Carrying Hope: One Bag, One Child, One Year
Around here, we've seen our fair share of startups working for social and environmental good, and we have to admit, we get ridiculously excited when we see one growing by leaps and bounds. Such is the case of Esperos Bags, a brand launched in Austin, Texas last year by social entrepreneur Oliver Shuttlesworth. Moved by his experiences during a trip to rural Central America, he decided to channel all his energy into establishing a business focused on giving kids in Haiti the chance they all deserve at a healthy and prosperous life.
The math was simple: figure out a way to send one child to school for one year with every tote bag ($48) or backpack ($70) sold. The goal was set; the gauntlet was thrown. And in 2012, Esperos rose to the challenge.
Hitting the ground running with a heavy emphasis on public relations and word of mouth to spread awareness, Shuttlesworth built his brand from the ground up, making quality goods with an unshakeable purpose. For every bag sold, 50 percent of the proceeds would go to Fonkoze, one of the region's most respected non-profit organizations. In the eight months that have elapsed since the brand's launch, nearly 1,000 bags have been sold.
Of course, with success must come evolution. That's why Esperos has expanded its distribution channels to include Fab.com in both Europe and the US through the site's special limited-time-only sales and is in talks with retailers around the world who are interested in involving themselves in Esperos' work. Whole Foods is one such retailer; it's working with Shuttlesworth to test a back-to-school promotion later this year. Much like Lauren Bush Lauren's FEED Projects, which just announced a partnership with TARGET stores nationwide, the small enterprise is gaining exposure through retail alliances bringing it to broader audiences and furthering the cause along the way.
It's been an incredible journey, to say the least," Shuttlesworth says. "I am constantly floored by people's passion for our cause, their love for our products, and their seemingly endless support for our little company."
Without having spent even one dollar on advertising, passion is most certainly the brand's most valuable currency, and thanks to Shuttlesworth's raw, quiet enthusiasm, its contagious nature has put Esperos on track to roll out with updates this spring including a redesigned tote with a tablet pocket, plus a fresh goal by the end of 2013: putting the 3,000 children of the Chemen Lavi Miyo program through school for the year.
With enthusiasm building even further through the brand's presence at a special South By Southwest showcase this past week, we can't help but wonder: what's next for this fast-rising star?
About Fonkoze
Fonkoze is “Haiti’s Alternative Bank for the Organized Poor.” It is the largest microfinance institution (MFI) in Haiti, serving more than 56,000 women borrowers, most of whom live and work in the countryside of Haiti, and more than 250,000 savers. With its network of 46 branches covering every region of Haiti, it is also the only MFI that is truly national in scope.
Moreover, Fonkoze is one of the few MFIs in Haiti that is truly grass-roots. Fonkoze was founded in 1994 by a Haitian Catholic priest who started the institution with little more than a vision: a vision to provide the means for all Haitians, even the poorest, to participate in the economic development of the country. His target group was women, because as he declared, “Women are the backbone of the Haitian economy and the doorway into the family unit."
