Welcome to Like A Boss Girls’ 2018 Holiday Gift Guide: Gifts That Give Back Category! Below, you’ll find the best gifts you can buy this holiday season to support small businesses founded by women.
Join us in putting your holiday shopping dollars toward a good cause. Many companies are offering our community an exclusive discount code, so don’t miss this great opportunity to shop, save, AND make a positive impact.
Category: Jewelry/Accessories, Gifts That Give Back
Bird + Stone
Founder: Elana Reinholtz
Company Description: Bird + Stone is a jewelry company that donates 10% of every purchase to causes like women’s health, girls’ education, civic engagement, and more!
What inspired you to start your company?
Founder Elana Reinholtz started Bird + Stone in 2013 as a way to fundraise for her trip to Kenya, where she was planning to teach business to widowed entrepreneurs. Reinholtz wanted to harness the purchasing power of consumers who were buying fashion jewelry and use that revenue to support women and girls around the world.
How is your company generating positive change?
Ten percent of every Bird + Stone jewelry purchase is given to their nonprofit partners toward causes including women’s health, girls’ education, women in politics, climate justice, and civic engagement.
Featured Product: The Future is Female Cuff, $35
Product Description: The Future is Female cuff is an exclusive partnership with Planned Parenthood of NYC. Adjustable one-size-fits-all gold-plated or silver plated cuff includes a personalized postcard explaining the impact of your purchase. Can be customized with a gift message. Made in NYC. $3.95 for regular shipping or get free shipping with orders over $75!
Special Offer: Enter promo code LABG20 for 20% off
Website: https://birdandstone.com/
Category: Gifts That Give Back
Global Girl Life
Founder: Shannon Rizzo
Company Description:
Global Girl Life is a line of high-quality, handmade treasures created by women artisans all over the world. Products are delivered to you monthly while you are out conquering the rest of the world! A different country is featured every month, and each item is hand-selected. You can find the story of the artisan who made your gifts inside.
You’ll also get gift cards and gift bags as well, so purchase the box for yourself, keep the items you love, and share the rest! We promote re-gifting the right way.
What inspired you to start your company?
“I started my company to pull women out of poverty and help them build confidence by using the skill sets they already have. The global buyers on the other end of the community get a wider global perspective by learning about the people who created their products and the places they come from. It creates a beautiful connection, and fosters learning and creativity.”
Featured Product: Culture Box Subscription, $49 month / value of over $80-$100 per month
Special Offer: Use code LIKEABOSSGGL at checkout for 20% off + free shipping on purchases over $75, including sale items. May include a free gift with purchase while supplies last.
Website: https://globalgirl.life/
Category: Apparel + Gifts That Give Back
Healing Heels
Founders: Lauren Wakefield & Sidne Hirsch
Company Description: A line of kick ass shoes that give back to cancer patients.
What inspired you to start your company?
“A little over six years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 26. On my first day of chemo, my best friend and co-founder, Sidne, gave me a pair of 5-inch, glittery, bright blue, spike-covered heels. From that moment on, those shoes became my ‘chemo shoes’ because in those shoes, I knew I was going to kick cancer’s ass, which is exactly what I did!
“A few years later, Sidne and I knew those shoes had a bigger story to tell, so we started Healing Heels. A line of fierce, edgy shoes where every purchase helps gift a pair to a woman fighting cancer.”
How is your company generating positive change?
“Every product we sell helps us gift a pair of Healing Heels to a women in cancer treatment. We organize what we call ‘Gifting Days’ where we invite women who are actively in treatment or newly in remission to be a part of a day that is all about them! They get made over, styled, photographed and gifted a pair of Healing Heels! They are truly magical days.”
Featured Product: “Side Kick” Sneaker, $58
Product Description: “Our ‘Side Kick’ sneaker is meant to wear in support of cancer fighters everywhere. The perfect ‘wear anywhere’ shoe that adds just the right amount of sparkle to your day. Available in black glitter, rose gold glitter and ice blue (silver) glitter. Full sizes fit true to size. Half sizes run quite small. If ordering a half size we recommend going up to the next full size.”
Special Offer: Use code BOSSGIRL at checkout for 15% off your entire order!
