Beating Domestic Violence with JOBS
Donation protected
Hi! If you are reading this for the first time, this is VERSION 3.0 of an ongoing story, the gist of which is that we are in the business of employing women who have exited a domestic violence situation and we would LOVE TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT!
Hey, as life is, things don't always go to plan. However, we have made some adjustments and rather than go with a retail location, we have applied geeeentle pressure on the wholesale side of our business with INCREDIBLE results. We are now being carried by one of the highest profile jewelers in New Mexico and our soap is FLYING out of their stores. New Mexico Magazine has called for an interview and will be featuring one of our soaps in an upcoming issue, and we are being accepted to all of the juried shows we have applied to. I have received permission from the HOTTEST venue in the state to vend in their parking lot, that has, literally, thousands of visitors weekly, Meow Wolf, for the next phase of business. That is the next step. We have employed two women for short term jobs to wrap and package soap, which was fantastic.
The strategy now is to create a stable base of wholesale accounts that ensure we can provide consistent, full-time employment before we take on any additional overhead. The trick is, while we do that, I am still working on my own. After being sick this past week and seeing how that grinds production to a dead halt, I realize that we need to upgrade our production line to increase efficiency so that we have a larger back stock of product with less stress on my body. To that end, I have created a minimal equipment list of 4 items - an oil warming tank, additional drying racks, 6 more mold liners, and a mold divider - that MUST be purchased to take this next step. The total cost is $1,746.53.
Your previous support has enabled us to put money into the households of two women, beyond myself. We ARE doing this! Thank you for standing by my side.
Your continued support is coveted and appreciated greatly. Thank you again. Biiiiiiig Hugs and love to all of you, Maaike
As a former dispatcher, financial planner specializing in women's issues for over 8 years, and a woman all my life, I have heard more stories than I care to recount from women who have lived through abuse. I have had the privilege of working with many of them to actually accomplish LEAVING, and one of the over-riding themes is financial control, and fear of having no money or job opportunities, regardless of current socio/economic status. Often, women who are abused are kept out of the work force and/or do not have access to money to leave or hope of a future after leaving. We want to change that.
Yes, we are aware that there are men who are abused, we have just chosen to focus on the more prevalent issue that we have experience with.
How this works:
employees will have the flexibility of schedule to drop off and pick up their kids from school. Yes, it is probably going to effect "productivity." No, we don't care. My philosophy is; get to work as soon as the real world allows you to, and DO YOUR BEST WORK when you get here. Yes, it is "unconventional" for the US, but it works and people are happier for it. Happier, more stable families decrease crime, suicide, drug abuse, and vulnerability to return to bad relationships. This is a big box to unpack, if you need more info, message me.
Employees will have the freedom to be human beings. What does this mean?
Domestic violence has a recovery period of many years. There are a plethora of symptoms that make regular jobs anywhere from difficult to flat out impossible. Panic attacks, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, lack of confidence, wonky boundaries, financial chaos, societal vulnerability... We will make space for people to process their recovery as it comes up, without judging or consequences. I can talk on this for hours so if you need more detail, feel free to message me.
When we launched this campaign, we thought we were a year or more away from having employees. Now it is right around the corner. Yay!
Sunshine Alchemists & Soap Co is growing rapidly, widely loved (organic, high quality, quirky, fun) and we are experiencing much success. You can find our soap in several retail locations this year, as well as online and at local festivals and markets. We have recently formed a working relationship with a local spa and have created a FABULOUS new spa line as a result. Eeeeee!
Examples of our work and choices for donation rewards are at www.SunshineAlchemistsAndSoapCo.com
Currently, all of our production is by hand. Literally. Each batch of oil and lye is measured out individually, each batch of butters are melted down and whipped up with a hand mixer, bath bombs and bubble bars are mixed and hand molded. Maintaining the artisanal quality and beauty of our soap and body products is of utmost importance, and that isn't changing. However, in order to efficiently produce higher quantities and get to the point where we can afford to employ others, there are some VERY helpful pieces of equipment we'd like to purchase... this is where YOU come in. :-)
MY GOSH. I just deleted several paragraphs of unsure, scared sounding writing. Everything that we had laid out and needed at the original time of writing has ALREADY COME TO PASS.
AMAZING!!!! We could not, and can not, do this without all of you and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Soooo much love and gratitude to everyone who has walked this road with us!
FROM THE ORIGINAL CAMPAIGN
////While I can't promise the future, these are our goals and needs. It is possible that you would contribute here and we would fail. That would suck, but not be the end of the world. Alternatively, it may take us a couple of years to reach our goal of being an employer. We may stall out as just a family business. I'm only telling you this because I don't want anyone to donate and feel they've been gyped if things don't go as planned. So. Worst case scenario, if you choose to donate, you will get some fantastic bath and body products and help one woman and her kids make gorgeous handmade body care for everyone to enjoy.//// LOOK HOW FAR WE'VE COME!!!! WE ARE LITERALLY ON THE VERGE OF HAVING OUR FIRST EMPLOYEES Back to what I wrote 2 years ago...
But... if this thing goes the way it is looking like, we could collectively build something really cool. Something different. Something that helps lots of women and their kids while also giving all of us access to non-toxic body care.
I want to add, not to play on anyone's sympathy, but to play on everyone's sense of HOPE. I have been through domestic violence. I got out.
It is not just possible, but it is LIKELY, that if we provide an avenue, there WILL be women who will walk down the road to freedom. I know there are many righteous causes and ways to be of service, but for whatever reason, this is what has been placed in my heart to pursue, and I intend to pursue it. Will you join me? I would be honored to have you by my side.
