Happy New Year!

This year Zuellig chose G&G's upcycled origami stars to adorn their Christmas tree. The tree, designed by Ito Kish, featured star and snowflake ornaments in red, plum, and silver. Several ornaments were also hanging from velvet ribbons in the Zuellig lobby and stars were added to the wreath.

The stars were made by craftsmen in Pandacan, Manila. Given that the new Zuellig building is LEEDS certified, we think its a great fit with G&G.

We hope you had a green holiday this year and may we all live more sustainably in 2014.
Happy New Year!

We've Moved!

One of our blessings for 2013 was we were able to move to a larger office in May. The office houses the G&G team, our 3 vintage aparadors, and a small showroom.

Our new address is Unit 114 Mile Long Building Amorsolo Street Makati City.
Here's a view of our window. 

We'd love to have you come and visit.
Happy New Year!

10 Products for Better Aid

#Development hacks: 10 products for better aid from Devex

Sharing a great presentation on 10 innovative products in aid delivery. 

Wishing You a Merry Christmas

It's that blessed time of year again where we count our blessings and reflect on what it means to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. At Gifts and Graces, we believe that the work that we do is one of the most important blessings we have - the opportunity to change lives through designing great products and telling the stories of our partner craftsmen, artisans, micro-entrepreneurs, and NGOs.

2013 was a special year - we celebrated women's month, held a comprehensive capacity building program, and grew retail distribution among many other things. We could not have accomplished all that we have without the help of partners, donors, and clients. This is a great big hug and Thank You! to everyone who has blessed us and our partners with their support, making it possible for us to continue the work that we do.

As we count our blessings, we also look forward to the year ahead. Although the Philippines was struck by a great tragedy in the wake of Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan, Filipinos remain strong, resilient, and hopeful. Gifts and Graces remains committed to its partners affected by the monster storm and will continue to seek greater opportunities to be part of the region's and the country's recovery.

Today we renew our commitment to poverty reduction and inclusive growth. We look forward to your joining us in this gratifying journey.

In behalf of the Gifts and Graces Board of Directors and the Gifts and Graces team, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a blessed 2014!

- Greg

Ex Libris for some Holiday Reading

This book list is for social entrepreneurs.

Now that the holidays are coming you might have a chance to relax and pick up a book. Sharing a few things on my book shelf or on my laptop. Committed social entrepreneurs that we are, these readings will enrich our knowledge to help us do better at work. We hope you like the list.



The CEO Paradox: The Privilege and Accountability of Leadership 
by Thomas R. Horton

I'm still currently reading this book and so far I find it relevant and refreshing in terms of content and voice. Written as a letter from an outgoing CEO to an incoming one, the tone is conversational and frank. With chapter titles like You've Made it to the Top - Now What? and Those Lonesome CEO blues, the book tackles topics familiar to CEOs ranging from Delegation to Making time for yourself, to passing the torch. This book should find a place in the bookshelves of current and aspiring CEOs.




Making a Living in Crafts: Everything You Need to Know to Build Your Business 
by Donald A. Clark

Throughout this great book, several artisans and craftsmen offer practical advice based on their experience in setting up their workshops, promoting their work in trade fairs, marketing, branding, and even intellectual property. The stories are inspiring, the advice is actionable, and the photos are gorgeous. This book will inspire anyone thinking of setting up a crafts business to go for it.




Priming the Pump: The Case for a Sector Based Approach to Impact Investing
by Matt Bannick and Paula Goldman



Impact Investing is the new buzzword in social development but the space is still amorphous. This paper supports our long held belief that ecosystems should be built to create an enabling environment. While there are gazelle social enterprises, creating and scaling up entire sectors increases the chances of success for individual social enterprises.

The paper discusses three kinds of organizations in a sector: market innovators, market scalers, and market infrastructure all of which will require investment.

This is a great read for anyone wanting to make large scale impact through social entrepreneurship.



Please feel free to share your thoughts on this list as well as share it with others who might be interested.

Gains and Setbacks in Expanding the Green Market

We came across this interesting article One Step Forward, Two Steps Back by Gwynne (Rogers) Villota on gains and setbacks in the green market. The post says that while there is increased awareness for these products, there remain consumer negative consumer perceptions that are barriers to purchasing these products. What's more the negative perception trend seems to be getting worse.