Website: http://www.healing-heels.com
Category: Accessories + Gifts That Give Back
HERO Backpacks
Founder: Alissa Lentz
Company Description: Moved by the divisive rhetoric on the rise in 2016, HERO launched to share positive and empowering stories, while helping build an equal world. Each backpack shares the story of a heroic woman, person of color, or immigrant who changed the world. Because equality starts with education, each backpack purchase provides tuition for a girl who will be the first in her family to graduate
What inspired you to start your company?
“As a Russian immigrant, I was bullied for not speaking English properly. I was too young to understand that I faced a language barrier, but old enough to realize there was a problem. So when I grew up, I launched HERO Backpacks to remind the world: what makes you different, makes you super.”
How is your company generating positive change?
“We partnered with nonprofit She’s the First, who works with girls across 11 low-income countries to give them an education.”
Featured Product: HERO backpack (any design), $75.00
Product Description: With military-strength, water-resistant fabric, reflective details, 2 side water bottle pockets, and an ergonomic fit, this pack is fit for a heroic adventure. HERO’s solid colors are great for day-to-day use, and the bold colors are the perfect music festival pack or as a fun gym bag. A great gift for your bold, always-on-the-go BFF who loves style and comfort. Size: 13″ height x 11.5″ width x 5″ depth. Fits an 11″ laptop or iPad.
Special Offer: Use code BossTribe for free shipping
Website: https://www.herobackpacks.com
Category: Gifts That Give Back
Nu Market
Founder: Caroline Gutman
Company Description: Nu Market is a social enterprise whose mission is to bridge traditional women’s handicrafts with modern design to have lasting impact. They create beautiful handbags that feature women artisan-made textiles and 100% Italian leather, and 20% of Nu Market’s profits fund women’s education.
What inspired you to start your company?
“I co-founded Nu Market (nu = “woman” in Mandarin) while on a Fulbright grant in China, photographing ethnic minority women artisans and researching their impact on local economic development. In a region faced with illiteracy and limited job opportunities beyond agriculture, women artisans often lack a marketplace for their handicrafts beyond their own villages.
“As I got to know the women artisans, I learned about their beautiful handicrafts but limited market access. My cofounder and I saw true potential in connecting women from two worlds: Entrepreneurial, talented, inspiring women artisans in rural China paired with stylish, sophisticated, and socially-conscious women in the U.S and beyond.”
Featured Product: All-in-One Tote, $349
Product Description:
100% Italian leather
100% cotton handmade indigo batik lining
Dimensions: W 12 1/2″ expanding to 19,” H 14″ D 9″
Dual leather drawstrings, magnetic closure, one external and two internal zippered pockets. Dust bag included.
As with all Nu Market bags, 20% of the profits from the All-in-One Tote will be reinvested into artisan women’s communities.
Special Offer: Use promo code LABG18 for 10% off your order + free shipping
Website: https://www.numarket.org
Category: Home + Gifts That Give Back
Soukra
Founder: Pauline Eveillard
Company Description: Soukra sells home and fashion from Tunisian entrepreneurs as a way to shed a spotlight on the burgeoning community of creatives post Arab Spring. In this divisive time, they also aim to foster tolerance and mutual understanding by celebrating the creative communities of Tunisia.
How is your company generating positive change?
“Since the Arab Spring, there has been a growing entrepreneurial movement in Tunisia, with young designers using methods and materials rooted in Tunisian tradition to create exciting, modern products. I launched Soukra to raise awareness about this vibrant community of talented entrepreneurs whose creations support artisan communities across the country. I lived in Tunisia in 2005-2006 while on a Fulbright, and fell in love with the country. I return every couple of years to spend time with lifelong friends I met while living there, foster deep relationships with Tunisia’s entrepreneurs, and continue exploring the stories behind the people, places, and products of Tunisia.”
Featured Product: Picnic Gift Set, $124 (free shipping)
Product Description: Everything you need for an elevated picnic is included in this set packed with our favorite pieces – handblown tumblers, a beautiful olive wood serving bowl, woven serving platter, large fouta blanket, and sweet mini napkins. Spread out your fouta on a warm patch of grass, grab a bottle of rose and some friends, then relish the simple joy of a few hours relaxing in the sunshine.
