The Grateful Boutique, Newcastle’s very own answer to TOMS Shoes, thankyou. Water, Oxfam Store and Who Gives A Crap, has found a home in Carrington.
The Grateful Boutique is a one-for-one pay it forward initiative started by Jessica Shuwalow, Gemma McBurnie and Amee Duncan. The boutique provides a simple platform for individuals and businesses to give back to the community, while also doing something positive for themselves, those they love most, their business, their clients and/or their employees.
Started approximately 15 months ago, The Grateful has recently flourished thanks to the Newcastle community.
While waiting to secure the perfect home for their boutique in Carrington, The Grateful began with the Grateful Bouquet arm, where for every posy purchased they donated another to John Hunter Hospital or Ronald McDonald House on behalf of the customer. Novocastrians have embraced the concept with open hearts and as of March, paid forward 1,000 bouquets to the hospital and Ronald McDonald House.
The Grateful Boutique opened its doors on Saturday 3 March 2018. For every item purchased in store, The Grateful takes a proportion of their profit and donates it on behalf of the customer to provide self defence classes for women from domestic violence, which was initiated and is hosted by Got Your Back Sista.
The Grateful concept was developed to help combat the depression epidemic which is now the second highest global cause of ill health. The Grateful’s mission is to ultimately create a happier society based on the model that one of the quickest ways to feel good in yourself is to give, and the most sustainable method for long-term happiness is through gratitude.
You’ll find in store that 90% of the stockists are local and the majority of them are like-minded socially conscious enterprises, either up-cycling to make their products and/or donating towards a charity. The actual boutique was also majority fitted out with upcycled materials.
Founder, Jessica Shuwalow said the response to the boutique and bouquet service has been “overwhelming”.
“The response we’ve had has been overwhelming and so well received, but we wouldn’t expect anything less from the Newcastle community,” Jessica said.
“I’ve been saying for a while now, that we’re merely cogs keeping this giving wheel rotating, but it’s the businesses and individuals in our community that support us and the causes we donate to that are the real generous souls and hearts of our country.”
IMAGE | The Grateful Boutique opens its doors.