Take Care Space

WHY DOES TAKE CARE SPACE EXIST?

On the heels of the SBA loan disasters, and our country’s continued fight against systemic racial injustice, businesses are more than ever called to demonstrate their core values, and how they live these values through actions.

At Take Care Space, diversity and inclusion aren’t values we strive to achieve – they are the very reason why we exist.

Since our founding in April 2019, the heart and soul of Take Care Space have always been to advocate and give voice to emerging brands, artists, and makers, with a mission to give back to the community and creating safe spaces. Since day one, we focused our collaborations with underrepresented women artists and aligned with nonprofit organizations that give back to our community.

Not only has COVID-19 obliterated the face-to face marketplace that was the livelihood of many in the small business community, including ours, it also forced many of us to invest more dollars into “big box” eCommerce tools that already take a LARGE percentage of profits (in certain cases up to an insane 98%!) - all of which dilute our income and make it harder to make ends meet. 

Also, these big box eCommerce platforms don't cultivate community but rely on mass quantity of small businesses from joining them and paying their fees and commissions.

So, even before COVID-19, it wasn't an equal playing field. Isn't it finally time to level the playing field? 

WHAT IS THE NEW TAKE CARE SPACE?

To find a solution and provide support during an intensely challenging time, as of April 2020, we pivoted and began building a mission-driven community platform. Aligned with our original core values and company beliefs, we built a platform that functions as an ecosystem that:

• honors, fosters, and celebrates emerging brands and businesses that offer quality products, and services created by intentional and diverse founders; 

• engages in socially conscious partnerships; 

• curates safe and inclusive spaces online and IRL;

• and creates content and storytelling that inspires healing, joy, and nurturing of the human spirit. 

Our platform will encourage idea and skill sharing, inspiration, and authenticity while giving unique, quality, and in some cases - exclusive, products and experiences (virtual and IRL) to consumers.

Since the launch of our evolution less than three months ago, we have:

• added over 60 emerging brands, artists, creators, and purpose led organizations;

• collaborated with our third woman of color artist for our second yoga mat collection in one year;

• donated an additional 24 blankets to those in need (totaling 60 since January 2020);

By the end of the year 2020, we will:

• launch a product collaboration between multiple brands on the platform;

• launch our Take Care Artist program creating additional income opportunities for emerging artists in our community. We're so very excited as this will allow artists to generate much more income than on platforms like Society6 that offers only between 2-10% commissions on their art work while giving consumers something special, unique, and exclusive.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR TAKE CARE SPACE?  

We are nowhere near finishing building and need your help. We are raising $10,000 to continue building the next phase. 

Your contribution will go towards:

• the design and build of the next iteration of our platform with sophisticated technology capabilities including consumer and brand "Squad" memberships, virtual showrooms, virtual events, and ability for brand partnerships - another way for us to create revenue share income opportunities for our community as well as exciting value and experiences for our consumers;

• and development of a virtual event series working with community organizers and allowing us to compensate them equitably while providing value to our consumer audience hungry for intentional and authentic programming; 

• renovations and rent for 3 months for an operations space for Take Care Space and its community. 

WHO IS ASKING?  

Ji Bowlus (click for LinkedIn profile)

Take Care Space role: Founder & Chief Care Officer

Additional roles: Wife, and mom to 12 year old son + 1 dog + 3 cats + 1 snake + 1 Leopard Tortoise

[email protected]