Special Offer: Use code LABGholiday at checkout for 15% off! (through Dec. 31)
Website: https://soukra.co
Category: Apparel + Gifts That Give Back
Sseko Designs
Founder(s): Liz Forkin Bohannon
Company Description: Sseko Designs is an ethical fashion brand that hires high potential women in Uganda to make products that will enable them to earn money through dignified employment. Money earned goes directly toward each woman’s college education.
What inspired you to start your company?
“One of my favorite quotes is: ‘Do for one what you wish you could do for everyone’ (Andy Stanley). For me, it was the realization that I was so passionate about the BIG VISION of bringing change to millions of girls living in extreme poverty that I wasn’t actually making an impact in the life of a SINGLE GIRL So, I quit my job, bought a one way plane ticket to Uganda and decided to go make some friends!”
How is your company generating positive change?
“We are commandeering the traditional manufacturing model to create a community and opportunity for some of the smartest women in East Africa who will go on to become leaders in their country and our world. In the U.S., we are hijacking the traditional retail model by enabling women to start, run and scale their own impact enterprise by partnering with Sseko.
“Through our innovative work-study program, we’ve enabled 87 women in Uganda to go to university. These women are now becoming leaders and game changers in their community! From starting tech schools to becoming chief loan officers at multinational micro-loan organizations, these women are our future and we feel privileged to be a small part of their stories!”
Featured Product: Bucket Bag in Pebbled Jasper, $159.99
Product Description: 16″ (H) x 11.5″ (L) x 5.5″ (W) / Unlined interior / Features two internal pockets / Handcrafted from pebbled leather
Website: https://ssekodesigns.com/
Category: Apparel + Gifts That Give Back
Sudara
Founder: Shannon Keith
Company Description: Sudara is a certified B-Corp on a mission to offer ethically-made apparel that will create jobs and support skills training for women in India who are at a high risk of sex trafficking.
What inspired you to start your company?
“I went on a humanitarian trip to India in 2005; we were donating a freshwater well to a community in need. Little did I know, though, that the well was placed in a red light district. While we were there, I heard countless stories of women being forced to sell their bodies in order to feed their families and mothers who could not afford the required fees to send their children to school. My heart broke wide open. I realized that women needed work – safer, more sustainable forms of employment – and started to build the vision of Sudara from there.”
How is your company generating positive change?
“Sudara uses the power of business to create living-wage jobs and provide skills training to women in India who are at a high risk of sex trafficking. Through the support of our non-profit, our partner centers in India are also able to provide services for women and children that address physical, psychological and housing needs. As an example of this impact, one of our partner centers is able to provide skills training for about 600 women per year. And, approximately 89% of the women will be placed in a job (or start their own business!) after graduating from the program.”
Featured Product: Kala Robe, $79 + $7 standard shipping (U.S. orders $99+ ship free)
Product Description: The Kala print robe features indigo-textured circles layered across a soft cornflower-blue fabric. It’s trimmed with a festive Banarasi border of golden waves and includes side pockets as well as internal and external tie closures in a matching fabric. This robe is offered in three sizes (XS-S, M-L, XL-XXL) for a perfect fit.
Website: http://www.sudara.org
Category: Accessories/Gifts That Give Back
The Crescendo Group
Founder: Amy Chase
Company Description: The Crescendo Group is a social enterprise that works with women survivors of armed conflicts and gender-based violence (GBV) to increase economic empowerment by developing a marketplace of handmade items for socially conscious consumers and retailers.
What inspired you to start your company?
“After more than 8 years of working in human rights and international development, particularly in unstable and post-conflict countries, I wanted to find more impactful solutions to help women survivors of rape, sex trafficking, armed conflicts, and other forms of trauma. All the women I met and worked with over the years have inspired me to continue with my work, even at times when I’ve faced personal threats.”
How is your company generating positive change?
“The women are not only earning a living and contributing to their households and communities; they are also gaining skills in product development, customer service, and project management.”
Featured Product: Crescendo Tote Bag, $10.50 each (+$7.20 flat rate shipping)
Product Description: These are handy tote bags made with cotton linen. Very light and durable, and most importantly—very portable. The bag’s dimensions are 15.5” length x 13.5’ width with a drop length (handle to bottom of bag) of 29”.
Special Offer: Use code LABG2018 for free shipping on domestic orders over $50.00
Website: http://www.thecrescendogroupllc.com
