A new ecommerce site is asking shoppers to not just buy American but to buy from young Americans.
At first, I thought: That's really specific.
But it didn't seem any more imposing than suggesting that people buy goods from specific Third World regions or from companies that support specific charities or businesses in your neighborhood or minority-owned businesses or businesses that only sell vegan products. Let's be honest, everyone in a capitalist enterprise could use your business.
So, as far as I'm concerned, these promotions that focus not just on what you're buying, but who you're buying from are educating consumers to think seriously about the consequences of their purchases. We all have the power to make personal statements with how we shop.
Ultimately, every economist and psychologist will tell you that people shop to meet their own self-interest, not necessarily to promote a cause. But every time we open our wallets, theirs the opportunity.
We aren't just shopping machines, each purchase is an investment. It's something to think about.
Buy Young offers up the name of the business owners/founders, their age, number of employees, the year the business was founded and the city where it's based.
Among the companies profiled are State Bicycle Company, founded in 2009 by Mehdi Farsi, 26; Reza Farsi, 25; Eric Ferguson, 25. They have 12 employees and are located in Tempe, AZ.
You can shop bikes and apparel from these young entrepreneurs or jewelry from a 25-year-old jewelry designer in Washington D.C. or select an Asian-inspired condiment developed by a 28-year-old in Oregon or shop men's underwear from a 28-year-old designer in Los Angeles.
The initiative was started by the people of ourtime.org, a national non-profit that stands up for Americans under 30.
I know, who knew.
The group urges shoppers to "Occupy a Young American Business" and use their purchasing power to send a message that they support growing the economy through small businesses and that starts with encouraging the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Of course, it doesn't chastize people for shopping from business owners over the age of 30, perhaps this is the time to launch the Buy from the Young at Heart website I've been pondering.
