Thinking, Thinking + Happy Aloha Friday!

Second post today, please check out the one below first! Because it's good stuff.

I love a lot of the things I find with nonprofit/socially conscious shops similar to Nomi Network, but sometimes the products can come across kitschy (or maybe they're just targeting a ... more mature ... audience). I can't imagine the things that could be done if these organizations had the resources of larger, for-profit companies. Because not only are similar shops trying to network, manage manufacturing, and market, but they're also advocating, researching, and holding themselves to extremely high standards with further governmental restrictions (if a 501c3 etc.). Plus, they're doing it on a dime.

However, there are success cases (or it would appear), with organizations such as Falling Whistles, which has made a huge splash in no time -- but this can't happen for every great nonprofit shop with a cause. Other businesses, such as many I've posted about, have gone the route of deeming themselves "socially conscious" (which is murky, but noble), established a nonprofit affiliate for their for-profit business (ex. TOMS), or are jumping on the B Corp. bandwagon. Stanford Social Innovation Review is a great place to delve into this kind of topic, as well.

(Side note: One new company I've stumbled on has a cool concept and great design. Check 'em out here.)

Aaaanyway, these were my thoughts -- because I want to promote awesome creations and goods, but sometimes they don't look nearly as pretty as the lookbooks found on top designers' websites. There are glorious collabs going on, of course, but not enough for all the awesome products out there. Anywho, TBC. Because:

... it's Aloha Friday! Much love.