Three related takeaways for us were:
1. Saving the Earth is not enough reason to charge a premium for green products.
2. Consumers don't see enough value for money in green products.
3. Green products are perceived to underperform i.e. their quality is not as good as "regular" products.

We see hear the same sentiments regarding fair trade products. While there is a dedicated, committed, consumer market for fair trade products or sustainable products, the mainstream market is still largely driven by traditional values like pricing or branding. It is our job to increase awareness but it is also our job to produce competitive, quality products .

The story of empowerment behind every product is important, but providing clients with a delightful product experience is just as important. If clients buy only to help not because they genuinely value the product for its design or functionality or both, chances are they will not buy again and they will not recommend the product to their friends and this is not a sustainable model. This is why we have been focusing on quality and design as well as production efficiency - to prove our central premise that products made by micro-manufacturers, craftsmen, indigenous groups can compete in terms of price, design, and work quality.

To read the full article, please click on the link. One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

Top 3 Tips for Corporate Gift-Giving with Meaning

It's the season for Corporate Giving.  At the end of the year, companies take stock of the year that was and look forward to the coming year. In as much as corporate gift giving is seen as a marketing tool, it is also a great way for companies to sincerely show appreciation, give thanks, and say, 'looking forward to working with you again next year.' These messages are true for clients as they are for suppliers, employees, and in the case of non-profits or social enterprises, donors, volunteers, and other supporters.

Here are our top three tips for corporate gift giving with meaning.

1. Customized
Whenever possible, tailor the gift to the interests or hobbies of the recipient. This shows that thought and care went into the selection of the gift. If personalization is not possible, go for a unique, custom gift instead that the recipient will not easily find in a mall or receive from other companies.

2. Personalized
In connection with the customized theme, take the time to write a hand written note to personalize each gift. Make sure the note is personalized as well. We have long advocated maintaining this practice in this day and age of emails, text messaging, and tweeting. A hand written note is a simple but powerful gesture to show sincerity.

3. Meaningful
A major trend in recent years that will gain even more momentum in the future is the growing awareness and concern for sustainability and meaning. Giving a gift that shows care for other stakeholders taps into the growing desire for accountability and responsible consumption. Gifts that are made from upcycled materials, or made without animal testing, or made by a company with a sustainable supply chain are just a few examples. Given the range of possibilities, choose a gift that is aligned with the company's values and if possible core business.


These three tips are great for all kinds of gift-giving, not just for Christmas. Surprise and delight those that have made your life easier or helped you achieve success. Don't pass up the chance to strengthen connections throughout the year with even a simple gift or a hand-written card and you're sure to cultivate meaningful relationships and goodwill.

The Importance of Business Models and Value Chains

To deliver on our promise and satisfy the market, we should look at our own value chains and business models. This can be challenging for social enterprises because the paying customer isn't always the social enterprise's primary customer. Gregory Dees defined the primary customer as the one who benefits from the work of the social enterprise. It is therefore important for social entrepreneurs to have a framework for value creation for its multiple stakeholders. 

One framework we've found useful when talking about business models is the business model canvas developed and promoted by the people behind Business Model Generation www.businessmodelgeneration.com. According to the authors of the book, a business model "describes the rationale of how an organization creates, delivers, and captures value."

Below is an illustrated version of the canvas and below it is a blank canvas. By using this tool, social entrepreneurs can think through each of the building blocks of a business model and clearly identify the value proposition for customer segments. Thinking through revenue streams ensures that value is captured for social entrepreneurs to be able to sustainably provide value to its target beneficiaries.

For more information or to purchase the book, please visit the business model generation website.

Once the business model has been thought through, social entrepreneurs must look at their value chains to ensure that the primary activities and the support activities support the value proposition. Value propositions are the unique offering of the social enterprise to its market. Value propositions can include innovative products e.g. appropriate technology for smallholder farmers; speedy and efficient service delivery e.g. treatment at the Aravind Eye Center; or affordably priced products e.g. off-grid lighting solutions. 

The primary activities ensure that there is value-added in the transformation process, that the enterprise finds its market and provides customer service. The support activities on the other hand ensure that operations support the value proposition i.e. does the organization have the correct manpower, is the organization able to leverage IT, does the organization take advantage of the benefits of procuring in bulk.