Hey, as life is, things don't always go to plan. However, we have made some adjustments and rather than go with a retail location, we have applied geeeentle pressure on the wholesale side of our business with INCREDIBLE results. We are now being carried by one of the highest profile jewelers in New Mexico and our soap is FLYING out of their stores. New Mexico Magazine has called for an interview and will be featuring one of our soaps in an upcoming issue, and we are being accepted to all of the juried shows we have applied to. I have received permission from the HOTTEST venue in the state to vend in their parking lot, that has, literally, thousands of visitors weekly, Meow Wolf, for the next phase of business. That is the next step. We have employed two women for short term jobs to wrap and package soap, which was fantastic.
The strategy now is to create a stable base of wholesale accounts that ensure we can provide consistent, full-time employment before we take on any additional overhead. The trick is, while we do that, I am still working on my own. After being sick this past week and seeing how that grinds production to a dead halt, I realize that we need to upgrade our production line to increase efficiency so that we have a larger back stock of product with less stress on my body. To that end, I have created a minimal equipment list of 4 items - an oil warming tank, additional drying racks, 6 more mold liners, and a mold divider - that MUST be purchased to take this next step. The total cost is $1,746.53.
Your previous support has enabled us to put money into the households of two women, beyond myself. We ARE doing this! Thank you for standing by my side.
Your continued support is coveted and appreciated greatly. Thank you again. Biiiiiiig Hugs and love to all of you, Maaike
As a former dispatcher, financial planner specializing in women's issues for over 8 years, and a woman all my life, I have heard more stories than I care to recount from women who have lived through abuse. I have had the privilege of working with many of them to actually accomplish LEAVING, and one of the over-riding themes is financial control, and fear of having no money or job opportunities, regardless of current socio/economic status. Often, women who are abused are kept out of the work force and/or do not have access to money to leave or hope of a future after leaving. We want to change that.
Yes, we are aware that there are men who are abused, we have just chosen to focus on the more prevalent issue that we have experience with.
How this works:
employees will have the flexibility of schedule to drop off and pick up their kids from school. Yes, it is probably going to effect "productivity." No, we don't care. My philosophy is; get to work as soon as the real world allows you to, and DO YOUR BEST WORK when you get here. Yes, it is "unconventional" for the US, but it works and people are happier for it. Happier, more stable families decrease crime, suicide, drug abuse, and vulnerability to return to bad relationships. This is a big box to unpack, if you need more info, message me.
Employees will have the freedom to be human beings. What does this mean?
Domestic violence has a recovery period of many years. There are a plethora of symptoms that make regular jobs anywhere from difficult to flat out impossible. Panic attacks, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, lack of confidence, wonky boundaries, financial chaos, societal vulnerability... We will make space for people to process their recovery as it comes up, without judging or consequences. I can talk on this for hours so if you need more detail, feel free to message me.
When we launched this campaign, we thought we were a year or more away from having employees. Now it is right around the corner. Yay!
Sunshine Alchemists & Soap Co is growing rapidly, widely loved (organic, high quality, quirky, fun) and we are experiencing much success. You can find our soap in several retail locations this year, as well as online and at local festivals and markets. We have recently formed a working relationship with a local spa and have created a FABULOUS new spa line as a result. Eeeeee!
Examples of our work and choices for donation rewards are at www.SunshineAlchemistsAndSoapCo.com
Currently, all of our production is by hand. Literally. Each batch of oil and lye is measured out individually, each batch of butters are melted down and whipped up with a hand mixer, bath bombs and bubble bars are mixed and hand molded. Maintaining the artisanal quality and beauty of our soap and body products is of utmost importance, and that isn't changing. However, in order to efficiently produce higher quantities and get to the point where we can afford to employ others, there are some VERY helpful pieces of equipment we'd like to purchase... this is where YOU come in. :-)
MY GOSH. I just deleted several paragraphs of unsure, scared sounding writing. Everything that we had laid out and needed at the original time of writing has ALREADY COME TO PASS.
AMAZING!!!! We could not, and can not, do this without all of you and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Soooo much love and gratitude to everyone who has walked this road with us!
FROM THE ORIGINAL CAMPAIGN
////While I can't promise the future, these are our goals and needs. It is possible that you would contribute here and we would fail. That would suck, but not be the end of the world. Alternatively, it may take us a couple of years to reach our goal of being an employer. We may stall out as just a family business. I'm only telling you this because I don't want anyone to donate and feel they've been gyped if things don't go as planned. So. Worst case scenario, if you choose to donate, you will get some fantastic bath and body products and help one woman and her kids make gorgeous handmade body care for everyone to enjoy.//// LOOK HOW FAR WE'VE COME!!!! WE ARE LITERALLY ON THE VERGE OF HAVING OUR FIRST EMPLOYEES Back to what I wrote 2 years ago...
But... if this thing goes the way it is looking like, we could collectively build something really cool. Something different. Something that helps lots of women and their kids while also giving all of us access to non-toxic body care.
I want to add, not to play on anyone's sympathy, but to play on everyone's sense of HOPE. I have been through domestic violence. I got out.
It is not just possible, but it is LIKELY, that if we provide an avenue, there WILL be women who will walk down the road to freedom. I know there are many righteous causes and ways to be of service, but for whatever reason, this is what has been placed in my heart to pursue, and I intend to pursue it. Will you join me? I would be honored to have you by my side.
Organizer
Maaike Hurst
Organizer
Albuquerque, NM
