Two new websites have been brought to my attention that ask people to buy products and through the purchase of these products they are giving back to the world.
The first is Roozt. According to their website:
At Roozt, every purchase makes a diffference. All featured brands are fashion-forward companies that are making a positive impact in their community, environment, with their employees, or with humanity as a whole. Our team of experienced curators hand selects only the best, most trendsetting brands that give back so you can enjoy a streamlined shopping experience while saving time and money.
We’re a group of passionate social entrepreneurs (and intrapreneurs!) who fundamentally believe that we can make a difference in the world by harnessing the power of a business model. There are literally thousands of brands that have integrated inspiring causes into their business model that we think you should know about, and we’re on a mission to make sure you do!
The site is pretty neat in that each product has a Roozt rating so buyers can see in what way the product is sustainable, ethical, how it gives back to the community and so on. While it still is in the consumerist model, this site is worthy further investigation.
The other site is bubbs. What they say is this:
Why we exist At bubbs, our goal is to connect you to brands that give back, and by doing so, change the way you shop. We believe in the power of purchase. If we are able to harness this power we can use it for good. That’s why every single product featured on bubbs gives back to an area of global need.
What makes us different We believe 100% of your money should go towards the causes that you choose. That’s why bubbs connects you directly to the brands’ page without taking a cut. We find other ways to pay for our expenses. Join the movement.”
The site displays items in boxes with a short description underneath including the price and and explanation about how the product is “good”. The purchase goes to “water related causes” or “helps empower women in marginalized communities.” When you click on these pictures you go to the site of the organization selling the product. Some are more straightforward than others in explaining how the purchase is providing a benefit.
Bubbs is still in beta, so they are still trying to work out the kinks. One thing I would suggest is taking a tip from Roozt and seeing if there can be some consistency and transparency around how buying a product is helping someone other than the consumer and the marketer.