When Love Your Melon was introduced in October 2012, it was clear that this idea was a novelty worth far more than just the adorable beanies it produced. The object of the student-run brand was to provide a beanie to every child in America battling cancer. Not unlike Toms, the brand who matches every pair of shoes sold with a new pair for a child who needs one.
This simple "buy to give" business model not only helps to address global issues like cancer, poverty, education and clean water, but it also satisfies the consumers that purchase these products. As its rewards grow in size to satisfy customers and address global concerns, the "buy to give" model has worked its way from beanies and shoes to higher ticketed items carried by higher-end retailers.
Meet The Giving Keys, a jewelry company started by Caitlin Crosby that seeks to hire employees who have been affected by the devastation of homelessness in the Los Angeles area. The Giving Keys is partnered with LIFT Los Angeles, Downtown Women's Center and Chrysalis to meet its mission of providing the homeless with a second chance. The Giving Keys was initiated with employing those who are transitioning out of homelessness in mind. It is a "pay it forward" company that sells their merchandise at high-end retailers like Nordstrom, Kitson, Anthropologie, Fred Segal and 2,000 other retailers worldwide.
The idea for the jewelry came from founder Caitlin Crosby, an actress and musician who wore a New York hotel room key around her neck as a necklace while on tour. This inspired the idea to engrave the keys with inspiring words that could give the keys new meaning.
The keys are available in bangles, bracelets, necklaces and charms. They run from $30 to $130 and have been seen on celebrities like Taylor Swift, Nina Dobrev, Liana Liberato, Meghan Trainor and Kelsea Ballerini. The company encourages its customers to purchase, wear and "embrace" the message on the key, and then to "pay it forward" to a person who might need the key and the message more than you do. The website encourages shoppers to share why they gave the key to who they chose. The Giving Keys exist to inspire hope within those who wear the keys.
"There are locks all around you and maybe you hold the key to someone else's freedom," said founder Caitlin Crosby.
So far, the brand has employed over 50 homeless employees, moved 22 people into permanent housing and has inspired not hundreds but thousands of "pay it forward" stories. If the brand's mission doesn't convince you to check them out, the jewelry is unique, simplistic and beautiful too.
Do yourself and someone else a favor and order one today!