The Gifts and Graces value chain involves partner identification, capacity building, design, and marketing. Our primary market/beneficiaries are the craftsmen and micro-entrepreneurs we support. Our secondary market that makes our work possible are the corporations and individuals who purchase our fair trade products.

Our business model and value chain has been tweaked over the years. This is expected of social enterprises as well as we have to be flexible so as to provide the most value to our target beneficiaries. 

For more information, please don't hesitate to leave a comment or email us.

Crafts for a Cause Bazaar

G&G will be at the Crafts for a Cause bazaar from December 6 to 8 at the 3rd level of SM Aura Premier. We hope you do your Christmas shopping with us!

 

G&G Founder Sandy Romualdez shops at the Crafts for a Cause bazaar at SM Aura

 

 

 

Happy Fair Trade Tuesday!

Why Buy Fair Trade? Let us count the reasons why.

There are many reasons why we love fair trade. We buy fair trade because among other things, we value respect, fairness, and empowerment. And of course G&G's fair trade products are also fashionable and handcrafted.

Thank you to all who support Fair Trade. Happy Fair Trade Tuesday!

The T'boli Craft of Brass Casting

Gifts and Graces is proud to be supporting the T'bolis of Lake Sebu, South Cotabato. G&G Executive Director Greg Perez first met one of the tribe's leaders Nadeth Ofong at the Social Enterprise Management Training Program of Fundacion Codespa and University of Asia and the Pacific where she and Nadeth were fellow scholars.

We are happy to be part of the effort to share their story, contribute to their livelihood and share their heritage. Last month, Nadeth shared with us their special method of brass casting. While we don't divulge all the details here, we wanted to share part of the story behind the making of the T'boli's beautiful brass items.

1. Prepare the materials

• Yellow brass from scrap material sourced from junk shops
• Beeswax
• Charcoal
• Clay soil with rice hulls
• Cooking/melting pot

2. Prepare the beeswax by melting it, rolling it, and designing it. Note that this is where the intricate designs come in.

3. Prepare the mold by pounding the clay soil with rice hulls, covering the mold with this mixture, melting the wax, leaving the mold out to dry in the sun, and drying it over fire

4. Next, melt the brass in a traditional blower, pour the melted brass into the mold, then allow to cool in a water bath.

5. Break the mold and voila you have your brass bell!

6. Cut and clean the bells. The final stage is cleaning the bells with calamansi

Here are some of the beautiful items made from brass. A brass man, brass bells in regular design and man and women designs, the brass bell with beads from The Learning Center to make our bell charm, and brass pendants which we use with woven retaso for a special line of clutches

Not in the collage is a set of four brass napkin rings in an elegant T'nalak box, bangles, and jewelry made from braided cloth strips and a brass ring. But we can share these in another blog post. 

Here's a photo of Nadeth with her daughter Bon with Fernando Regalado and Jhun Jhun Gementiza of G&G and Mike Panghilason of Heidi's Crafts (weavers of the clutch in the photo) at our Partner's Dinner this year held at the Herald Suites.

Finally, here is a link to further reading on the T'bolis and a link to an online article on loqal.ph

http://lakesebuphilippines.blogspot.com/p/tiboli-tribe.html

http://loqal.ph/home-and-living/2010/08/09/t%E2%80%99boli-women-weave-history-culture-in-t%E2%80%99nalak-cloth/

If you'd like more information or you'd like to order and support this cause, we'd love to hear from you. Please email us at info@giftsandgraces.com or marketing@giftsandgraces.com

G&G in Metro Society November Issue

This month, G&G is featured in Metro Society in an article aptly titled "Shopping for the Soul"

G&G Executive Director Greg Perez says "I think the time of thinking of only ourselves is up. We are now more responsible and accountable for each other. We can't just say 'I don't care if this (product) comes from a sweatshop.' That's not the way to live anymore. Being discerning consumers benefits all of us."

The article features great shots of our best-selling newspaper bags, T'boli bell charm, bags from the Retazo Collection made from scrap upholstery fabric, a black chest from Potrero, one of our retaso teddy bears, this one in fatigue-colored brocade, and a sneak preview of our elegant day-to-night necklaces made from scrap fabric embellished with an etched brass ring.

To read the full article, pick up a copy of Metro Society's November issue today. We're on page 225.

