Bloomingdales is no longer just a place to binge on “bling” and threads; it’s now a place to buy bling that can be life-changing. The famous department store has added Orphan Bracelets to its glittering wares. Check out this ad.
The agreement with Bloomingdale’s came about when someone in Florida wanted to find out what “ubuntu” means. They went to Google, landed on the Orphan Bracelet Campaign website and watched the Nelson Mandela video, in which he explains the meaning of Ubuntu. The person bought a few bracelets and gave some to colleagues.
A month later, Orphan Bracelet received an email from Bloomingdale’s with a request for 180 of the ultra stylish ornaments. Louise Hogarth, founder of the Orphan Bracelet Campaign, called “Bloomie’s” and learned that the CEO had seen an employee wearing the bracelets and wanted to order several for his managers.
After some discussion with Louise, Bloomingdale’s decided to sell them at its New York store and run an ad about it for Black History Month. The ad appeared in the New York Times and the New York Post .
It didn’t stop there. Some “fashionistas” in New York picked up on the Bloomingdale’s buzz and blogged about it. The result? Lots of orders for the handmade bracelets that benefit women and children victimized by HIV/AIDS. Wait until the fashionistas find out the bracelets get shinier with wear AND that you can move the rings around to change the design!
Last fall, I wrote about “Eyetopia”, a small shop in lovely downtown Leesburg, Virginia that hosted a screening of “Angels in the Dust”, Louise Hogarth’s award-winning documentary about a committed, giving woman named Marion Cloete, who gave up a comfortable life in Johannesburg to open a home for South Africa’s ever-expanding population of AIDS orphans.
OBC’s Monique Watkins strolled into the shop one day and ran into owner Paige Buscema. Next thing you know, Paige was selling Orphan Bracelets in Eyetopia and had agreed to use her shop to screen the film.
At the time I wrote about Eyetopia and the profit to be found in non-profits, I never dreamed that Bloomingdale’s would be next! Maybe Barney’s and Neiman Marcus will take the hint!
Join all of us wearing this stylish bracelet and showing support for the women and children who need us to buy and wear them! Buy yours today! You DO Ubuntu when you DO!
by Vicky O’Hara, Johannesburg, SA
February 10, 2011 at 3:55 am
We could not be more proud and the excitement level is high in the Dons Net Cafe! We are going to see the bracelets in Bloomingdales when we go to NYC in April! The kids are “stoked” to see them on the cards we assembled! This is HUGE! I have always believe in OBC and am proud to be a part of this.
March 24, 2011 at 2:55 am
This is FANTASTIC! Go Bloomingdales!!!