Hey friends! I’m so sorry for the delay. This was supposed to go live yesterday, but I had a crippling migraine so I spent the majority of the day resting. I’m really, really excited for today’s post though because I’m featuring a very special online marketplace called Mercantile for Good.
Wearing their Giving Back is the New Black tee.
This mission-driven brand’s all about giving back. Every purchase you make supports an organization, and I love that you can browse their collection by cause – see said tab here. They offer everything from home goods to jewelry so there’s a ton to choose from so the next time you’re looking for a gift, you know where to go!
Before we move on, I want to share a quick Q&A with you guys. The founders of Mercantile for Good were kind enough to answer a few of my questions so without further ado, let’s take a looksee.
Could you please introduce yourself?
Hi! We are Gina and Brenna, the co-founders of Mercantile for Good. We met one cold winter day over coffee many years ago to connect about our shared passion for nonprofits. We love a good cup of coffee, our kids, and a wild passion for making the world a better place. We seem to be on the same frequency or vibe or whatever because we bring amazing, yet different talents to our shared goal to make the world a little brighter for everyone around us.
What inspired you to start Mercantile for Good?
Gina and I ran an event company that would throw cocktail or wine tastings for 3,000+ attendees and then give all of the proceeds to nonprofits. One year we decided to do a pop-up shop called Crafted for Good which showcased nonprofit shopping partners and causes in the Denver area.
It was by far the most brilliant event we ever hosted and we learned more in that day than a lifetime of events. We knew we had to pursue shining a bright light on how everyday shopping purchases could make the world a better place by leveraging our spending dollars to do good in the world. Sure you could buy a necklace from anywhere, but I guarantee you when the necklace has a story or a benefactor, you wear it with pride and treasure it more.
So from there, we opened up our shop, Mercantile for Good in the middle of a pandemic, from two different states, but with a deep passion that we know that this work matters and that we can do our part to direct some of the $130 trillion in consumer spending towards doing good in the world. We love that we get to do this every day!
How often do you add new items to your online marketplace?
Weekly! We recently with The Giving Keys which trains and employs homeless folks. The day I met Gina she was wearing a giving key that said ‘Love Does’ and I knew I liked her! A side story from this was that when our family decided that a move to Oregon was the next step for our family, Gina gave me a Giving Key with the word ‘Inspire’ on it.
The idea is that I wear the key with the inspirational word until I meet someone who needs the message more than I do and I give them the key. So to come full circle and now be able to support the Giving Keys through our shared passion to create good in the world with our intentional shopping choices, feels so incredibly fantastic.
What are some of your bestsellers?
Right now with everyone homebound (although let’s hope for not much longer), our home items have been really flying off the shelf, as well as our gift sets for celebrations, birthdays, and themed gifts. We also have a mug that says Be the Change that seems really popular. If you haven’t checked out the jewelry from Half United yet, the pieces are stunning and versatile for any occasion.
Could you tell us about some of your partner organizations?
We have partnered with over 30 organizations to date although that number grows weekly. Sometimes it isn’t clear how we are impacting others. We bought some soap and bags from this organization out of Uganda called SUUBI (translation: hope) and a week later they sent us pictures of their staff handing out soap to an urban slum in the area where soap is a valued treasure. It’s awesome to see our fellow changemakers making a huge impact.
Another partner organization that we find cool is Hippy Feet. It is a mobile manufacturer that goes to the homeless areas in Minneapolis and provides training, income, and experience to at-risk homeless youth. They are a really neat organization and to boot their socks are insanely cozy and awesome.
We see no boundaries on causes, people, or areas of social impact. Goodness can come in all forms and we want to be there to help. One person might be wild about saving animals, the next the planet, and the next a child. We love being inspired by what inspires others.
How can we further help support your cause?
Two things! Think of Mercantile for Good the next time you need to buy a gift for you or others to become a change maker with us. Secondly, share with five of your people who you know this will resonate with us. This big dream only comes together when we work collectively to do our part. One voice might be small, but together we can make a mighty roar.
I absolutely LOVE that last line. “One voice might be small, but together we can make a mighty roar.” As consumers, we have power behind our dollars, and if you’d like to spend your money in a more meaningful way, I highly recommend checking out their marketplace.
And last but not least, a giveaway! Gina and Brenna have generously offered to raffle away a $100 gift card to their online shop. Entering’s super simple – all you have to do is follow them on instagram via rafflecopter below, and as always, there are bonus entries available to up your chances of winning. This contest ends on May 3rd and is open internationally. The winner will be announced here so make sure you bookmark and check back! Good luck everyone.
hello
this givaway is super hope i win