Millennials as Social Entrepreneurs

When it comes to millennials, we hear complaints about how hard they are to manage. This is in part due to the different circumstances they grew up in - the computer, internet, social networks, and many other things we didn't have just twenty, even ten years ago. Some of the things I've heard are that the millennial generation has a sense of entitlement, has no of abstraction, and is impatient.

As I prepared to talk to the fourth year high school students of Assumption San Lorenzo, I started thinking about the PEACE program and its goal of encouraging these young students to become social entrepreneurs.  I began to see that millenials and the negative traits attributed to them are the very traits that make millenials great social entrepreneurs.

1. Sense of Entitlement - Millenials recognize that the world can be a better place and that they are entitled to it. There are a lot of young people I know who care passionately about a cause - be it ending cruelty to animals or education or the environment. What's great about the youth is that they don't expect this better world to be handed to them on a silver platter; they understand that they have a role in creating the better world they feel entitled to. What's more, they work to get other people to care for what they care about because they believe that everyone should care.

2. No Sense of Abstraction - With different media bombarding their senses every minute, the abstract is spelled out. But this turns into a positive because the youth spring into action. They don't bother with motherhood statements - nationalism, feminism, environmentalism and yet remaining in the sidelines. The youth act on what they believe in by volunteering, by starting innovative programs, by donating.

3. Impatient - The youth want change and they want it now. I think this is admirable. I knew I wanted to work somehow in social development but I thought that I should be financially stable first before I did so. To see young entrepreneurs in high school and college putting their ideas and ideals into action now and not twenty years from now is cause for celebration.

The photos here were taken during the visit of the Assumption students to PAMANA Cooperative, our partner, and the G&G office. The exuberance and enthusiasm they displayed was contagious and uplifting.

As they enter Phase 2 of the PEACE program where they start to work on the product prototypes, I can't wait to see what their creative minds will come up with and I can't wait to see the impact it will have on the livelihood of our partners. Truly, these Assumption students are living their faith in action.

Cheers!

Greg

Students take a photo of our poster of the 10 Fair Trade Principles

Students pose with the G&G logo, G&G Project Officer Jeremy Callegher, and G&G Executive Director Ms. Greg Perez

P.S. I was inspired by the writing and thinking of Angela Maiers and Deb Mills-Scofield on the subject. Here are two great posts: Angela Maiers' An Open Letter to Millenials, and Deb Mills-Scofield's Benefits of Being a Young Entrepreneur.

Even the storm won't sweep the hope away

We will never forget this day, this day when Yolanda came to tear up the sky and the land of the Philippines, like a foretaste of apocalypse. They talked about it on TV, radio, Internet, forecasting the strongest typhoon that ever spinned over the Earth. Warned, we thought we were prepared. But, beside going to the place thought as the safest with your loved ones, there is nothing else you can really do when nature has decided. Losses are innumerable, screams shatter the silence of a new no man's land, the tears drop on the ground, eyes wide open facing the devastated landscape. The world is speechless, there are no words to express what happened.

However, mutism is of short lasting. Still stunned, the filipino people starts organizing reliefs operation. Individual initiatives, NGOs and corporates, from the piggy bank to the aid fund, the solidarity starts running. The international community sends funds, ships, manpower, goods, everything that is needed here.

Rich or poor, young and old, filipinos and foreigners, everybody give some of his time, goods, money, and prayers, and it's beautiful. But to better feel it, you have to experiment, be part of it, give a hand to those in needs there. I'm not writing this to show what I did, and I won't, because, compared to many people, I have the feeling I did almost nothing so far. But, in our small ways, even if it's one day, one hour, a couple of canned goods or a sack of rice, we are helping. And it's already a lot. There is no excuse such as « I don't have time or money, etc... ». There is always a way and I know that, each of us, would appreciate it if we were in their situation. When I see the people, in those hard times, I'm admiring, admiring of such a spirit. 

So it's time, dear readers and friends, it's time to stand up, time to put on an old shirt, good sneakers, and carry hope for our brothers in needs. There are moments in life you know you have something to do, something for the others, without back thoughts, something which is worth it, for your fellows, your country, and yourself.

MABUHAY ANG PILIPINAS!

