I think it’s about time for you to start getting to know some of the other staffers here at Better Life Bags.  They will be frequenting this blog every now and then – including our FIRST SUMMER INTERN who arrives on May 13th!

Today, I’m bringing you a post by our Design Consultant, Operations Manager, and Wearer-of-Many-Hats: Ashley.

If you talk to me for more than two minutes, you will probably know that my sister’s name is Calley (and that she’s crazy nut-so awesome) and that I HATE hate HATE hate HATE winter.

Yep. There’s absolutely nothing to do. I crave Vitamin D. And I’m from south Georgia (’nuff said, right?).

The only remedy I’ve found in this Michigan winter is to grab some Starbucks and walk a mall.  Now, I really enjoy mall walking. Lights. Colors. People.

But I used to enjoy it a lot more. Back when I could actually shop. Back before I knew that half the merchandise was probably made in a slave-like manner.

It all started a year ago when some friends of mine went to the Passion 2012 conference. I saw on one of their Facebook pages a link to find your slavery footprint. I was intrigued so I clicked the link.

To my horror, I discovered that I was employing 95 slaves. What the what?!?!? 95 slaves?

The quiz explained further that my family’s use of disposable diapers inflated that number a bit, which made me feel better about our new commitment to cloth diaper our little guy.

But time passed, and I forgot about the quiz. And the 95 slaves. (Sad, I know. I’m human.)

BUT luckily, I have some really good friends with whom I study the Bible. A major turning point for me happened at a morning Bible study meeting last year. We were pondering poverty, corruption, and injustice, and a friend was talking about how she chooses where to shop based on how different companies treat their employees.

I had never put much thought into where I shop. Cheap = good = fits my budget = God is pleased, right? 

Wrong.

I now believe that God is pleased when we treat others well. Regardless of the price.

Not only are there companies who treat their employees poorly, there are also companies whose products are manufactured using forced/slave labor (to fund our cheap lifestyle) and companies who have little to no concern for the earth that God created for us to care for and reside upon.

 

“‘And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength’ … ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Mark 12:30, 31).

I now believe that I can treat others well by educating myself and shopping more lovingly.

There is one website that I refer to more than any other when I need to know which brands to buy.   Check it out: Better World Shopper.

I would have never dreamed that I’d be a mama torn up inside about what brand of shoes to buy my baby or contemplating dropping a chunk of change on UGGs for my feet (who get an A in the rankings).

I cannot believe that I made my husband spend $20 more on a pair of jeans at Christmastime just to be certain that his digs were made in an ethical manner.

And thrift stores??? Oh, but so many new possibilities abound therein (and there’s no guilt on round two). Win!

I also choose our electronics based solely on the company’s ethical reputation. Not based on what’s trendy or cute.

Who am I?

Well, thankfully, I am a girl who God is changing, molding. Trust me, my nature is not all warm fuzzies and compassion abounding. It is only because of Christ’s work in my heart that I care at all about what I buy. All glory to God!

My dear friend, Rebecca, is also someone who is desperately concerned that her life, her money, her talent, her effort all be spent in a loving way toward God’s creation. That’s why she asked me to write this post.

Will you join us in changing your shopping habits to love people?

Since I’m forgetful, after talking to me for a hot minute, you will learn that my name is Ashley. I am Better Life Bags’ most grateful employee. My job (and God’s grace) have gotten me through the better part of winter.

God’s blessings to you for supporting such a fab give-back business!

{Check out these apps for your smart phone to help you shop in a way that loves people: Better World Shopper & Free2Work.  You can scan bar codes while you’re out shopping to make the best ethical choice!}

PS: Better World Shopper has no clue who we are.  We just genuinely believe in shopping smart – not cheap – and in return giving people a better life.

UPDATE:  If you want to read more about this topic, read NPR’s article called “Would You Pay a Higher Price For ‘Ethical’ Clothing?“.  And if your heart needs stirring some more, please look at these pictures from the Bengali clothing factory that recently collapsed and read the story.  Factory managers ignored the warning to not let workers in after a large crack was found.

 

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