SHOP LC: PROVIDING MEALS TO CHILDREN IN NEED THROUGH THEIR ONE FOR ONE MEAL PROGRAM
Shop LC is a home shopping channel from Austin, Texas. Since 2008, they have been offering low-cost, high-quality jewelry and lifestyle products on a national stage. They are the only nationally broadcast network currently operating out of Austin.
85% of their product offerings are jewelry. Most jewelry is manufactured through their facility in Jaipur, India. The facility is located in a Special Economic Zone, as established by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC). It was the first jewelry facility to be certified by the IGBC.
“For every purchase, Shop LC donates one nutritious meal to a child in need. From October 2017 to February 2020, they have provided 17 million meals.”
Through vertical integration, they remove the traditional middle-man markup frequently seen in most jewelry retail, so their customers receive incredible value.
Shop LC understands the importance of giving back to the community. Their primary giving program is the Shop LC One for One Meal Program. For every purchase, Shop LC donates one nutritious meal to a child in need. From October 2017 to February 2020, they have provided 17 million meals.
Hunger is a global epidemic affecting communities at home and abroad. Shop LC’s vertical integration means that they are touching parts of the supply chain, all across the world.
The Shop LC One for One Meal Program was initially launched in India. It is the home of their parent company, Vaibhav Global Limited (VGL) and is administered through Akshaya Patra.
In the United States, the program is administered through No Kid Hungry. They connect families with after school meal programs, summer programs, education, and so much more.
Poverty and hunger go hand-in-hand. Frequently, many families must make the difficult choice between educating children or putting them to work so that they can be fed. Shop LC’s meal program makes the choice easier. Families can send their children to school without worrying about where their next meal is coming from.
Shop LC’s goal is to end the poverty that forces many families into this brutal cycle. When children are provided meals, they are able to excel academically, and have a brighter future as a result.
Shop LC’s goal is to end the poverty that forces many families into this brutal cycle. When children are provided meals, they are able to excel academically, and have a brighter future as a result.
The cost of meals is paid from Shop LC profits, so no additional cost is ever passed to the consumer. Customers participate simply by shopping with them. Besides traditional sales goals, they internally set goals to provide meals to these children in need. This is supported through special programming, such as the ‘One for One Meal Challenge,’ where additional discounts are offered so that they can sell more product and deliver more meals.
Shop LC also provides paid time off for all full and part-time employees. The employee-lead Social Works Committee identifies local opportunities in the Greater Austin Area that align with their Purpose of Delivering Joy, and their Core Values.
They volunteer their time and donate resources to Round Rock Serving Center, Austin Diaper Bank, Central Texas Food Bank, Texas Advocacy Project, Austin VA Clinic, and Round Rock Independent School District.
In 2019, Shop LC helped Texas Advocacy Project achieve their most successful year for the Handbags for Hope campaign. Shop LC donated over 2000 of the 4000 bags collected. These bags go to women escaping cycles of abuse, with critical information to help them access resources in a safe way.
Volunteering opportunities are provided each month on a rotating schedule by the Social Works Committee. Employee development ensures that paid time off is applied, so that they are actively involved with their community.
In the future, Shop LC is exploring how their meal program can expand, and how they can support their local community even more.