Jeremy

Gifts and Graces in Philippine Crafts Section Robinson's Department Store Galleria

G&G handcrafted products are now available at the Philippine Crafts section on the ground floor of Robinson's Galleria Department Store. 

Whether buying a gift for yourself or someone you care about, make an impression with any of our products made by marginalized craftsmen and artisans from all over the country. 



 
We have reusable canvas bags, pillows made from scrap upholstery fabric, our best-selling brass bells and bell harms, and our unique newspaper bags.

Shown here are the mini bahay kubos made from directory pages by the women in CIW.

The original green house, the bahay kubo is a traditional Philippine house constructed with natural materials like banded nipa, cogon and bamboo. It is designed to adapt to the tropical climate of the country and is a triumph of human ingenuity and resourcefulness over the elements. Its name originated from the Filipino word, bahay and the Spanish word, cubo due to its cubic shape. It can still be found in rural and coastal areas. This replica made out of phonebook pages was made by women of CIW

 We also have small impulse items that make great tokens - coin purses and shoe key chains made from T'nalak, agate charms made by special needs individuals, bags made from junk food wrappers, lizard key chains, and coin purses made from woven scrap strips of cloth.





Visit our gondola every now and then to see what's new. These products are also available in Robinson's Ermita and Robinson's Magnolia Department Stores. 

For inquiries on bulk orders kindly email us at info@giftsandgraces.com or call +6327592525.

The Creation of Plaidette, the Assumption Heritage Bear

Plaidette

Last year, Gifts and Graces Board Director and Assumption Alum Marivic Limcaoco approached Gifts and Graces with a proposal for an interesting project - to make a special, heritage bear from gently used Assumption uniforms. 

We were immediately intrigued. G&G had made bears and other soft toys made from denim, upholstery, and other scrap fabric in the past but we could tell that this would be a special project because of the history and heritage of our material - the Assumption plaid skirt. 

 

Making this happen on the Assumption end were Grissel Gomez and Kat Querubin of Assumption San Lorenzo's Basic Education Division Family Council. Gifts and Graces on the other hand tapped Kaibhan Inc, a foundation who works with sewers in Bulacan who had lost their jobs. It took several meetings and prototypes to get Plaidette just right. Here's a photo collage showing the committee at work.

And here's the special tag that comes with every Plaidette to authenticate her.

Plaidette appeals to all Assumption students, whether grade school or high school, plus the alumnae here and abroad.

“Our Assumption values are embodied in Plaidette—reusing resources, providing livelihood, preserving heritage,” says Grissel. “I’m thrilled that she was launched during my last term as president of the Family Council because as an old girl and an Assumption mom, I am a strong believer in bringing honor to the red plaid.

Gifts and Graces is proud to be part of this project. Plaidette is a creative way to honor the Assumption uniform, impacting the environment, the livelihood of the women sewers, and the beneficiaries of the relief operations and medical missions conducted by the BED. 

 

To pledge for a Plaidette, call Regine at 813-6291 or 0917-539-1363.

For more information, please contact:

Grissel Gomez	Family Council President	0917-833-0530	Teachergee2002@yahoo.com
Kat Querubin	Committee Head CSI	0917-891-4540	katquerubin@yahoo.com
Greg Perez	Gifts and Graces	0917-851-2668	info@giftsandgraces.com

 

Searching for the Perfect Gift this Christmas? Fair Trade Gifts 2013

 

Searching for the perfect gift this Christmas? 

 
Buy Fair Trade gifts and help vote for a better world. 





In the Gifts and Graces 2013 Collection, you'll find something for everyone. These handcrafted products made by marginalized craftsmen and artisans from all over the Philippines make great gifts for family, friends, and colleagues. 

These also make great corporate giveaways for Directors, VIPs, and Senior Management. 

For personal and corporate gifts, ask us today how we can help you - from customizing products to packaging your gifts with a personalized tag. Email us at marketing@giftsandgraces.com or call 7592525.

Thanks for your support!

Woven placemats, brass napkin rings, T'nalak key chains add details to your home that speaks of your values.

Our bestselling bell charm made with a brass bell from the T'bolis and a beautiful bead charm by the students of The Learning Center, Inc. (TLC)

These fun items reflect the spirit of the Filipino. Includes jeeps, calesas, and trikes made out of wood, a fun turtle with bobbing head made from bao, and a collection of lovable lola dolls.

