to the wider world to help keep their community going. You can book yourself in at one of the newly refurbished buildings, sponsor your own new slate for the church roof, and even buy a figurine of your favourite villager. To help you decide, you can take a virtual tour of the village and have a snoop around first. (Thanks Wadey and Jorge.)

Ref. http://www.elpuebloenelquenuncapasanada.com/

An inspiring message

209478 — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:57:00 GMT

Nike, the Livestrong organisation (the ‘global movement to end cancer’), Standard Robot and Deeplocal all got together to build Chalkbot. The device was towed by a truck at the Tour de France, leaving Livestrong’s inspirational messages chalked on the roads of the cycle route for all the world to see. It’s definitely a great way to inspire people as well as raise awareness to the cause of Livestrong. (Thanks big Nick for this one.)

http://www.nike.com/nikeos/p/livestrong/en_US/chalk_messages

Ref. http://www.nike.com/nikeos/p/livestrong/en_US/chalk_messages

It’s good to fake it

209478 — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:49:00 GMT

There have been a myriad ‘faux’ trends for accessories and home furnishing: faux-wood, faux-leather, faux-fur, you name it. Now Dutch copywriter, Peggy van Neer, has created a faux-cardboard bed linen design, which you can buy online. Forty per cent of the sales proceeds of the ‘Le Clochard’ duvet cover goes to a Dutch foundation for the young homeless. The money helps fund housing projects, which also create jobs and education opportunities. The duvets are made of 100% soft combed cotton and available in three sizes.

http://www.le-clochard.com/index.php?pageid=101&language=EN

Ref. http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/luxury-for-the-homeless-faux-cardboard-or-clochard-duvet-covers

How can you encourage people to become shopping-neutral?

209478 — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 09:48:00 GMT

Think like ‘Mary Queen Of Charity Shops’, which has recently hit our TV screens.

The idea is to get shoppers into the habit of donating something old every time they buy something new, hence the phrase ‘shopping neutral’.

By convincing people that charity shopping means environmentally friendly recycling, it’s possible to change the way people shop – and enrich the shopping experience by giving.

It appears to have struck a chord with shoppers too, an example being the fading ‘Save the Children’ store in Orpington, Kent.

Even though there are about ten other charity shops on the same street, Mary Portas has turned it round from making maximum £900 a week into £2,500 a week.

(Cheers Claire D.)

Ref. http://www.graziadaily.co.uk/maryslivingandgivingshop/archive/2009/06/02/we-need-your-clothes.html

When negativity surrounds us, how can you inspire some positive action?

209478 — Thu, 14 May 2009 09:07:00 GMT

It’s not always easy to be cheerful.

The extent to which ‘bad news' dominates the headlines may – on the face of it – leave few reasons to be cheerful.

So think like Optimistworld.com, the new site dedicated to taking a daily look on the bright side.

If you’re one of life's optimists – or aspire to be – then here you'll find daily good news headlines, inspiring charity stories, positive CSR activities, good sports and sustainable travel news, and lots more.

These stories show the best of human spirit, and illustrate a genuine desire by many to improve the world we live in.

It’s easy to point the finger at the media for doom-mongering but some stories – disheartening as they may be – simply have to be reported in full.

And that means less room for ‘lighter’ items.

At Optimist World they believe there's an appetite for news that enriches the soul and lightens the heart, which is why they’re bringing the best of the world’s good news to us, daily.

(A big thank you to Julia for this.)

Ref. http://optimistworld.com/Articles.aspx?id=3e95a261-b3b3-41e1-ad8a-0fcb2564f7eb&page=1

Australian fires catch Virgin Wines out

1225254 — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 11:24:00 GMT

This week I received an email from Virgin Wines with the subject line "help out our mates down under". I immediately thought this must be some form of appeal for victims of the terrible fires, many of which have hit wine growing regions. But no. It was an honest, but ill-timed, plea to buy help out some Aussie winegrower 'mates' as the credit crunch had hit demand and they were struggling with exchange rates. Nothing to do with the fires at all.

Virgin Wines were simply unlucky. They create the most lively, interesting emails. In any other circumstances, the subject line and content would have been completely innocuous. It was only the extraordinary events of the past week that made them appear callous or even exploitative. When I pointed out the unfortunate wording they emailed back the following day, apologising and reassuring me that procedures are being put in place to ensure it never happens again. I think they should have offered to make a small contribution to the appeal, but no matter.

The fires ignited on Saturday 7th February and the email is dated Tuesday 10th February, so there wasn't much time to press 'stop' over the weekend, especially as the scale of the tragedy was not immediately apparent. The lesson here though is that it is very easy to offend or distress people, whether you intend to or not. Virgin Wines were not reckless and there was clearly no intent. But email (and mail) are personal media and much more prone to cause real offence than a poster. Email's strength is its immediacy and speed, so recipients feel there must always be time to amend or prevent it (as is not quite the case with printing and delivering a mailing).

Of course, emails and letters will always land at a bad time - a cancer charity appealing to a recently bereaved family or the offer of contents insurance as the recipient's home is being repossessed. While we cannot foresee these unfortunate events we need to be aware of the dangers and do everything to minimise the risk of offence. If major disaster happens, we should double-check all our work immediately in the light of changed circumstances and public mood. And if in any doubt, don't do it.