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And so it is: our inaugural Shoppe Talk. After a short debate over peppermint lattes as to what topic we wanted to lead with, we quickly realized we just wanted to talk “Shoppe” with you. Specifically, what sets the Cause Shoppe apart from every other beautiful shopping site on the ‘net? The defining elements are not within the site’s aesthetics (although we’re pretty proud of it) but in the fact that every item raises funds for a charity worthy of attention and support.

The vision behind the Cause Shoppe was rooted in the belief that by becoming charity-conscious consumers, we can all make a difference. While scouring the internet for PhilGoods™ – our clever name for philanthropic products – we happened upon a necklace with an incredible origin. The Falling Whistles necklace is both a profound illustration of the power a single PhilGood™ can have and the ultimate representation of why we felt developing the Cause Shoppe was so important.

The story of the necklace started with Sean, a young man with bad case of wanderlust who was traveling though Africa. While in the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo, he learned about a brutal military tactic in which boys too young to carry a gun are sent to the front lines of battle, armed with only a whistle. Their sole duty: to make enough noise to “scare” the enemy and receive the first round of bullets. That’s right. Children sacrificed as temporary barricades.

Shocked and appalled by what he had learned, Sean shared the story on his blog. He began writing:

My computer screen blurs. I cannot help the weeping that hinders my vision and falls on the keys even as I type these words.

Upon returning home, Sean received an unusual gift from a friend inspired by the blog – a whistle. Worn as a necklace, over the heart, the whistle helped Sean share the horrible truths he had learned. Sean founded Falling Whistles, a nonprofit organization, and the whistle necklaces are now sold as a powerful fundraising tool for rehabilitating and advocating for war-affected children. 100% of the proceeds go toward their mission and the Falling Whistles team is very transparent about any stipends they receive. Their site states: “We live simply so others can simply live.”

Vincent Van Gogh once said, “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” One whistle won’t end the war, but if each person becomes a whistleblower for peace and the conversation gets loud enough, we can – and will – be heard.

So now you know why we’re doing what we’re doing. We aren’t personally curing cancer or saving the rainforests, but through the Cause Shoppe we hope to eventually engage millions of online shoppers in helping make this world a better place. We invite you to join us in spreading the word and making every one of your purchases have purpose.

Sincerely,

Brooke + Romney
The Cause Shoppe Gals

P.S. Speaking of creating great conversation, we’re looking forward to having great conversations with you. Drop us a line, weigh in, sound off… we want to hear from you.