Green is the new black. These pillows are made from excess or reject upholstery materials. These eco bags make you look stylish as you shop green. (Bags subject to availability. Harina sailor bag by special order)

These products for the home make great conversation starters. Includes embroidered pillows, nesting baskets from Sorsogon, replica bahay kubos and Ifugao huts made out of directory pages.

Stylish and functional iPad sleeves and pouches woven from scrap fabric

We love this quirky collection for its vibrant colors. Placemats, coasters, and pot holders for your kitchen, monster luggage tags, one-of-a-kind coffee sleeves, and handmade paper journals brings fun to everyday activities.

Handmade paper cards from cogon grass in the new Cityscape Collection. Made by a women's cooperative in Quezon. Yummy scented cupcake candles made by a cooperative of former inmates

What does it take to be a social entrepreneur?

Recently, Gifts and Graces was invited to give a talk to 4th year Assumption students on social entrepreneurship in connection with their Political, Educational Advocacy and Community Extension (P.E.A.C.E.) Work Project launch. 

Part of the talk given by G&G Executive Director Greg Perez was on what it takes to be a social entrepreneur. Here we share a slightly tweaked version of the talk which can also be seen in a feature on G&G in Katha Magazine's 2nd online edition  http://bit.ly/katha-issue02

• Take time to reflect on the big questions: Where do your passions lie? What could you be the best at in the world? What makes you come alive? What value will you provide? The intersection of your Passion + Skill + Opportunity will ensure that you create value and you have fun while doing it

•  Show leadership - be bold, be brave, be innovative, have conviction, be authentic. Believe in yourself.

• Always be learning - ask for help, observe, be intellectually curious 

• Be emotionally, physically, mentally prepared to take on the challenges. You will have a world view that others don't get yet. Social development is a marathon. Take care of yourself, take time to breathe and pause and reconnect

• Build a network, be part of a network - it takes a village to solve today's complex problems. Social entrepreneurship is part of the solution, not the only solution

• Be generous with your knowledge and experience. 

• Never lose the power to empathize - that is what makes us human. The need to be part of the solution comes from a place of empathy - this is what will sustain you

You said Fair Trade?

Good day followers! 

Our partner ULOT Watershed, based in Samar just released their latest newsletter and guess who's part of it? Please find below the gifts and Graces contribution to it, with an informative article about Fair Trade. Hope you will enjoy it. Do not hesitate to comment if you have any question about it. :) Fair Trade is an equitable trading partnership between marketers and producers that is based on dialogue, respect, and fairness. It seeks to give producers, farmers, and low-income artisans protection from exploitation and greater equity in international trade. Fair Trade is ultimately a strategy for poverty alleviation and sustainable development. There are several labels associated with Fair Trade that one should become familiar with:

 

The first one is the label of the Fairtrade International, or Fairtrade Labelling Organization (FLO), an organization certifying fair trade items. The second one is the logo and label of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), an international organization that certifies organizations as a whole as fair trade practitioners, such as Gifts & Graces Fair Trade, Inc. (G&G). The last one is the logo of the Filipino network of WFTO. 

There are ten principles of Fair Trade that the WFTO prescribes (wfto.com):
1. Creating opportunities for economically disadvantaged producers
2. Transparency & accountability
3. Fair Trading practices
4. Payment of a fair price
5. Ensuring no child labor and forced labor
6. Commitment to non-discrimination, gender equity and women’s economic empowerment and freedom of association
7. Ensuring good working conditions
8. Providing capacity building
9. Promoting Fair Trade
10. Respect for the environment.

As part of the movement, Gifts & Graces is a not-for-profit Fair Trade social enterprise, championing disadvantaged communities in their quest to overcome marginalization and poverty through livelihoods. G&G primarily provides three key business solutions to livelihood programs: product development, market access, and capability building. Empowered to earn an income by producing quality hand crafted items, individuals and communities achieve a dignified standard of living, gain pride and become self-reliant members of society.

You wanna know more about fair trade? Here are some websites:

- FLO: http://www.fairtrade.net/about-us.html

- WFTO: http://www.wfto.com/

- WFTO Asia: http://wfto-asia.com/

- Fair Trade resource network: http://www.fairtraderesource.org/

Jeremy